From the Elder's Pen "Should We Attend Every Service?" 07/21/02 Past/Future Articles

 God made man a free born agent.  He is free to decide to choose right or wrong, to obey, follow Christ and be saved, or to reject him and be eternally lost.  Christ said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).  Every time we assemble for worship, whether it be on the Lord’s day, mid-week Bible study, or at any other time designated by the elders, Christ is also present.  When we make every effort possible and are present at every service of the church, we are saying “I am to be here because I am in the presence of the Lord.”  When we absent ourselves from ANY service, except it be for some uncontrollable reason (we can not call it providential, because providence is from God), and God is not going to keep anyone from attending any service of His church for any reason.  We can read Matthew chapter 25 to learn the judgement of those who do His will and of those who do not His will.  Dear Christians, we do not attend ANY church service because we HAVE to.  If we love the Lord as we should, we will WANT to be present at EVERY service.