“Sunday saints” come to church services every Sunday morning. “Sunday saints” are always on time for worship on Sunday morning. But that’s usually all you see of them.
Is it acceptable to just attend on Sunday morning? Are the other services, meetings, and classes “just extra?” Do you have to come? Is it sinful not to come except on Sunday mornings?
First let me say that I’m not speaking of those who are physically unable to make it except on Sunday morning. This space is dedicated to those (I wish I could say few) Christians who come to church services only on Sunday because of 1) tradition — the family always goes on Sunday; 2) disinterest — they don’t care about the rest of the meetings, which is laziness; and, 3) worldliness — they have other things to do.
One doesn’t have to come to other church services. He doesn’t have to be a Christian, or be baptized, or to do anything but die. But if he’s going to be a Christian and wants to live in heaven when he dies, he should. We are instructed to come together and not to forsake the “assembling of the saints” (Hebrews 10:25; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:17-18, 20, 33-34).
The Old Testament has many statements of joy in worship. Psalm 95:1-2 says, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms” (cp. Psalm 84:10; 96:8; 100:1-5). In Acts 2:42, 46, there’s a picture of the fervent devotion of the first century Christians toward God, and their joyfulness in often meeting with one another. Are God’s people lacking in this same type of gladness today when it comes to assembling in the church of the Lord? If someone has a true love of God he should make an honest attempt at worshiping Him at every chance.
All “Sunday saints” start out just missing one or two services then get caught up more and more in the world. Eventually “Sunday saints” just disappear completely from worship and the saints. We need to make them disappear another way. We need to see why people only come on Sunday morning and help them. Let’s eliminate “Sunday saints.”
Adapted from Brad Higdon