The Cracked Acorn: Attendance

A person once said that all through grade school, he sat behind Charlie. When Charlie didn’t come to school, He would go over to his house and sit behind Charlie. This reminded me of my childhood school days. Students were seated alphabetically. This was the seating arrangement for the year. Attendance was called before the start of class every school day. It was the duty of your parents to get you to school in all kinds of weather. A foot of snow could close schools. At the end of the year, attendance awards were given.

After worship service years ago at Great Falls Church of Christ, a lady visitor asked if I would write in her journal that she had attended the church with us that day. I directed her to one of the elders, and whether he signed, I don’t know. I had never heard of a church that demanded proof that you were in worship on a Sunday morning.

Church attendance has become a concern, not only in the U.S.A but beyond our shores. Total commitment programs, care groups and other good ideas to improve attendance do help but eventually peak and level off. Many are placing the blame on the numerous secular activities that overlap or happen at the same time of worship. We could also add cell phones, television,and the Internet that have their tentacles into our prime time. Sports place stress on members to enjoy seeing a good Sunday game in person. Our fast paced society calls for many to have a varied work schedule. and often Sunday is the only day off to rest up for the next work week. Shopping centers and many stores are open most days even 24/7. Newspaper chains are crying the “blues” that people are not reading. we are getting the television news from our recliners.

This is interesting! An issue of U.S. News & World Report stated that Europe may be Islamic by the end of the 21st century. This is linked to the banning of religious symbols and the failure to mention the effect of Christianity on the populace. Humanism has given rise to the worst ideologies of the 20th century. Spiritual boredom has given rise to hyper individualism and lack of confidence in the future,. Many have turned away from the faith of their forefathers and have become involved in mystical ecstatic forms of spiritual experience. Populist Christian movements have claimed hundred of thousands of youngish followers who are seeking to make Christian beliefs real in their lives and work. Christianity has become diluted with many diverse issues.

This is supposedly happening in Europe, should we be thinking it cannot happen on this continent? Time will tell. God knows the future.(Matthew 6:34)”Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.”

Satan exists;… eternal salvation is possible only through God’s Son… Jesus lived a sinless life on earth…God is all-knowing, all powerful, the perfect deity who created the universe and still rules today. Psalm 144:15b …Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord!