Dale Ridge church of Christ

Traffic.  It’s everyhwere, all around us.  Our modern lives seem to revolve around either going somewhere, or returning.  It has been well said that the 21st century American travels farther, and more frequently, in a single day than any other people in the history of the world.  Our highways and byways are nearly always congested with traffic.

Yet have you noticed the relative lack of cars on the road, come Sunday morning?  Saturday morning – yes all there.  Monday morning – you bet, cars & trucks abound.  So what happens on Sunday morning?  All the keys that were in the ignition Saturday night disappear.  Or do they?

Every Sunday morning I do see traffic.  But most of it is heading the direction opposite my family’s vehicle.  Cars are hauling boats to the lake.  Back seats are filled with golf bags.  Motorists are filling up gas tanks at the station, preparing for the weekly lawn mowing.  Parking lots at the excercise center are filled.

This phenomenon is not noticed by me alone.  My six year old son offers a brilliant lesson when he too sees the choices others make on Sunday morning.

“Daddy, all these people need to be going to the church building.  We need to preach more.”

Indeed son, they do.  And indeed, we do need more faithful Gospel preaching.

Our Bibles plainly teach that Sunday is the Lord’s Day – Revelation 2:10.  As the first day of the week, it is the day on which 1st century Christians met for worship and partaking of the Lord’s Supper - Acts 20:7.

Non inspired early writers also refer to Sunday as the authorized day of worship.    Eusebius, Justin Martyr, Ignatius of Antioch, Dionysius of Corinth, and many others all attest to 1st and 2nd century adherence to the Biblical teaching.

Sadly, many today allow the distractions of the world to hold more influence in the prioritization of their lives, than does the Word of God.  The apostle John teaches us that we are to not fall prey to the attraction of this world:

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”   1st John 2:15

Further in this same epistle, John teaches us that our love of God is demonstrated by our adherance to His commandments:

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:  and his commandments are not grievous.”  1st John 5:3-4

Lastly, is it only on Sunday that the children of God are to gather?  Indeed not.  Again from the Biblical example, we see obedient New Testament Christians coming togather often for the purpose of Bible study, teaching, and exhortation.  Start with Acts 2:46 and read though till you reach Revelation 22:21!

In a passage dealing with willful sin in the knowledgeable Christian’s life, the Hebrew writer admonishes:

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:25

Let us be those that hold fast to the Word, and by our example in steadfast attendance whenever we are physically able, exhort our brethren in the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23).

May we heed God’s traffic sign, and bear in one direction only – toward the church building – at every established meeting time.

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Filed under: Authors, Gregg Alexander on August 1st, 2008