I am the first to admit that I feel this from time to time. It's Sunday morning and it's time to get up, take a shower, get dressed in "nice" clothes and attend the worship service of the local church of Christ and I just don't feel like it. Maybe it is because a lack of spirituality in my life at that time, maybe it is because I am dealing with some inward conflict or it might be because I know that I am likely to be convicted by something that God has said or the attitudes and examples of my fellow brethren. Whatever the cause, the statement that comes out is, "I just don't get much out of worship." 

I wonder if you've been in the same boat at times? You don't have to answer that because I know that you have! We all have. We might not have said it out loud, we might not EVER admit it but we have all felt this at times. But I don't think that statement is in and of itself a bad thing because it shows a longing in one's heart to "get something out" of the worship service (cf. Psalm 63:1-5). 

He wants to worship correctly (i.e. in spirit and in Truth - John 4:24) but feels as though he is not able to because something is holding him back. He wants to feel as though he is fulfilling his earthly duty (Ecclesiastes 13:12) but something, whether that be his heart or physical stresses, is standing in his way. 

However, that feeling fails to realize a few points. 

Have you ever wanted the results of working out without the actual effort? It's the same concept. Worship (namely: prayer, singing, taking the Lord's Supper, giving and study) takes effort on our part (Philippians 4:6, Colossians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 2 Corinthians 9:2, Galatians 1:6-10) and that effort will result in the satisfaction that we are seeking when we say something like "I just don't get much out of worship." 

A person that is active in ministry and worship will not only be productive for Christ, but he will reap the earthly benefits of such. 

The Hebrews writer made it very clear that gathering for worship with the correct intent and end in mind results in the church's being edified (Hebrews 10:24-25). Paul stated that worship results in a better me (Philippians 4:6-7). And it even produces a stronger family (Ephesians 6:4) - A family that worships together, stays together! 

Now, which of those results is a detriment to the future? The answer is absolutely none. Not because just going to worship and punching a time card, if you will, has any lasting effects, but because the active worship of an individual produces actual blessings in his life! 

Remember, it isn't necessarily wrong to think "I don't get much out of worship" but it is wrong to think that that feeling negates the necessity of our putting our all into worship. When we realize these things, we will be able to see that we get out of worship only when we put into worship. 

     We've all heard of them, and maybe even have said them from time to time but there are undoubtedly a number of cliche answers for the inevitable question of where a family was in the place of the worship service. Sometimes the question is asked out of sheer curiosity, other times it is asked out of a judgmental spirit and still other times it's asked out of a genuinely Christian love for brethren and interest in their spiritual welfare. That's right, this question CAN, and I would suggest often does, come from a pure Christian heart simply trying to help where there might be a need! But, nonetheless, there are those cookie-cutter answers that everyone hears from time to time when trying to carry out the brotherly love that is vital to the fellowship of the church of Jesus Christ. Here are some of those excuses...

     It is beginning to be the time of year where this one will really take a toll on the attendance numbers of the local churches. It's the excuse that, when summed up, speaks to the preparation and spiritual identity of the one saying it. This statement, although probably true, gives insight into the priorities of the family in question! 

     Jesus Christ is to be our priority above and beyond every other thing that can or will come into our lives (Matthew 6:33), and the worship of Him is the primary goal in Christianity (Ecclesiastes 12:13, John 4:24). Sure, there are other purposes to Christianity, like evangelism and benevolence (Matthew 28:19-20, James 1:27) but without the worship of Jesus those are nothing more than invitations to a social club and community activism! But, when a family fails to schedule where they will worship the Lord during their various travels they have not only failed Jesus, they have failed the brethren (cf. Hebrews 10:24-25) and, possibly more importantly, they have failed their children in that they have failed to teach the younger generations that a worshipful mindset is crucial to a good life (Ephesians 6:4-5). 

     I know that worship is sometimes on the back of the person's mind when he is driving the family van across the countryside and combating the "Are we there yet" questions and the relentless bathroom stops, but that isn't when we should schedule where we're going to worship! The decision should be made long before the family ever puts a bag in the car! It's more important than planning where the family will sleep while on vacation! In fact, it might make all the other decisions more easily answered when there is a amusement park down the street from the church building or a hotel on the same block. 

     No, this excuse is dangerous to the spiritual welfare of the one making the statement, the trip itinerary and the little ones that will one day grow up to take their families on similar trips only to "forget" to find a good church near their destination. Let's not let this excuse be our answer when we come home from an amazing trip because it's not a good trip if the family didn't take the time to do the most important thing they could have done while gone. 

     The alarm clock rings, the family jumps into the showers or starts breakfast and begins the day. And with the number of children in the family or the fact that there was a failure to iron the clothes or some other reason they begin to slip behind the ritual time schedule of a typical Sunday morning. When they finally get ready and in the car they realize that it is now 11:15 and worship started 15 minutes ago. Since it takes about 5-10 minutes to arrive at the building depending on traffic they are now at the point of a very important decision. Will the family sleek into the auditorium in the very middle of the service only to be met with stares and just a few seats left on the back row, mainly because of all the other families that were late that morning taking up the other seats, or will they simply give up and "try for tonight"? I'd be willing to venture that many of us have been in this situation! But, when asked later or the topic comes up have we been guilty of this excuse?

     Let me say this, we all understand that families run late sometimes! And we all understand that some brethren can be a little too judgmental about it happening. But, which is more important, worshiping God in spirit and in truth regardless of the fact that you missed the first few songs and the announcements or completely failing to do so because you were worried about what people might say? We wouldn't allow people to think that we can fail to follow God because we are scared of people's opinion of us afterward with regard to any other command, why does attendance at worship change that? My understanding is, it doesn't. 

     Now, let me speak to those of us sitting in the church building when these families arrive somewhat disheveled because their family of 5 got ready to leave their house quicker than it takes to read this article. Paul made it very clear that we are to wait for one another when we're about to take the Lord's Supper and people are not present for one reason or another. But we know that this can't be a constant thing when it's a question if the person is even going to show up and the church would be left to take Communion at 11:00 pm each week to make sure everyone is there beforehand. No, the point of Paul's exhortation was that brethren should not judge one other with regard to "tardiness" and should understand and stop judging those that show up a little late. That doesn't take away the responsibility to prioritize and try to be on time, but there shouldn't be judging coming from brethren when a family is late!

     This is the most dangerous of all, in my estimation! This excuse isn't just because of poor planning or a fear of judgement, it's because of a misunderstanding of Christianity altogether. The person that says this seems to have a serious problem with flippancy when it comes to the worship of God. This is the mindset of the "forsaking" of Hebrews 10:25. While the person hasn't forsaken the assembly altogether, he may be there next week or even every week for the next month, but this is the mindset which leads one to do such. What if Jesus didn't really feel like being with you that week and He left you without His providential hand above you? We all go through valleys in our faith sometimes, but the answer to these valleys isn't absence from the assembly it is the exact opposite. 

     When you least feel like being at worship services, that's when you need to be there the most!  That is when the devil is going to try his hardest to break you and if you are absent you aren't doing anything to to help yourself fight him. I believe this is why the Lord commanded that His Christians meet weekly (cf. Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2). He knows what is best, that is the guiding factor in His giving laws and ordinances to follow, and He knew that we need regular fellowship and worship together to stay strong and stand against Satan and temptation. And if we aren't there for that encouragement (cf. Hebrews 10:24) we have opened ourselves up for an attack that we will not be able to fight alone. 

     There've been excellent materials coming from the internet for Christians to utilize in their faith and walk with God. Here are 5 of my favorites from the recent past. 

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