THE preaching of God’s Word has been blessed to so many that one would think that every sinner would do his utmost to attend on it as often as possible, and that it would require to be a very important matter which would keep them away. This, however, is not the case for we find that men and women within reach of the public means of grace will remain at home Sabbath after Sabbath for very trifling reasons. They put forth every effort to be at their lawful calling during the week, and for years perhaps they have not lost an hour, but when it comes to attending the house of God no such diligence is practised. This is all the more remarkable when one considers that diligence in our lawful calling affects the needs of the body, whereas attendance on the means of grace vitally concerns the needs of the soul, therefore, attendance on the latter is of far more importance than attendance on the former.
Some remain away from God’s house through a contempt of religion of which they make no secret. In the providence of the Most High some of them had a good upbringing, but have forsaken the guide of their youth, and are now in the company of those who say, “It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.” In their own estimation they are as good as their neighbours, and are far ahead of them in intellectual attainments. When they condescend to attend church it is not to learn but to criticise, and if they judge that the preacher has not attained to the standard which they have set up for him, it confirms them in their view that they are justified in staying at home. This amounts to thinking that they can do far better themselves, and prompts the question, Why should I go to church, for I hear nothing but what I know already?
Others remain away from the house of God because the Sabbath is a day of rest, and they have no conception of rest but that which the body needs. During the week they work hard and are tired, and when the Sabbath comes they are deluded with the idea that, because it is a day in which no work should be done, they are keeping the Sabbath by remaining in their beds. This is a conception of rest which does not raise man above the brute creation, and ignores, or even denies, the existence of the soul. To remain away from church for that reason is to act contrary to the best interests of man, and to betray a hatred to Him who appointed the means of grace. These means were set up for the benefit of souls and where the soul gets a blessing it will prove beneficial to the body also.
Another excuse which many have for remaining away from church on Sabbath is that they are not feeling well on that day. It will be readily granted that sickness will come on that day as well as on other days, but with some it must be admitted that it comes with extraordinary regularity on Sabbath. During the whole week they are busy in the world and there are no signs of ill-health, but when Sabbath comes their bodily condition is of such a nature that it is out of the question to think of going to the house of God. A strange feature of this sickness is that while the symptoms of ordinary sickness are noticeable to others, the symptoms of this special trouble cannot be seen by any except the sufferer. Very often under this affliction they become very pious and express their desire to go to church, but in the same breath express the fear that should they venture to go they might faint in church and cause such a commotion that they would spoil the service. This is not at all an over-drawn picture of matters, but something that is more common than many would be inclined to believe. Its regularity with some people forces the conviction on one that they are to an alarming extent the dupes of Satan and led captive at his will. In the same category may be placed those whose chief use for the Sabbath Day is to set it apart for endeavouring to cure the ailments of the body. They may not be feeling well during the week but will postpone taking any medicine till Sabbath, thus manifesting that in their estimation it is a great loss to unfit them for the duties of one working day, but of no account though they should be unfit for the services of God’s house.
Again there are others for whom their secular affairs are a greater concern than attending on the means of grace. In the Gospel according to Luke we find the Lord speaking of the excuses for not coming to the Great Supper, given by those who were originally bidden. One bought land, another bought oxen, while a third married a wife, and they considered these matters sufficient to excuse them from coming to the Supper. How often the most trifling things are taken as excuses for remaining from church, and these trifling things are taken as unsurmountable obstacles, when a slight alteration of existing arrangements in the home, and a little more regard for the glory of God and the concerns of the soul would make those obstacles vanish away. No doubt many whose worldly concerns are made an excuse for staying at home on the Sabbath would object that altered arrangements would cause them loss, and much of that loss would only be imaginary. Let such, however, remember that the Lord Jesus says, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
The excuse which many have for remaining away from church, especially on Sabbath mornings, is that they have to cook the dinner for the rest of the family. Will this excuse stand at last? Many will urge that it comes under the category of works of necessity or mercy. This, of course, raises the question, What are works of necessity and mercy? Christ instances the case of an animal being led to water, and the delivering of animals fallen into a pit, as works of necessity and mercy which are lawful to do on the Sabbath Day. Taking this as our basis we might say that anything which could not be foreseen and done on the Saturday, and which could not be left over till Monday without loss or suffering are works of necessity and mercy. Can the cooking of a Sabbath dinner be justified by that rule? There are many housewives in Scotland who will testify that it cannot be justified. Many of them were brought up in homes where all the food for Sabbath was cooked on the Saturday except what was absolutely necessary; they brought up their children, and their children’s children in the same way, and they are at least as healthy as those of their neighbours who had no such scruples, and along with that they availed themselves of more opportunities of waiting at the posts of Wisdom’s door.
As a sop to their conscience some assume an attitude of being well-exercised on the Sabbath. When cornered by some pointed argument they say: “Yes, but I am not idle, I read my Bible if I am not going to church.” If God meant the reading of the Bible in private to take the place of the public means He would have given some intimation of the same in His Word.
These are but a few of the many excuses which men and women have for remaining away from church. The question ought to be asked, Will our excuses stand the test at the bar of God? There are many valid reasons for remaining away from church, such as real illness, attending to the sick, and living at so great a distance from the public means as not to be able to get there without transgressing the Fourth Commandment, but the excuses of many are so flimsy that they will not stand the test even of men of the world. How much less will they stand the test of Him who searches the hearts and tries the reins of the children of men. Let those who neglect God’s house beware that they have yet to meet with God and give an account to Him of the opportunities He gave them of waiting upon Him.—J. C.