Don’t Catch The Deadly Disease of—"Pew-Monia"

I love Lord’s Day worship, don’t you? It’s everything about it that I find absolutely amazing. The singing, praying, giving, remembering, and of course the preaching are all re-energizing. What a marvelous plan God had when He commanded that we assemble on the first day of the week for the purpose of WORSHIP. But sadly, some do not find it to be a thrilling part of their week at all. To them, it’s not worshipping but just attending worship.

My Lord said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Mt. 15:8). I recall sitting in a Bible class several years ago when the teacher said, “I used to have pew-monia.” He told us that when the doors to the church building were opened, he was there. However, he was not really there because his heart was not in it. Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24). The actions of worship are important, yet the attitude in worship is equally important.

Sometimes, one who is just attending worship will stick out like a sore thumb. It is apparent in the fact that they are not participating. Let me share with you just a few instances when one appears to have the symptoms of “pew-monia”:

1. 
   
   When you’re carrying on a conversation with the person sitting next to you instead of focusing on the worship, you may have “pew-monia.”
   
2. 
   
   When you’re passing babies back and forth throughout the worship service, you may have “pew-monia.”
   
3. 
   
   When the invitation is extended and everyone is asked to stand and sing to encourage a soul to come to Christ, and you’re causing a distraction by packing up all your belongings, you might have “pew-monia.”
   
4. 
   
   When a lesson is being presented and you are not following along in your Bible, you might have “pew-monia.”
   
5. 
   
   When you make constant trips to the bathroom during worship instead of taking care of your business beforehand, you might have “pew-monia.”

There are some who consider worship as having very little meaning. Those who think this way need to ask themselves the question, “Just how far do I thrust myself into the worship of God?” During the week, every Christian should be preparing himself to worship on the Lord’s Day. This preparation begins with holy living. Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rm. 12:1). You may ask, “What are some practical things that I can do to avoid having ‘pew-monia’ on the Lord’s Day?” Here are some suggestions:

1. 
   
   When leaving the house on Sunday morning for worship, pray for the church; the elders, deacons, preacher, and every member who will be worshipping with you.
   
2. 
   
   When you approach the church building, leave distracting thoughts behind.
   
3. 
   
   When the worship hour begins raise your voice to God in song and bow your head as you approach his throne in prayer.
   
4. 
   
   When the preacher delivers the sermon, consider the words of the lesson, and let their meaning penetrate the very depths of your soul.
   
5. 
   
   When observing the Lord’s Supper, discern the body of the Lord.
   
6. 
   
   When giving liberally, be thankful for God’s blessings.
   
7. 
   
   At the close of the worship hour, speak to everyone you know, and greet those you don’t.
   
8. 
   
   When you leave the building, be convicted that you will do better tomorrow than you have done in the past.

While it’s true that “pew-monia” is a spiritually life threatening disease, there is a cure. Decide that you’re going to devote yourself to be pleasing to God in your worship. Put into practice some of the suggestions above and they will help you as you do the most important thing of your week—worship your Creator.

Ask yourself the question, “Am I truly worshipping God, or am I just attending worship?” Never be like the fellow with “pew-monia.” Faithfully attend the worship services of the saints, and when you do, be sure to “...worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Some Responsibilities of Church Members

I have yet to find a passage of scripture that supports the “member at large” ideology. By that I mean, the Scripture teaches the value of individual Christians being recognized as part of a local, autonomous congregation of God’s people. While it’s true that all those who have obeyed Christ through penitent faith and baptism are members of the church of Christ, in a general sense, it is equally true that those same individuals should identify themselves with a local body of New Testament Christians.

This past week, I went through some old files that I had received from a “retired” preacher. I ran across a piece of paper that has turned yellow and brittle due to the heavy weight of age. Based on some of the other documents that I found in the same folder, I’m guessing this piece is at least fifty years old.

On this tattered, yellow piece of paper is an article that someone wrote about church membership. I would like to share it with you.

Every relationship in life involves some responsibility. Membership in the church of the Lord bestows upon us the highest and holiest privileges and blessings conceivable to men.

It also involves great responsibilities and serious obligations [1 Cor. 12:12]. A man takes pride in fulfilling his obligations. A Christian should be eager to fulfill all obligations that go with church membership.

Let us study some of them, at the same time examining ourselves to see if we are fulfilling them so as to be approved of the Lord.

Local membership:
The local congregation is the only unit of organization we can read of in the New Testament for carrying on the Lord’s work that is assigned to the church. For a Christian to be in full fellowship with the church, he must be associated with, and be a part of, and be amenable to a local congregation. The New Testament does not describe the status of “A member at large.” We find Paul always associating himself with a congregation of Christians (Acts 9:26-30; 13:1-3).

Subjection to the elders:
[The elders] are to exercise oversight [over the local congregation (1 Pt. 5:1-5). We (members) are to “obey them that have the rule over [us]” and “they are to watch for [our] souls” (Heb. 13:17; 1 Tm. 5:17-19).

Joint participation or fellowship in the work of the local church:
Each member is to be ready unto every good work (Tit. 3:1-2). “Every joint supplieth” the needs of the church (Eph. 4:16). “Every tree shall be known by its fruit” (Lk. 6:44). “Prove your own work” (Gal. 6:4-5).

Preserve the unity, peace and harmony of the body of Christ:
“I beseech you that there be no divisions among you” (1 Cor. 1:10). “Mark them which cause division” (Rm. 16:17-18). “Endeavoring (make some definite effort) to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

The church has a mission—the salvation of souls:
We must be united with Christ that we might bring forth fruit unto God (Rm. 7:4). Branches that do not bring forth fruit will be cut off and cast into the fire (Jn. 15:2).

The “Christian at large” is defeating the very purpose of the local congregation—the preaching of the Gospel to the saving of souls. He is assuming no responsibility; and, sometimes he may be shirking it.

The apostle Paul said that the things written down in the past were done so that we might learn (Rm. 15:4). While I understand these words to be referring to the Old Testament Scripture, I do believe they teach a valuable principle. Great Christian soldiers of the past are still teaching us by what they have written. I for one am grateful that we can still learn from these men today.