By John Sleadd, August 30, 2007
Dinner’s Ready
“Come and eat!” This command rings out regularly in the Sleadd house at dinnertime. My children (5 total, 4 remaining at home) have rotating chef duties and they call the rest of us to the table when the food is ready. Sometimes it’s hard to get everyone gathered together. We are scattered throughout the house, or around our acre of property engaged in various projects. Someone’s in the studio practicing a musical instrument. Someone’s in the back yard catching frogs. Someone’s on the computer composing a blog post. Someone’s on the couch with an exciting book.
“Come and eat!” is repeated, a little louder. The supper chef wonders why no one is coming (One of the reasons we rotate this duty is to give each child the responsibility and experience of serving). “Hey, the food is getting, cold,” we are warned. Eventually, we all get washed up, sit down, give thanks, and begin our meal. We enjoy conversation and companionship as our stomachs are filled.
Church is often like this. A pastor prepares a meal of God’s Word to nourish his congregation. Any number of projects and activities distract us, but we lay them aside to gather together on Sunday morning as the Lord’s people. Or should.
A Commitment Problem
For over a year I have enjoyed leading worship at Coram Deo Church. It has been a pleasure to welcome the congregation into corporate celebration to sing and pray and enjoy warm fellowship. Now, in my new role as teaching elder, I have the immense pleasure of studying and preparing to nourish the Body of Christ with His Word. Sometimes I wonder why folks who attend our church do not “come and eat” each week. Some of them drop in from time to time as if the church is a restaurant and they are customers. Perhaps this is because they don’t understand the importance of being together regularly. I’d like to review the basic purposes of the church and why believers should commit to showing up every Sunday.
1. The church ministers to God through praise and worship. Christ is the head of the church. We are the body. A healthy church is committed to honoring God through unified worship under Christ. “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” (Psalm 22:22) “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)
2. The church ministers to believers through nurture and discipleship. The body of Christ is comprised of many members, each important in the function of the whole. “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (Roman 12:10-13) “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12)
3. The church ministers to the world through evangelism and mercy. Christ has given all believers a testimony of faith, which we are to share freely. We are called to be light bearers in a dark world, commending salvation in Christ alone, and the sufficiency of God’s Word, the Bible. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20) “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:35-36)
I recognize that many of the passages I’ve cited above can be interpreted within the context of a home fellowship. Researcher George Barna has documented the popularity of the house church movement, into which many people have retreated from institutional church models for various reasons. The second chapter of the Book of Acts sets a clear biblical precedent for believers to meet in their homes, but it also includes regular attendance at the temple. “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)
Honoring Community
It’s true that members of a family could eat dinner in their own rooms to fill their stomachs. But think about the other elements of a good meal that would be missing. When we talk to each other about how good the food is, it actually tastes better. When we praise the chef for preparing it, we celebrate excellence in cooking (and the cook feels appreciated). When we converse and laugh and practice good manners together (still working on that in the Sleadd house) we get full hearts as well as full stomachs. When we read from the Bible, or from other uplifting material, together, we are inspired to think and to grow and to serve in unity, to become more like Christ.
An Earnest Plea
Dear people of God, do you honor your brothers and sisters in the faith by being with them? Or are you dating the church? Do you realize your potential to be a blessing to others in the congregation? Or do you imagine that going to church is only about satisfying your own needs, and not about serving others? I pray that the Lord would ignite a fire under your soul that prompts you to walk in deeper faith, which means humble commitment. I pray that you would delight in the fellowship of the saints, and make it your habit to build up your local church. Find one and settle there long enough to become united in spirit. It begins with showing up regularly, and on time. It grows with love and good deeds.
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
