There is no doubt that in the Old Testament God legislated that His people (the Israelites) go to the “House of the Lord” with regularity. Deuteronomy 16:16 enumerates those occasions … “Three times in a year shall ALL thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty.” (At Passover in the Spring, Pentecost in the Summer and Tabernacles in the Fall. And the “place” is Jerusalem.)

What about the New Testament people of God, the Church? This might need a multi-layered answer.

“And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” Luke 4:16, Jesus went to Temple (somewhat parallel to Church) regularly! “As His custom was!” If the Son of God went to Church, and I am to follow “in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21), then of course I am to go to Church!

Hebrews 10:25 helps here. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,” Paul writes under the Guidance of the Holy Spirit! When God’s people assemble … I am to be there! (Whether they “assemble” once or twice or even three or four times a week!)

Even the example shown in 1 Corinthians 16:2 says a lot about Church attendance! “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” Give” to the offering that is received “every Sunday” (which is the “first day” of the week) … can’t give to an offering if you are not there, present in Church every single week!

So, no doubt precedent exists for a child of God to go to Church!

(Of course, we Americans are spoiled, or used to be anyway, with the many choices of Church we might attend, all of them being Bible preaching stations! Folks are now telling me that is changing rapidly! Areas in our Country no longer have a decent place to worship God. One might, in those situations have to improvise.)

But still … back to the Lesson title … “requirement” or “privilege” … Church attendance?

Psalm 122:1 answers that for me. “I was GLAD when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” David counted it a “joy” to go to God’s House! Twice that Hebrew verb “was glad” is translated “to be merry” in our King James Bibles! (Here not “Merry Christmas,” but “merry” Church attendance!)

And if David was that joyful … I suspect I should be as well!

Hey folks … Sunday’s coming!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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