Spiritual Punches

I was recently re-reading Josh Harris' book, Stop Dating the Church, and came across a phrase that really stood out: "spiritual punch."

A friend of mine was recently telling some of the college students at our church that it seemed they were in need of some spiritual punches. What I think he and Josh Harris meant by this is that many Christians are spiritually lazy and need a good awakening—even a painful one—so that they may be engaged and active in their local body of Christ.

In his short book, What Is A Healthy Church Member?, Thabiti M. Anyabwile lists 8 visible expressions of a committed church member:

1. Attends regularly
   
2. Seeks peace
   
3. Edifies others
   
4. Warns and admonishes others
   
5. Pursues reconciliation
6. Bears with others
   
7. Prepares for the ordinances
   
8. Supports the work of the ministry
   

After looking at this list, what immediately jumps out at me is that the very first item—"attends regularly"—is somehow one of the most difficult duties for many Christians to fulfill. This is troubling to consider.

The regular weekly worship service is not an option for Christians. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for the Church, and God expects His people to show their gratefulness and exhibit humble obedience by showing up every Sunday to worship Him. As Anyabwile writes, "Being present, being known, and being active are the only ways to make Christian love possible (Heb. 1:24-25)." But for whatever reason, being not present, unknown, and inactive in church is the way of life for too many Christians.

These Christians need spiritual punches!

Not only is it difficult for some church members to show up for worship regularly, but it is likewise disheartening to see the even more noticeable lack of attendance at Sunday school and evening services. These meetings are also ordained by God for the good of His people. These are great times of teaching, encouragement, and fellowship that too many people miss out on. And they're free! How many Christians are so serious about getting an education or sending their children to get educations, but when it comes to them getting biblical education from Sunday school, so many people opt out? Think how much it would encourage the leaders of your church if Sunday school classrooms were filled and prayer services were expanded to include a majority of the congregation. Think how this would please God. And then think how discouraging it must be for your elders when only a small number of the church members make any effort at all to regularly attend these services that are meant for their benefit.

These Christians need spiritual punches!

Being that today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, our congregation met tonight to pray on behalf of our brothers and sisters worldwide who are being severely persecuted for their testimony of Christ. It is sobering to know that Christians in other parts of the world are suffering for their faith so intensely that they must meet in secret to worship lest they be found out by their neighbors who would turn them over to the local governments for punishment. Some Christians in China travel many miles by foot to meet with their fellow believers to read God's Word and pray. What a wonderful testimony these foreign Christians provide to us in America; and what a poor example we are to them of fundamental Christian living.

We all have our excuses for our sin (yes, I said "sin"), don't we? Our excuses may include anything from driving distance to poor weather to slight headaches to oversleeping to other "pressing obligations" (work, school, house chores, etc.). But all of these excuses fail to justify the lack of regular attendance at the services of the local church. Corporate worship is just one day out of seven. Even with Sunday school and prayer service, it's only three of four hours out of 168 hours in a week. Usually all it takes is a better time management plan and re-prioritizing of one's life to find the time for God (something that should always be at the top of our "to do" list!).

What every excuse boils down to is this: a lack of desire to meet with God and his people. There is absolutely no other way to spin it—some Christians are just plain lazy.

(Because I can already hear some readers accusing me over over-generalization, I will concede that there are such things as "providential hindrances" and "legitimate reasons" why one might skip a service here and there. But I hope it is obvious that I am not referring to those examples.)

Brother or sister in Christ, if you have fallen away from regular attendance at the established meetings of the church of which you are a member, allow these words from the Lord to convict your hearts and encourage you to do your spiritual duty:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
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.
Hebrews 10:24-25

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
I Timothy 4:13

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:18

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers
in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
I Timothy 4:12

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD.
Isaiah 58:13-14

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Matthew 22:37

We need to discipline ourselves. We need to form godly habits now. We need to feel the discomfort of carrying the cross of Christ on our backs so that we may experience the joy of walking with Him. And most of all, we're probably all in need of a good spiritual punch!

I find myself coming back to the hard-hitting words of the Keith Green song:

"Jesus rose from the dead…
And you—you can't even get out of bed!"

How's THAT for a spiritual punch?!