{"id":48137,"date":"2016-05-30T20:16:00","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T01:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=48137"},"modified":"2022-06-04T20:24:42","modified_gmt":"2022-06-05T01:24:42","slug":"is-a-person-allowed-to-miss-services-because-of-their-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-a-person-allowed-to-miss-services-because-of-their-job\/","title":{"rendered":"Is a person allowed to miss services because of their job?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

Question:<\/h2>\n

Is there any proof in the Bible that forsaking the assembly of the saints is acceptable if one’s job requires him to work? I think self-employed people sometimes use this as an excuse which is wrong. But what about companies, or police, or fire, and nurses? I know the head of the family, the man, has to support his family but forsaking is forsaking the assembly. I say there is no authority for missing except for a sickness that prohibits it or a person confined to home or a hospital. Please advise and if applicable, please list verses to support if it’s OK.<\/p>\n\t

Answer:<\/h2>\n

This is interesting. You stated, “I say there is no authority for missing except a sickness that prohibits it or a person confined to home or a hospital.” I would like to know what passage in the Bible you used to draw that conclusion.<\/p>\n\t

Question:<\/h2>\n

There is not one. What I mean is there is no excuse at all. Unless someone is physically unable or suffering a major sickness, I can’t see any reason at all.<\/p>\n

Thanks.<\/p>\n\t

Answer:<\/h2>\n

So we condemn one group while excusing another based on an opinion regarding whether their reason is good enough? Such is dangerous ground. “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand<\/em>” (Romans 14:4). Decisions like this must be left up to what the Master says, not what you or I think.<\/p>\n

In case it isn’t clear, attendance is essential for all Christians. See Commands in Conflict<\/a>. An illness that might stop you from attending may not stop me. But what we both agree is that we both don’t want things of this world interfering with our worship of the Lord and stopping us from having a chance to be with our brethren.<\/p>\n

Thus, I teach and practice what ought to be. When someone is missing, I talk to them and encourage them to come. When they offer excuses, I try to suggest some alternatives so they can make it. But the judgment I leave in the hands of the Lord because I can only go by what he said and not by what he has not said.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Question: Is there any proof in the Bible that forsaking the assembly of the saints is acceptable if one’s job requires him to work? I think self-employed people sometimes use this as an excuse which is wrong. But what about companies, or police, or fire, and nurses? I know the head of the family, the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[356,105,659,104],"class_list":["post-48137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-attendance","tag-employment","tag-jobs","tag-work"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":36518,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/my-new-job-interferes-with-going-to-bible-study-what-do-i-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":48137,"position":0},"title":"My new job interferes with going to Bible study. 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My question is: according to Hebrews 10:25 is it considered forsaking or neglecting if I miss Wednesday Bible study?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53899,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-someone-attends-but-hasnt-become-a-member-and-then-stops-coming-should-you-withdraw-from-him\/","url_meta":{"origin":48137,"position":1},"title":"If someone attends, but hasn’t become a member, and then stops coming, should you withdraw from him?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Someone begins attending a congregation but does not ask to be a member there. He starts forsaking the assembly. Can you withdraw from him? He was baptized. Answer: Before I answer the question, I want to note that some congregations add people to their membership simply because they keep\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16763,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-the-bible-teach-that-you-dont-have-to-congregate-to-go-to-heaven\/","url_meta":{"origin":48137,"position":2},"title":"Does the Bible teach that you don’t have to congregate to go to heaven?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 4, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: A good friend and fellow sister in Christ called last night to tell me about a conversation she'd had with a few co-workers. One guy said that, although he didn't know where, he knew the Bible said you 'don't have to congregate to go to heaven.' A woman said\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":39085,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-need-to-look-for-another-job-but-the-ones-in-this-area-require-working-every-other-sunday-what-should-i-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":48137,"position":3},"title":"I need to look for another job, but the ones in this area require working every other Sunday. What should I do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 30, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear Minister: I am a married woman in the church. As much as I want to not work or work part-time, it is not what my husband wants me to do. I currently have a job that allows me to be off on Sundays. This job will no longer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37451,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-women-prohibited-from-ever-teaching-men-in-an-assembly-of-any-kind\/","url_meta":{"origin":48137,"position":4},"title":"Are women prohibited from ever teaching men in an assembly of any kind?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is there any verse, to your knowledge, that prohibits women from ever teaching men in an assembly of any kind? 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