That’s A Bad Excuse
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:20
My wife hasn’t been good for me.
I realize that making such a bold assertion in a worldwide column like this is not going to benefit my reputation. After all, this column is read by people in major metropolitan areas like Gas, Kansas and Frogville, Oklahoma. Right now, someone as far off as Devon is probably asking, “Say, did you know that Amanda hasn’t been good for James?” Most people believe that preacher’s wives are good for them, and it isn’t going to add any success to my efforts to legendize myself with an assertion that Amanda hasn’t been.
However, notice that I stated: “My wife hasn’t been good for me” – not: “She hasn’t been good to me.” No man could ask for a better wife than Amanda has been to me. She is an incredible woman – smart, funny, beautiful, and most of all patient. Patience is a must when you are married to a knucklehead like me.
Amanda even went to the trouble to learn to cook so I could have something to eat. A few days after we were married, Amanda said that she wanted to make me my favorite meal. Since I am a Baptist Preacher, of course my favorite meal is fried chicken. Fried chicken is the gospel bird. I am pretty sure that Jesus and the disciples ate fried chicken at the Last Supper. Anyway, Amanda made me what appeared to be a delicious plate of fried chicken. It looked great on the outside, but when I took a bite, I discovered it was raw inside. Not wanting to upset my new bride, I ate half a raw chicken. Did I mention getting your stomach pumped is not a pleasant experience? Praise the Lord, Amanda has mastered the art of cooking in all the years she has had my name and my heart.
Still, Amanda hasn’t been good for me. Let me explain. Last week, I reached up on a bookshelf and took down an old photo album. Inside were our wedding pictures. I have changed. My waistline has increased, and my hairline has decreased. My eyes were boyish and bright. Now they are aged. I must wear glasses to see anything. My hair was dark and wavy. Now it is white and thinning. I was young then. Now I am old.
The only difference between the man in the photographs and the man looking at them was the fact that the man in the photographs was getting married and the man looking at them was married. So, obviously marriage and wives are hard on men.
Considering some of the excuses I have heard for not going to church, my blaming Amanda for my looking older twenty some years later makes a lot of sense.
“I don’t go to church because the church is full of hypocrites.” Well, the fire department is full of hypocrites too. But if your house is on fire, you will call them. Since your soul is in danger of hellfire, shouldn’t you go to church?
“I don’t have the right clothes to wear to church.” Clothes are essential for church. I don’t recommend going naked. But you don’t have to wear expensive clothes to worship the Lord. Come in whatever you have. Just make sure you modestly cover your body parts.
“I don’t have to go to church to worship the Lord.” That is true. Christians can worship the Lord anywhere. But show me in the Bible where there is a church of one. Everything I read in the Word of God emphasizes the necessity of being a part of the Body of Christ.
The point is: If you are believer in Jesus Christ, you need to make every effort – not every excuse to worship the Lord in His church. Jesus gave His life for you. Can you give Him just one hour out of your week? Find a Bible believing church and plant yourself there.
Why aren’t you going to church this Sunday?
That’s a bad excuse.
James Collins will be signing copies of his latest book “Don’t Throw The Believer Out With The Baptistry Water: The Best Of The Point Is… Volume 1” next Saturday, July 20th from 10 am until 2 pm at the Fort Scott Public Library’s LibraryCon. For more information about the LibraryCon, please call (620) 223-2882.