Written by: Tendai Chitsike
Article source: JOY! Magazine

Judges 21:25 is a scripture that is incredibly apt for our age. It reads, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Nowadays, one is repeatedly urged to ‘live your truth,’ as though truth means whatever we wish it to mean, with no reference to an unchanging standard. As Christians living in the present age, we too have gullibly imbibed this idea far too often. Rather than dismiss God completely, the temptation in our generation is to mould God into “our truth”.

Church membership has dropped
An area where this has been applied has been that of regular church attendance. Applying the current fashionable idea to this area, we are tempted to think: ‘Church attendance is no big deal. After all, I’m saved by grace, and Christianity is about a relationship, not a religion. I can worship Jesus anywhere, and I don’t need to go to a building to do that.’
What has brought such a person to this point? Outwardly it sounds quite spiritual, with even some Bible sprinkled in. But as a whole, it goes against the clear example and exhortation of scripture, overlooking the practice of the saints who were “devoted to the fellowship” (Acts 2) and ignoring the encouragement to not give up meeting together (Heb 10:25).

If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that such a posture towards church attendance is based not on the idea that God’s Word is settled truth, but rather that what we think or feel is in fact authoritative.

Throwing paraffin onto an existing flame
The idea of ‘my truth’ was already in vogue prior to the pandemic, but what has happened since is akin to throwing paraffin onto a pre-existing flame. Church analyst Carey Nieuwhof has remarked on how church attendance is still far lower today than in the pre-Covid era in North America, and several pastors I have spoken to have echoed the same.
In retrospect, I should have been more pro-active in countering the narrative, perhaps with an entire sermon series preaching on how and why church attendance is ‘essential.’

We need to stay encouraged
Returning to Hebrews 10:25, it says: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

From this, we see that a key purpose of gathering together as believers is to encourage one another in the faith. The opposite is of course true – that if we habitually avoid meeting together, we will be discouraged in the faith, and from there, we can gradually wander from the faith entirely.

I believe that Charles Spurgeon illustrated this by removing a coal from other burning coals. One minute it was burning brightly, but once isolated, its flame quickly died out. Such discouragement does not only come regarding our faith, but also regarding the stresses of life in general.

Attending church is great for you
According to a Gospel Coalition article, “A recent survey found that church attendance correlated with less depression; less suicide; less emotional-pain medicators, such as smoking and substance abuse; greater social support; greater meaning in life; greater life satisfaction; and children more likely to grow up happy.”
Shockingly, according to the Washington Times, “Regular churchgoers were the ONLY segment of the population whose mental health actually improved in a pandemic-wracked 2020.”

Our own truth is a lie
While the mantra of ‘live your truth’ may sound appealing, current and historical records show that we do a terrible job of being our own god. In contrast, while Godly discipline is never easy to begin with (or return to), it produces “a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12: 11

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Date published: 24/09/2022
Tendai Chitsike – Pastor of Every Nation Church in Makhanda. Email: engrahamstown@gmail.com

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