Preachers of Old on Faithfulness to Church Services

Charles Spurgeon, called the “Prince of Preachers,” longtime Baptist pastor in London, noted that those who truly love the King will love His palace, that a healthy Christian doesn't need to be driven to church by a sense of duty alone, but is drawn by a holy appetite. He famously remarked that if a person finds no joy in the earthly assembly of the saints, he is poorly prepared for the eternal assembly in heaven, and that a coal glowing in the fire stays hot, but one pulled away soon turns to ash. He declared that being absent from the service robs the believer of necessary strength, saying that Thomas was absent when Jesus first appeared to the disciples after the Resurrection, and as a result, he fell into unnecessary doubt and grief.

Matthew Henry, in his renowned commentary, observes that the early church “continued stedfastly,” pointing out that their faithfulness was the secret to their spiritual power. Henry suggests that when we skip a service, we miss a specific portion of the “apostles” doctrine. He said, to miss a service is to voluntarily starve one’s own soul of the “daily bread” provided through the ministry of the Word. He also taught that if God promises to meet His people in a specific place, it is the height of irreverence for the people to be elsewhere.

Baptist preacher and author of Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan, believed that the “communion of saints” was a primary defense against the “flaming darts” of the wicked one. To skip the assembly is to step out from behind the shield of the brotherhood.

Baptist preachers of the 17th and 18th centuries, often facing persecution, viewed church attendance as a public testimony. To attend every service, especially during times of trial, was to “hold fast the profession of our faith” (Hebrews 10:23). Also, a vacant seat in the chapel was a silent witness to the world that Christ was not worth one's time.