Practice Makes Perfect

I was challenged this week with the task of responding to someone who used the phrase, “Worship is a lifestyle”, as their reasoning for not attending church. I think the unfortunate popularity of this excuse calls for a reminder that our progression in sanctification is not a trip we are made to venture on alone. Here is my response:

To say, “Worship is a lifestyle”, is a very general excuse for not attending church. It doesn’t really mean anything. My cousin Lydia is a soccer player on her university team. If she regularly neglected attending practice and her coach asked her why, it would be foolish for her to respond, “soccer is a lifestyle”. She wouldn’t apply this to games, even if she thinks, “that’s when it really matters to show up”. The reality is, if she cannot be diligent in intentionally pursuing her betterment and honing in on the skillsets she has at practice, she will lose grip of them. By not making the effort to progress, it isn’t that she would remain at the same skill level she’s currently at, rather she would regress. So, when the “real thing” comes around and she decides to finally show up, she will find herself beaten time and time again. If she doesn’t show up to practice, there is no way she will be able to last when toe to toe with the real opposition.

            Furthermore, if her assumption is that she practices better on her own in an unorganized setting, the logic still falls flat. She can still practice on her own and in the manner she wishes on her own time. However, she belongs to something that is larger than herself. She is a member of a group who are also trying to get better at the sport. It would be selfish to rob them of her effort in their betterment.

            The worshipful lifestyle of the Christian is similar in these qualities. It is self-defeating for someone to make the general statement, “worship is a lifestyle” as an excuse for their disobedience of what that lifestyle requires. There are rules to soccer, just as there are commands for the Christian. If the choice is to disobey such things, regardless of what sort that disobedience is, its still disobedience. If it is neglect of practice, you set everyone, including yourself up for failure. If it is insubordination to the coach during the actual match, any hope of a post-match “Well done”, is replaced with an assurance of some form of discipline.

In the Christian life, if we forsake the assembly of believers[1], we will bend with the winds of the world, rather than assuming the posture of an olive tree firmly planted in the household of God.[2] When the tragedy and malevolence of life is made manifest, we will find ourselves uprooted, and perhaps our fellow believers will as well due to our neglect of their care. For we know according to Scripture that iron sharpens iron.[3] We belong to something greater than ourselves, and our neglect of each other will be sorely felt. Even if for some reason you believe that you don’t need to attend church, your neighbor very well might need you to. Why rob others of your being there for them, of your encouragement, and of your accountability? In his book, On Worship: A Short Guide to Understanding, Participating In, and Leading Corporate Worship, H.B Charles Jr. writes, “True and saving faith will foster love for that which Christ loves, the church” … and makes plain to us also, “You need the encouragement that comes from the assembling of the saints. The more evil the days become, the more you need this encouragement”.[4]

The assertion itself is evidence of the contrary. The claim that one doesn’t need to attend church, is proof that that person really ought to be in church! For if they were in church, they might learn that Scripture actually requires our congregating, may be convicted of the fact that that they are living in disobedience, and may be encouraged towards correction.[5]

CITATIONS

[1]  Hebrews 10:24-25

[2]  Psalm 52:8-9

[3]  Proverbs 27:17

[4]  H.B Charles Jr, On Worship: A Short Guide to Understanding, Participating In, and Leading Corporate Worship (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2022), 70.

[5]  See 1 John 2:19