In my evangelistic travels I find that many members of the Church of Christ are irregular in attending worship upon the first day of the week. Some members have quit meeting altogether. Others meet when a preacher is there to deliver a discourse. Some parents go much of the time, while their children who are members do not. What shall we say to this?

Most all of our brethren know their general duty along this line. Then why should they not continue to keep up with the work? I have learned that there is much indifference or sloth, due to various causes.

Confusion among preachers, disagreements among members of the congregations as to what the Word is supposed to mean or teach concerning certain things, birthday and reunion dinners, visitings, apathy, sloth, neglect of studying the Word at home, worldly-minded children — these and others are occasions of many irregularly or continually absenting themselves from the divine worship upon the first day. But are such neglects justifiable, even on the part of those who may try to make themselves believe that their neglects are reasonable?

I find that some brethren are slowing down on their duty because of a paper fight. Some religious journals are continually nagging at each other or trying to ostracize or excommunicate each other. A paper may be held up by its immediate staff of charter supporters as a spiritual standard Those attitudes are grasped as occasion of discouragement to several brethren.

Such are conditions that prevail today generally. How shall we offset them, that we may bring back to the fold the straying sheep?

I find that not many brethren who are heavy contributors to the Lord’s work absent themselves from the divine assembly upon the first day. And many, who do absent themselves without scriptural ground, contribute little (I am told) whew present. Brethren, times are hard financially for most of our brethren, for we are usually not rich in this "world’s good," but as a rule brethren should contribute more than they do. I do not speak without investigation.

Let me say directly: We are commanded to meet upon the first day "to break bread" (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1, 2; Heb. 10:19-31).

I am personally acquainted with a once-elder of a congregation who taught that he may at any time take his family and go to a worldly gathering or stay at home at the time of Lord’s day worship, yet be righteous, IF other members with but one other elder met for worship. He said "That way the work is still going on, you see?"

I have seen brethren drive right by the meetinghouse on Lord’s day morning to go to a big dinner or to visit their children or other friends. And, strange to say, I have known brethren to go to a sectarian meeting on the first morning instead of going to the Lord’s house. Also I have known some to sit at home within sight of the meetinghouse on Lord’s day.

The blood-bought church is suffering immense reverses today, at the hands of her own members. So I do not wonder that the apostles so strictly enjoin officials and evangelists concerning their own lives and preaching.

Visiting delinquent brethren is scriptural; but how difficult it is to keep some in line with duty. Of course the present condition and propensity of the world is very hard to meet. However, let us not admit that the Lord’s faithful membership cannot meet it. If failure stamps the end of the fray, "the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." See 2 Tim. 11:21.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates" (void of judgment

All successful organizations and business have their meetings frequently, or they soon go down. The Lord’s Church is the Lord’s business organization (Rom. 12:10, 11), governed by his Gospel rules in the New Testament. He has ordered us to meet once a week in memory of Him as our passover sacrifice ( 1 Cor. 5:7), to remember his sufferings for us (Matt. 26:28; Luke 22:29, 30; 1 Cor. 11:23-33; 10:16, 17).

Brethren "if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philip. 4:8).