Before being called to pastor a church, I was privileged to preach in nearly every church in our county and some churches in adjoining counties. It was a great and joyful privilege, but one thing concerned me in each church I visited: empty seats and often empty whole pews.

I’ve been accused of worrying too much about numbers. But numbers are important because they represent souls, some saved but careless and some even lost. The reason for empty pews and seats is that we don’t do enough inviting and exhorting others to attend our churches. Most of us have family members, friends and neighbors who no longer bother to attend church. This is a shame. People come to church because they are invited. They return if they felt welcomed. They stay if they feel suited to the spiritual environment and that they fit in.

Those who stay away from church entirely do not know what they are missing. Some of these have gotten dissatisfied with the preacher or the way things were done in their churches. The solution is to simply find a church you like. People come and people go, and that’s all right. We are always disappointed when they go, but we always acknowledge their right to find a more suitable environment in which to worship. Worship of God, fellowship, and love of other Christians is all that really matters.

God has told us in His Word to assemble ourselves — and that means going to church. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Surveys reveal that 80 percent of our people, even in Thomas County, attend no church regularly. What a crying shame! I personally am of the opinion that a lot of what is now wrong with our society is due to lack of spiritual values that we learn in church.

So, do your family, your friends, your neighbors, your society and, in fact, your very country a great favor and invite them to church. It will make such a difference in their lives, both now and in all eternity. If you love someone, you should be very concerned about his soul, because the soul never dies. It lives on either in heaven or the other place. Keep in mind, too, that the single most important thing anyone ever does on earth is to call on the name of the Lord for God’s pardon and salvation.

Those who stay away from church entirely do not know what they are missing. Some of these have gotten dissatisfied with the preacher or the way things were done in their churches. The solution is to simply find a church you like. People come and people go, and that’s all right. We are always disappointed when they go, but we always acknowledge their right to find a more suitable environment in which to worship. Worship of God, fellowship, and love of other Christians is all that really matters.

God has told us in His Word to assemble ourselves — and that means going to church. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Surveys reveal that 80 percent of our people, even in Thomas County, attend no church regularly. What a crying shame! I personally am of the opinion that a lot of what is now wrong with our society is due to lack of spiritual values that we learn in church. So, do your family, your friends, your neighbors, your society, and in fact your very country a great favor and invite them to church. It will make such a difference in their lives, both now and in all eternity.

If you love someone, you should be very concerned about his soul, because the soul never dies. It lives on either in heaven or the other place. Keep in mind, too, that the single most important thing anyone ever does on earth is to call on the name of the Lord for God’s pardon and salvation.