Hebrews 10:25 (NIV®)
“not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Not everyone who goes to a baseball game is a participant. Not everyone who plays, hits a home run every time they’re up to bat. Every fielder is bound to miss a defensive play at least once in their career. We know this. We apply a realistic expectation to the game and the athletes, but somehow, when it comes to our expectations of those within the church, all realism goes out the window. While we have allowances for those in the world of sports we have little patience with those in the church.
Those within the church are supposed to be perfect. They’re not supposed to frequent that location. Their family should always be on their best behavior. Their children should never get in trouble. They should never be heard speaking a cross word. They should earn a meager salary, live in an average house and drive a modest car. Our expectations go on and on and on ad-nauseam.
Let’s add some realism to this scenario. First, just as everyone who goes to the ball field is not a player, not everyone who goes to church is really a Christian. We would call them spectators in the stands. So, even if they’re wearing a jersey and can talk the talk, they’re not necessarily a player – not necessarily a Christian – right?
Second, let’s remember that living the Christian life is not easy. Everyone has to work out their own salvation. Everyone has to submit, repent, obey and grow and we don’t always get it right the first time. We don’t all mature at the same pace. It takes motivation and determination. We could say it takes practice. No one is perfect, not on the field and not in the church. The authenticity of the game of baseball is in tact despite the performance of the players. Similarly, the church, the real church, with all its failures and hypocrisies, is still authentic. Christ is still real no matter how poorly we may represent Him.
Then, let’s think about church attendance as it is described in this verse. Our purpose at church is to encourage other believers and to be encouraged by other believers. Encouragement can occur through education, praise, repentance, prayer, conversation, basically anything. It occurs as we live life together.
We can sit at home and watch the game. We can livestream a church service, watch or listen to a recording. We may have some benefit from watching and even enjoy it, but that will never be what it is supposed to be. We will never be able to fulfill our purpose in the body of Christ if we never show up. So today, be encouraged to make the effort to join a local body of believers. Find a church where The Word of God is preached and believers are encouraged to follow Christ every day. Live life together. Encourage and be encouraged. Play ball!