Importance of worship attendance

I am a life-long WELS member. My wife and I were married in a WELS church and she is a life-long Lutheran - Missouri Synod until after we met. My kids all attended a WELS church K-8. Now that the kids are all out on their own, my wife and children have chosen to no longer be members of the church. They no longer attend any church. My question is, what words can I use to help share with them the importance of regular church attendance? They have said, "I can be a Christian without attending a church."

I am sorry to hear about your family’s attitudes toward worshiping God in church. Let me put your question and situation in scriptural context.

The new self of a Christian readily agrees with King David, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD’” (Psalm 122:1). Our new self loves God’s word, desires to hear God’s word, longs for opportunities to worship God in church and seeks to praise God in everyday living (1 Corinthians 10:31).

On the other hand, the old self, the sinful nature, of a Christian hates God’s word, wants nothing to do with worshiping God in church and desires to live only for self (Galatians 5:17).

If people who profess Christian faith express ideas that are contrary to God’s word, it is their old self, not the new self, that is responsible for those ideas.

So, what does God’s word say about worshiping him? The Bible stresses the importance of gathering for worship with fellow believers (Hebrews 10:25). Jesus promises his gracious presence to those assembled for worship (Matthew 18:20). Jesus explained how his followers hear his word and continue in it (John 8:31, 47). Worship services provide opportunities for the message of Christ to dwell among us richly (Colossians 3:16). Worship services provide opportunities for God’s people to receive the Lord’s Supper. Through the Lord’s Supper, God offers and gives forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. God’s will is that we are guests of his Supper often (1 Corinthians 11:25-26). When we worship God in church, we are engaged in the important work of acknowledging him before others (Matthew 10:32; Luke 12:8). Worship services provide opportunities for God to nurture and strengthen faith through his gospel in word and sacrament (Romans 1:16). You can remind your family of these truths.

You can also remind them that the use of God’s word in worship services will provide ongoing “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). One wonders how regularly that happens apart from worshiping with fellow believers.

I encourage you to be an example for your family in your own church attendance and personal devotional life. Let them see godliness in action. Keep praying that God will change their attitudes and actions. God bless you and your family.