Every Sunday Church?

The French Atheist, Voltaire said, "If you wish to destroy the Christian religion you must first destroy the Christian Sunday."



Exodus 31:13 (ESV)
"You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, 'Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.
Exodus 31:15 (ESV)
Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death.


God instructed that Moses place a golden jar – with manna in the Ark of the Covenant. It was a perpetual reminder to Israel of God’s provision – and the Sabbath rest - one day when God rested – one day when He did not supply, because He had already supplied a double portion.

For us not to rest and enjoy His benefits is an insult to God. It is to say that I don’t need God’s help or provision. It is the utmost declaration of independence from God. When the faithless gatherers sought to hold on to more manna than was allowed it became spoiled with maggots. Their extra work and sense of self-preservation turned into a disaster. Can’t we see how this is the view that so many have about observing Sabbath today? We have many good reasons not to attend the assembly of the saints. We even tell ourselves we need the rest. We play hard on Saturdays and even work long hours and then when the first day of the week – which belongs to the Lord- comes, we think physical rest is needed. Just a couple of hours at church seem too laborious and too stressful.

Our attempts to find rest or an extra hour at work, apart from God’s provisions turns into maggot food, as we wake up Monday morning even more tired and depleted, perhaps not in body, but in soul. God seems distant and your spiritual well is dry. Well then we wonder, “Why God have you left me”? And God replies, “I have not left you my poor child, you did not come and drink from my fountain.” This is the secret, which is loudly declared in the Bible – there is no other fountain! Worship is not imitated on the golf course, the TV or in the quiet confines of one’s room. It ought to spill over into those areas, but it flows from the appointed means God has given us. I feel great sorrow for those that neglect worship on a regular basis. Can we turn into law enforcers and penalize those to whom something is more important than church? We ought to listen to the wife of C.S. Lewis on this issue - “Stop trying to force or terrify or bribe men into attendance. A forced churchgoer has no religion, a terrified churchgoer has no morals. We don’t want men who come to church because the golf course is closed, but men who prefer God to golf.” (Davidman, pg. 58). We can’t do anything to contrive a forced love for Christ. We desire above all that our people come, because they long to more than anything else. Nor can we draw people with mocha cappuccinos, good entertainment and fun. All we can do is to offer a place for lovers of God to come and pray and to hear Him speak. If that is not enough, then nothing is.