Part I:

The Lord’s Day

Written by Christopher Mentzer

I Got another e-mail from Ryan Hoover the other day. Here’s what he had to say:

RYAN: …you might recall last year I told you about Josh, a young man who was having trouble with, well everything in general. He had repented then and disappeared. I caught up with him a couple months later and the two of us spent the afternoon talking and studying the scriptures and I believe he finally got a hold of his life. He started attending services more regularly, as his job would allow him.

Just last month he told me that he was promoted and that his Sundays would be free. I encouraged him to come to both services and he said that he would. Well, he attended both services the first Sunday in August and since then he only came in the mornings and Wednesday nights. I thought his schedule at work changed but it hadn’t.

I didn’t say anything more until I overheard him talk about how he gets together with some friends every Sunday evening and watch sports. I realize that there’s nothing wrong with this, but given his “rocky” behavior from before, I thought he should be attending both services. When I asked him about it, he replied that there is nowhere in the Bible that says we should attend the evening service. I’ve tried Heb. 10: 25 but he’s not convinced. Any suggestions?

I gave it some consideration and then replied:

CHRIS: Hi Ryan, thanks for the e-mail. This problem is like the last one, that is, it’s not new. First off, since Josh can’t find evening service in the scriptures, you might ask Josh where in the Bible it says to attend the morning worship. Simply put, there is no assigned time for the assembly to come together to worship, that is according to the Bible. This is considered a general inference. We have a direct command to gather with the saints on the first day of the week in Acts 20: 7 but it doesn’t specify what time of day. In verse seven we see that Paul spoke until midnight but it doesn’t end there. In verse eleven, it says that Paul continued speaking with them until daybreak! It never said when Paul began speaking.

Secondly, focus a little more on Heb. 10: 24-25, “24. and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; 25. not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting `one another'; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.” Ask Josh how can he provoke the brethren by not being there? His lack of presence in the evening could discourage other young Christians from attending.

Thirdly, remind him that Sunday is called, The Lord’s Day not The Lord’s Hour. Since he isn’t working on that day, he should devote the entire day to God and not just an hour or two in the morning. There are too many people out there who claim to be Christians who only appear for services at Christmas and Easter. We need to be the exception. As Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 6: 17, “Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you.”

Finally, as verse 25 states, “…not forsaking our own assembling together…” This means as often as the assembly comes together, he should be there as well. Which includes Sunday evenings, Wednesdays, and any other day they meet. If work is not an issue or illness or whatever else, Josh should make an effort to attend as often as possible. It is not only beneficial to him but to those around him. He may not realize how much influence he has on others just by being there.

A couple days later I got this response…

RYAN: Hey Chris, it worked! He saw the error of his way and has repented. He’s even volunteering to lead prayer and songs for the evening services to give him extra incentive to be there. Thanks again!!