Is It a Sin to Miss a Worship Service of the Church?

Is it a sin to miss just one service of the church? Absolutely not! However it is a sin to forsake the assembling of the saints. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:25).

This passage in Hebrews is obviously not speaking of the sick and shut-ins, those on vacation, or having to work in support of their families, and others who are also hindered beyond their control. This is speaking of those who are able to come and choose not to show up at services.

Some will argue, “but this passage does not say Sunday night or Wednesday night.” True, but it does not say “Sunday morning” either. Some reinterpret this passage to say “do not forsake the Sunday morning assembly.” Remember it is not talking about an “assembly,” but the act of “assembling.” Thus it includes all actions of the saints assembling together, whether it be Sunday night and Wednesday night as well as Sunday morning. For example, a boss tells his work crew not to forsake the assembling together with the other workers. When? Whenever, the other workers are assembling to work. If the worker, does not show up when the others are assembling together, he has forsaken his boss. He may be fired. Two mistakes are made with regard to this verse. First, thinking it says forsake not the “assembly”, but it actually says “assembling.” Thinking it meant the Sunday morning only, when it means any time the church meets.

When does forsaking the assembling of the saints become a sin? If one doesn’t sin when he indifferently misses just one service, how many times does he have to forsake before he sins? 2,4,6, or 100 times? The truth of the matter is that if it is a sin to willfully miss a 100 assemblies, it is a sin to forsake just one service. If not, why not?

Brother Ben Putinoff, for example, misses an assembly, but no one takes any notice of it; he misses eight or ten and the church begins to wonder. Finally, he is absent a whole year, and the elders go out to talk with him. What if he should ask for the specific time at which he became a sinner? What could they say? How many times do you have to steal before it’s stealing? How many times does someone have to commit adultery before they become a fornicator? As clearly as the New Testament teaches us not to commit adultery or not to steal or not to murder, it teaches “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”.

Still others will ask: “Do I have to go to church?” This is like asking,

• “Do I have to study and learn God’s Word?”
• “Do I have to talk to God in prayer with my fellow worshipers?”
• “Do I have to remember his death for my sins by partaking of the Lord’s Supper with the saints?”
• “Do I have to be about my Father’s business?”
• “Do I have to try to save my brother from hell?”
• “Do I have to exhort and provoke one another to love and good works?”
• “Do I have to give back to God on the first day of the week when the saints are gathered together?”

All these commandments associated with attendance are essential. Remember, God has given no non-essential commands!

The Hebrew writer goes on to warn those who forsake the assembling of the saints of several consequences.

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (Heb. 10:26-29).

These ancient brethren were being tempted to renounce Christ, such would be to sin willfully. One of the symptoms of a heart about to renounce Christ is the habit of non-attendance. A priest who neglected his duty was at the Tabernacle was given the death penalty. To willfully forsake the assembling together is to trample under foot the very Son of God. What if someone did this to your son? Would they be guilty of sin?

If a Christian continues to forsake, there is nothing to look forward to but Judgment. “For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God’” (Heb. 10:30,31). If you were confronted with a record of your attendance for the past year, you may be astonished at the number of times you were absent from services. The Lord keeps a complete and perfect record of all my works. I will be judged by both the book containing Hebrews10:25 and the record of my deeds both good and bad (2 Cor. 5:10). If you have missed a Sunday morning service when you could have been there you have forsaken the assembling of the saints or a Sunday night or Sunday morning Bible study or Wednesday night or a Gospel meeting night.

If you want to find another passage which will help support that idea that forsaking an assembling of the saints is a sin, try James 4:17: “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Assembling with the saints is doing good: encouraging others, worshiping God, being edified, etc. It is doing good, therefore not to do it is a sin. When one has a knowledge of what is right in the discharge of one’s duty, but willfully refuses to fulfill it, then that is sin. In light of this one needs to ask themselves: “Am I sinning by not attending Sunday evening and Wednesday evening, if I am able to attend?”

– Daniel R. Vess

Why I Attend Services Every Sunday Night

•  It is still the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10).
•  Forsaking an assembling of the saints is wrong (Heb. 10:25).
•  Presents time to communion with others who did not have a chance to take the Lord’s Supper on Sunday morning (1 Cor. 11:23f)
•  Gives me another chance to learn from God’s Word.
•  Presents an opportunity to teach and admonish others while singing hymns (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).
•  Helps me encourage others and provoke them to love and good works (Heb. 10:23-25).
•  Helps me not to sin willfully and trample under my feet the Son of God (Heb. 10:29).
•  Gives me a chance to be with the Lord and fellow saints (Matt. 18:20).
•  Sets a good example for family, friends, neighbors, and even my enemies.
•  I can be present with and greet the people I have invited to attend.
•  If I were to die on Sunday evening there would be no better place to be (Heb. 9:27).
•  Assists in my effort to put God and His kingdom first (Matt. 6:33).
•  Practice for worshiping God forever in Heaven.
•  One more opportunity to pray with and for one another (James 5:16).
•  If the Lord would return on Sunday evening and not find me at worship I would not want to miss raising to meet him in the air with all the saints (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

– Daniel R. Vess