QUESTION: What do you think about people who will miss the services of the church to attend a ballgame, to watch TV, to go shopping, etc.?

ANSWER: The child of God must remember the importance of putting God first in his life at all times. God, Christ, His Word, the Church, spiritual things must be a priority in our life. From Matthew 6:33 we learn our obligation is “putting first things first.” The apostle Paul in Colossians 3:1-2 enjoins upon us, those who have been baptized, to “seek those things above” and “set your affections on things above, not on things on earth.” How can a person claim to be doing that while at the same time “willfully forsaking the services of the church’ for ballgames, some tv program, etc.? I suggest to you that it cannot be done.

          Not only that, think about the example that one is setting when such occurs. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Here are some questions that needs to be asked and answered: (1) Is it a good work to miss the services of the church for such things? NO! (2) Are they glorifying God by such actions? NO! When a person will honestly answer those two questions, then it should be evident that those who do such things, that their light is not shining for good.

          Such conduct cannot be acceptable to God. Those who do such things must change and repent of such actions to please God.

- - Jerry Joseph