The following is a brief catalogue of some of the sins peculiar to attendance at God’s house. Are you guilty of any of these sins?
1. Irregular Attendance at Church
Occasional absence from church, or even regular half-day hearing, is counted a small thing by many. A wet Sabbath, or even a shower, will keep them away. A headache, a little extra fatigue on the Saturday, or perhaps the prospect of hard work on Monday, are counted good reasons for absence by many. And if there be any slight ailment through the week, Sabbath is selected as the day for taking medicine, as it can be spared without any pecuniary loss.
2. Late Attendance at Church
There are some people who make a point of being late. They get up late on Sabbath morning; they breakfast late; so that the bells are ringing ere they have finished their last cup of tea. They hurry out, and they hurry along, and they hurry into church after the service is begun. They see no sin in losing part of divine worship themselves, nor in disturbing the worship of others.
3. Sleeping in Church
There was some excuse for Eutychus falling asleep, for “Paul was long preaching,” and it was midnight. But there is no excuse for our modern sleepers; especially as some of these are not occasional, but regular sleepers, who seem not to feel the shame or the sin of the practice. Few things are more unpleasant to a minister than to see eyes closed and heads nodding, in this pew or that other pew. If he were to stop and name the individuals before the congregation he would do well. But what offence it would give! What a noise it would make! Sleepers in church! Beware, it is Satan who is rocking you to sleep. And those who make a profession of religion ought to guard themselves against this habit. How disgraceful would it appear to see an elder sleeping in the lateran or a minister in the pulpit!
4. Staring in Church
One does not like to mention smiling or laughing in church, for it seems such an outrage on decency and a mockery of devotion. But there are many who won’t laugh in a church, who do not hesitate to look about, to turn this way or the other way, staring at strangers, or occupied with their neighbour’s dresses. If a person happens to come in late, they turn round to see who he is. Starers in church! learn to keep your eyes as well as your mind from wandering.
5. Restlessness in Church
Some people seem to sit on nails or nettles, their body is so constantly in motion. Others take out their watches, and count the length of sentences in the sermon, twirling or twisting their watch-chain or ribbon all the while. Others seem as if taking the census of the congregation, or counting the number of panes in the window. They are drinking in everything but the sermon, and seem as if relieved from the stocks when the service is over.
6. Transacting Business in Church
I don’t mean that they actually move about buying and selling; but their minds are occupied with business not with worship. Many sums are added up, and much mental arithmetic is practised in church; not the heavenly arithmetic of “numbering our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom,” but the arithmetic of common business. The farmer ploughs his fields; the merchant drives his bargains; the shopkeeper sells his goods or takes stock; the lawyer threads his way through a client’s case; the politician speculates on parliamentary tactics or sketches a reform bill; the sailor takes the helm, and lays his vessel to the wind; the soldier forms squares or deploys into line; the mechanic plies the loom, or the needle, or the trowel, or the hammer. Thus men who come together to worship the great God of heaven and earth, mock Him in His own house.
“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools” (Eccles. 5:1). On which passage Matthew Henry weightily says, “Religious exercises are not vain things; but if we mismanage them, they become vain to us.” — Selected.