Ten years ago a young man professed to be saved and was baptized before our assembly. He never returned. I’ve observed new converts who, at one time, faithfully attended every meeting of the assembly, begin to slowly fade away after a year or two. Some older believers have become spotty in their attendance over time because of work, needed rest, family time, or a desire to beat the crowds at the restaurant. Is this attitude any cause for concern? How important are the meetings of the local church anyway?
It may be that some who have excused themselves from the meetings of the local church are actually unsaved (1 Jn. 2:19). An unbeliever has no spiritual appetite for the Word of God (Rom. 8:5) or godly fellowship with believers (1 Jn. 1:7). In a coming day, many who professed to be saved will be exposed as unbelievers (Mt. 7:22). But it is quite possible for genuine believers to experience struggles in their Christian lives. Walking steadfastly with the Lord requires discipline (1 Cor. 9:27), utilizing the spiritual resources at our disposal (Eph. 6:10-18). It’s easy to backslide.
The Epistle to the Hebrews addressed this tendency, touching on problems such as: slipping doctrinally (2:1), lacking assurance (3:14; 10:35), spiritual laziness (5:11-14), the possibility of a false profession of faith (6:1-9), lacking patience over the long haul (6:12; 10:36), and embracing empty religion rather than a living Saviour (6:1-2). The remedy for these problems is clearly given in the latter pages of the book, and being faithful in attending meetings is key:
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:23-25).
Of course, attending meetings does not, in itself, make one spiritual. However, each meeting of the New Testament church had a purpose for the edification of the believer.
At times they met for prayer (Acts 4:31), teaching (Acts 11:26), missionary updates (Acts 14:27), to break bread (Acts 20:7), or to hold each other accountable (1 Cor. 5:4; 14:29, 32). As the church gathered together “into one place” (1 Cor. 14:23) believers were edified, exhorted, and comforted by the Word of God (1 Cor. 14:3-5,12, 17, 26), singing (1 Cor. 14:15), and prayer (1 Cor. 14:16). Spiritually gifted believers were present for the “perfecting [maturing] of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-13). Each believer was spiritually equipped to play a necessary role in the local church (1 Cor. 12:22). One brother stated it well: “We need you and you need us” at the meetings of the local assembly.