Not simply because you may get something out of it, but because your presence says something about what you value.
Doesn’t mean you don’t go on vacation (I encourage our families to travel—do it, please do it). Doesn’t mean you don’t ever get sick. Doesn’t mean you don’t travel for business.
But all in all, are you someone who is in church whenever you can be?
Signing up for jobs nobody wants.
Like the nursery. Believe it or not, if you want your church to be a family-friendly church, somebody has to volunteer to supervise the children.
Even if it’s not “your thing.”
I’m pretty sure nursery is not anyone’s thing, really. Neither is setting up for an event, mowing the grass or other such mundane stuff. But these faithful tasks are what makes a church function. And they are acts of worship and sacrifice that please the Lord.
Being on time.
And being someone your pastor and the church leadership can count on.
There are two kinds of church members, in my view. Those who we all know will be there and those whom we wonder if they will show up.
Don’t make your attendance and/or participating in a ministry commitment a game-time decision. Don’t make it depend on your faulty alarm-clock or whether or not you spent Saturday night playing Halo.
Be there. Be faithful. Be committed. Be consistent.
Committing to a regular pattern of giving.
Yes, I know you are tired of hearing this from pastors. Yes, we often ask for money in ham-handed ways. But there is hardly a better measure of your heart than your wallet. (I didn’t say that, Jesus did.)
Why is faithfulness so important?
Because it tells yourself, the world and your Lord what and whom you value. God loves His Church, His Bride. And he calls us to love Her too. I dare say your faithful participating in a local, Gospel-preaching church for a long-lifetime will do more for the Kingdom than that winsome blog post, witty tweet or Facebook rant.
So, to those who faithfully attend, do nursery, hand out bulletins, volunteer, cook meals, tithe and other church things, I salute you as Christian heros.
To those who are not as faithful, here’s your chance: Commit this week to being faithful to the local church where you are called.
