Some Christians live in a fantasy world that being a faithful Christian means showing up at every service of the congregation wherein they are members and that’s it.  In fact, there are those that think they are extraordinary Christians because they attend every service of the local church.  They walk in as though they are saying, “look at me, I have perfect attendance”.  If being a faithful Christian were only about showing up for Bible Classes and worship services the New Testament would be a rather thin record.

     When an article or discussion on a subject matter like this is put forth, there has to be some clarifications for those who are always looking to misrepresent something.  This article is not teaching that one is okay if they aren’t attending every service of the local church.  Attending to study and worship with the brethren in the local church is a commanded action (I Corinthians 11:18-33 and Hebrews 10:23-25).  Furthermore, no faithful Christian would ever willfully decide not to assemble with the saints.  One who would not faithfully assemble with the saints is not putting Christ first in their lives (Matthew 6:33, Acts 2:42, Colossians 3:1-3, and I John 5:2-3).  Furthermore, there is much more to putting Christ first than just assembling regularly with the saints.

     Jesus said: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Matthew 23:23).  True faithfulness to the Lord is doing all that He requires of thee not leaving anything undone.  In fact, even when we have done all that God requires of us we still cannot carry the arrogant attitude that we are some special person for doing what’s expected in the first place.  Jesus taught this very clearly.  Notice what Jesus said: “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?  And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?  Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do” (Luke 17:7-10).
 
     Imagine for a moment that a law firm has hired a person to be a secretary.  This person has said that he or she is willing to fill the job description.  The first day at work the secretary is given a company handbook to read, a list of tasks to complete for the day, and the numbers to call if he or she needs help.  At the end of the day the boss walks up to the secretary and asks for the completed work.  The secretary says, “Hey, I showed up, I read the book, but I simply don’t want to do all that is recorded here or my tasks for today.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”   We all know that would be an unemployed secretary.

     When a Christian obeys the Gospel they need to realize they are forsaking all to follow Christ (Luke 14:33).  Christ is now going to literally become their life (Colossians 3:4).  The word of God is the proverbial employee handbook.  A Christian is expected to do all that Christ has instructed to be done without failing even in one point (James 2:10).  Assembling with brethren is just the tip of a huge iceberg of expectations that God has for us.  Maybe the truth is many who call themselves Christians have never desired to do it all, they just want to show up for appearance sake.

     Services are over and it’s time to get back to your life, right?  No, that’s not right.  However, that is the thought process of too many “faithful in attendance” today.  The truth is: the church is full of frauds.  The frauds act just for the sake of being seen by men.  This is not something new.  What we see today in fake Christians was the way of the religious elite in Jesus’ time on this earth (Matthew 6:1-7; 16).  The Scribes and Pharisees did their works to be seen of men (Matthew 23:5).  The same disgust that Jesus had for the pretenders of His day will also be of those fakes of our day as well.  Notice what Jesus said: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:25-28).  Forget how you appear to others to be with the Lord.  Take time to really find out where you are with Him!

     You can show up for every service time, Gospel Meeting, and study the brethren ever have and still burn in Hell for an eternity.  Knowing the truth, believing Christ, openly confessing the Lord, fearing God, even partial obedience to our Lord puts you right where the demons are (Luke 4:33-35 and James 2:19).  If you really want to “show up” for our Lord it has to be everywhere and all the time.  Christ wants all of your heart, mind, and soul (Matthew 22:37).  So, if you’re not already, give him more than just a few hours out of your week.  Give Him your whole life (Luke 14:26-27).  If you need to repent, it is required of you to stop committing all of the sins in your life (Ezekiel 14:6).  This will make you more than just someone who attends services.  Turning to God with your whole heart will make you right with the Lord (II Kings 23:25 and I John 3:8-9)!