“The Fishing Test”

Imagine this situation. It’s Sunday morning, and you really don’t want to go to church. It’s been a long week. You’re tired, stressed, and your back even hurts. “Man!” you think to yourself, “It sure would be nice to stay home this morning.” A brother in Christ recently found himself in that exact spot. Yet he still came to church. What persuaded him to get up & gather with the saints? He told me he used the “Fishing Test.” This is how it goes. He asked himself, “Do I feel good enough to go fishing?” If the answer is yes—that he would jump at the chance to go fishing—then he knew he should go to church. The “Fishing Test” can easily become the “Hobby Test.” Do I feel good enough to go fishing/hunting/golfing/running/driving/camping/ hiking/biking/whatever? If so, then I need to be at church.

The “Fishing Test” is a great way to highlight the issues of our heart and church attendance. There are as many “reasons” to not attend church on a Sunday morning as there are hobbies. The “Fishing Test” shows us whether our reasons for non-attendance are legitimate or just excuses. I don’t believe church attendance in the Sunday morning gathering is an absolute commandment. There are valid reasons to not attend—sickness, health challenges, hazardous weather, etc. However, not attending church on Sunday morning simply because “we don’t feel like it” isn’t an option for Christians. The Sunday morning gathering is key (Acts 2:42–47; 1 Cor 11:17; Heb 10:25).

I’m thankful for my brother in Christ, for his attendance when he didn’t feel like it, and his “Fishing Test” that proves so helpful. It greatly encourages me when I see saints like him (and you!) participate in the Sunday morning gathering. Christianity is certainly more than weekly church attendance, but it’s not less than that. We are strongest as Christians when we gather together on the Lord’s Day to celebrate the crucified and risen Christ. That’s way better than fishing!

Pastor Chance