Amos sternly rebuked the people of his day. They were making a mockery of the worship of God. Some among the Jews were actually saying, "When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat? Skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat." (Amos 8:5-6.)

Under the Law of Moses, the Jews were forbidden to work on the Sabbath day and other religious or holy days. Some could not wait until the Sabbath was over so that they could get back to cheating people and making crooked business deals.

After reading books like Amos and Malachi (where he accused them of offering blind and sick animals to God---1:10-14), I am convinced that things have not changed much. Worshippers today cannot wait until the services are over. We come late and leave early. About half of the membership does not attend Bible study on Sunday and Wednesday. We have a segment of the brotherhood who do not believe in Sunday School. They try to make biblical arguments against having them. If they sincerely believe their position, they are better off than we are because we are against Bible classes for lesser reasons. We just do not like them; do not want to participate; we had rather be sleeping, or drinking coffee and reading the morning paper. It just requires too much work to get dressed and be here on time.

These who were so behaving in Amos’ and Malachi’s day, like those in ours, were not just a few who had not learned better. They are not those who are new to the church and do not understand. They are rather those who have are most acquainted with the church and the benefits of Bible study. They are among the "pillars" of the church. They are "leaders" and teachers! Some teach a class one quarter and forsake assemblies the next.

Before we go much farther, we should pause and make some general observations about attendance.

1) I have observed that in every church I know there are always a dedicated group of people who you can always count on---among both teachers and students. It does not take long to find out who they are and to see their interest and faithfulness. You have benefited over the years by your diligence; you did it not because there was some law about it but because there is so much grace in the Gospel.

2) I have noticed that the ones who are the most faithful in attending every service often are those who have good reasons for not doing so. The elderly and those battling various diseases and other health concerns are among the most dedicated. Those much younger, whose bodies are much stronger, are often among those who forsake. Neal Pollard told about the diligence of Michael Jones who attended one session of their lectures at Cold Harbor though he was very weak and in a wheel chair. Did he attend just because he was dying? No, that was his established custom in life.

3) I admit that you may have to attend "walking against the wind." As a student or teacher, you may not receive the recognition or encouragement that you deserve. Your teacher may not even be present, or often be late. The lessons may be poorly prepared. There may be other more serious problems that give you every reason not to attend. I understand and admit the possibility of that. I want to encourage you to "walk against the wind" if need be. Jesus had to do so during his life. He lived every day knowing that in just a few years he would be crucified.

4) I admit that how often we assemble is a matter of judgment. The early church did not meet on Wednesday evenings. I know that they did not do so regularly because Paul often waited for seven days to meet with the brethren. If they met on Wednesdays, the most he would have to wait would be 3 or 4 days. Hebrews 10:25 is not speaking of every assembly of the church, but rather the Christian assembly. If one left that assembly, he was forsaken Christianity and Christ. There was nothing more to look forward to but the judgment of Christ. Hebrews 10:25 and Matthew 6:33 are two of the most misused passages in the Bible by preachers.

5) It is possible to attend every service of the church and still be lost due to sin in one’s life. We should not make the mistake of thinking that attending every service means faithfulness to God. There is more to Christianity than just attending services. Diotrephes was a leader in the church who probably attended every service. (3 John 9.) Yet, he was arrogant and loved to have the preeminence. Judas met with the apostles and listened to Jesus just like the others did. The man living with his father’s wife at Corinth attended the church services. Paul said that this man "should have been put out of their fellowship."

(1 Cor. 5:2.) But, what difference is there between one’s indifference to God who does not attend and one’s sinfulness who does attend? Both are jeopardizing their souls. Their being lost is not going to save you!

The Lord once told a story about a man who made a great banquet and invited many to attend. With one accord they began to make excuses for not attending. (Luke 14:16-24.) Their excuses included their business, newly married, new land, new animals. An excuse is an expression of regret for failure to do something; a note of explanation of an absence. Often the statement made is not altogether honest. The real reason is not stated. They just did not want to do something and tried to conceal their real reason.

The Hardeman boys sang a song entitled, Excuses. The chorus goes:

Excuses, excuses, you hear them everyday

The Devil will supply them if from church you stay away

When people come to know the Lord, the Devil always loses

So, to keep those folks away from church he offers them excuses

In the summer it’s too hot; in the winter it’s too cold

In the springtime when the weather’s just right there’s someplace else to go

Well it’s up to the mountains or down to the beach or to visit some old friend

Or just sit home and relax and hope some kinfolks will start dropping in

Well the benches they’re too hard, the members sing too loud

Boy you know how nervous you get when you’re sitting in a great big crowd

The doctor warns, You better watch those crowds, they’ll set you back

But you to that old football game ‘cause it helps you to relax

It’s a headache Sunday morning; it’s a backache Sunday night

But by worktime Monday morning you’re feeling quite alright

Well one of the children has a cold, pneumonia do you suppose?

So the whole family had to stay home just to blow that poor kid’s nose

Well the preacher, he’s too young, or maybe he’s too old

The sermons they’re not hard enough, or maybe they’re too bold

His voice is much to quiet; sometimes it gets too loud

He needs to have more dignity, or else he’s way too proud

The sermons they’re too long, or maybe they’re too short

Preach the word with dignity instead of stomp and snort

That preacher we’ve got must be the world’s most stuck-up man

One of the ladies told me the other day, He didn’t even shake my hand!

What if God took away your excuses? Read the article by Gene West, Virginian Christian News, December 1993. The preacher and an elder were visiting some members who were negligent in their attendance. A young mother gave her excuse for not attending the services and Bible classes. She said that her children were young and hard to manage. The preacher, brother West, had heard these kind of statements all his life. His answers often did not change their minds. But the older man, an elder in the church, shocked both the minister and the young mother. He said, What if God took away your excuses? Would you like for Him to do so? He explained, Well, you are complaining about your children. What if God took them away so that you would no longer have an excuse?? Brother West wrote that the woman was absolutely thunderstruck and so was he. The woman was immediately restored to Christ.

What if God took away your excuses? Is it your job? What if God took away your job? Your houses? Children? Can’t speak very well? My husband or wife? If God removed all hyprocites, would you attend? If God spoke to you directly to remove all doubt about His existence and will? Would you attend then??

Illustrate with the story about a 92-year old woman. "A 92-year old woman told me about her younger days trying to attend the yearly summer Gospel Meetings which lasted from 2-3 weeks. Her husband wasn’t interested in going and tried to discourage her. She tried to arrange everything early enough so that she could carry the children. She cooked supper early and washed all the clothes by hand.

Her husband worked the mules hard during the say and worked late to hinder her plans. He even turned the mules loose in the pasture rather than bringing them to the barn. Nevertheless, she would go out in the back pasture and try to drive the mules to the barn. The mules would run around her and turn back after getting almost to the barn. Finally, she would hem them in and harness them to the wagon.

Then she would dress herself and the children. The peacefulness of the drive to the service in the wagon and the fellowship of other spiritually-minded people is what she sought.

But we have air-conditioned and heated cars, comfortable buildings and shorter services. They sat outside under a brush arbor for two or three hours. They had this opportunity once or twice a year to the hear the Gospel preached. What are our excuses??

#1: Because the Bible is God’s Word. I do not know of a better reason. By participating, I show love and respect to God and his Word. Our culture shows its lostness and lack of understanding of what is important when more people attend a rock concert than Bible studies, when more people attend pretend-wrestling, or boxing matches, or ball games. Entertainment has its place in our lives, but when we more readily and faithfully attend those assemblies than to study God’s Word, something is terribly wrong.

#2: Because you are supporting the work of the local church. What if everyone attended just like you do? Could the church even exist and keep its doors open. Do you know that since 1985-86 when the church here was at its peak of growth, we have lost about 90 to 100 people in attendance on Sunday services and Bible classes. Our Sunday AM Bible classes have decreased from about 230 to 140. Our worship assembly has likewise decreased from about 350 to 260. Why has it happened? Many factors have contributed to it; I do not pretend to know them all. But one unmistakable reason is that you do not attend those services. Another reason is that churches often follow some well-defined patterns of initial growth, plateau, decline and death. Most all of the churches you read about in the Bible no longer exist. I do not mean the original member who, of course, died. I mean that a church no longer meets in that place. The doors were closed.

#3: Because you need to attend. It takes a lot to convert most of us. It may take years. The salvation of your soul, of your children, and parents depend upon your participation. If a child stays home from school, he will miss what was taught that day. In four short years a group of students will learn a profession by attending a college. Those who do not attend will not understand what they understand. You will not be able to get the same jobs that they will obtain.

People are still woefully ignorant of the Scriptures. Guy N. Woods often said that the ignorance of his brethren never ceased to amaze him! Yet, with regular study, it is amazing how much you can learn about the God’s will. Learning occurs a little here and a little there. It does not occur all at once.

#4: Because of your children. I do not understand how any parent can be negligent when they have little children to raise. Your children will most likely do what you are doing. If you are faithful to the church, your children most likely will be. Like father; like son. Like mother; like daughter.

#5: Because of eternity! Jesus taught much about heaven and hell. He said more about hell than any other speaker in Scripture. He knew that such places existed. He furthermore said that more people will be lost than who will be saved. (Matt. 7:13-14.)