Vacation from the Church

While school is finally out for the summer break, it was only just a few short weeks ago that students were feverishly busy about the task of nightly homework assignments. While this is meant to serve as a means of ingraining instruction into young minds, parents understand that a child’s summer break also releases them for at least a few weeks of re-learning math, science, history, and any other number of subjects for which they believed their diploma secured them from ever having to study again. Countless times, I have found myself befuddled as to why the way that I learned math has been ousted for a new and better method, which my children end up teaching to me as I am helping them! Thankfully, I do not have to go back to elementary school; it might take me 12-15 years to complete rather than the 6 years that are recommended! Nevertheless, there have been valuable lessons learned by this pesky homework, not just to my children, but also to myself. One regular homework assignment was the reading of a short book or story. We went through many books each week just to meet the requirement. However, several weeks ago we came across a book in our own church library that reinforced a valuable truth.

The title of the book is The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School. While I won’t give away any of the vivid details (I will let you check it out for yourself), our race to get finished with the assignment strengthened the resolve of our family toward something we have come to hold so dear. Since families are now desperately taking advantage of the break from the normal schedule of school, we can easily be deceived into believing that the most important family memories must be had on a vacation from the norm. While relaxing days at the beach or holiday retreats are something every family should enjoy, these activities tend to consume our current culture. Before we even realize, we can take 2-3 months of escape from the norm and find that regular church attendance is also discarded. As we strive to de-stress our lives and enjoy the break, is it really best for our families to allow weekly worship to take a leave of absence? Is the church really important enough to make a part of our family’s routine?

While there are innumerable reasons listed throughout the Scriptures, I want to provide you with just five reasons why your family cannot afford to take a vacation from weekly worship with your church.

1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Focus of the Church.

There are certainly great things to be had while on vacation, which is precisely why every family must take them if able. However, there is no other activity to which you will be involved in which the focus will be the gospel. Your local church is committed to teaching the gospel. Scripture claims the gospel is uniquely powerful because it alone has the power to save (Romans 1:16). While a day at the beach or a morning of sleeping in may bring enjoyment, it will hold no weight in eternity. On judgment day, no one will be longing for just a few more days of vacation. However, the gospel will be precious on that day. And the church holds out this gospel.

2. Regular Church Attendance is the Emphasis of the New Testament.

While it has become popular in our culture to divorce spirituality from church attendance, it is a lifestyle absent for believers in Scripture. Not only did Jesus start the local church and give His life for the local church, but it was His expectation that His followers would attend church—regularly. Matthew 18:15-17; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; Hebrews 13:17; and 1 Peter 5:2 and are just a few examples that regular church attendance is a given in the life of a believer. Additionally, Hebrews 10:24-25 explains that the habit of missing church is detrimental to Christian faith.

3. It is by Regular Church Attendance that We Put Feet to Our Faith.

The commands which are given to us by Jesus to love, forgive, go on missions, serve, witness, show generosity, and grow in faithfulness find their greatest expressions in the regular practices of the local church. One who claims to follow Jesus but does not regularly attend church is akin to one who claims to be a fisherman, yet never gets near the water!

4. The Greatest Encouragement for Growth in Christ Comes Through the Church.

The great evangelist Billy Graham stated it well. “You need to be in fellowship of a church…If you separate a live coal from the others, it will soon die out. However, if you put a live coal in with other live coals, it will be a glow that will last for hours.” How tragic to think that our choice for leisure might cost us the treasures of Christ!

5. It is Through the Church that We Invest Wisely Into Eternity.

Make no mistake. Each day of your life is an investment into eternity. Each of us have spent countless days investing unwisely. However, when we invest our lives into the local church, we can be certain that it will last. At the end of Revelation, we read that it is the Church alone that Jesus will unite to Himself for all eternity (Revelation 19:6-9; Ephesians 5:25-27). When our lives pass through the fire of judgment, will we be left with “wood, hay, or straw” or "gold, silver, and precious stones” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13)?

Please don’t misunderstand. Everyone needs rest, and vacation is a wonderful opportunity for this. For the sake of your family and your sanity, go on vacation! However, don’t allow the excuse of leisure to keep you from missing church for weeks and months on end. Even the Berenstain Bears know that this will lead only to great trouble.

Jason