Not going to Church on Sunday a Sin?

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My Wife’s Baptist Minister preached a sermon that if you do not attend church whenever the assembly gathers you are committing mortal sin against God. That the founders’ decided when this church would be open for worship and these are the days that you should attend.
I week earlier I had told her that the Catholic Church teaches that missing church on Sunday was a sin if you did not have a valid reason…Illness etc… Of course her response was “show me that in the Bible.” Then her preacher gives this sermon and takes it a step further.
Here is the scriptural support he based his sermon on, do these verses support either claim? Or are there other scriptures that support this better?

Hebrews 10: 24-27
24 We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
25 We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.
26 If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins
27 but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries
 
That is an appropriate passage. I think the most relevant verse is, “…Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven,” Matt 16:19. The Church has Christ’s authority to make rules for us.
 
A Baptist minister actually used the term “mortal sin”? :rolleyes:
 
The Baptist minister is certainly on the right track. The Catholic Church looks at this verse in connection to the Eucharist. When we read the book of Hebrews we find many interesting things that flow from the prophecy found in Malachi 1:11 which says:

" For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts."

This is one of the Eucharistic prayers used at mass. The passage is clearly a prophecy and it pertains to the mass and the offering of Jesus body and blood which is the only perfect offering made to God. Likewise, the offering is made thousands of times everyday around world from the rising until the setting of the sun.

Also note that verse 12 says this:

“But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and the food for it may be despised.”

Note that this is the Lord’s table and there is food upon the table. This food in the NT is the precious body and blood of Christ.

Hebrews 10:8-10 says:

…“Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Lo, I have come to do thy will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second."

Verses 10:19-22 go on to say:

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

This is Eucharistic language in keeping with the prophecy of Malachi. It is after this that the book goes on to the quote used by the Baptist minister. Think about this…look what Jesus has done for us and given to us. Is there really something better than this? How can we choose to ignore mass and the Eucharist in favor of a football game or sleeping in after a late night party? When we choose something other than mass and the Eucharist on Sunday we are no better than Esau exchanging his inheritance for a bowl of pottage.

P.S. Hebrews 12 makes a reference to Esau.
 
Spirithound said:
A Baptist minister actually used the term “mortal sin”? :rolleyes:
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What is this world coming to, and he inferred his members could loose their salvation in so doing. In the south, they would say, “he must be one of them northern baptists”.

Peace
 
Hap said:
My Wife’s Baptist Minister preached a sermon that if you do not attend church whenever the assembly gathers you are committing mortal sin against God. That the founders’ decided when this church would be open for worship and these are the days that you should attend.
I week earlier I had told her that the Catholic Church teaches that missing church on Sunday was a sin if you did not have a valid reason…Illness etc… Of course her response was “show me that in the Bible.” Then her preacher gives this sermon and takes it a step further.
Here is the scriptural support he based his sermon on, do these verses support either claim? Or are there other scriptures that support this better?

Hebrews 10: 24-27
24 We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
25 We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.
26 If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins
27 but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries
Click to expand...
I am surprised that a Baptist paster said this at the pulpit. But then what do I know. I had some Baptist cousin visitors for a couple months earlier this year. I offered to drop them off at this very nice Baptist church close by for Sunday worship every Sunday…they only went one Sunday and it was like pulling teeth to get them to go again. I even offered to take them to another church thinking they didn’t like it or something. I even asked them that wasn’t it a sin for them to not go to church on Sunday. I even offered to take them to Mass with me. They turned sort of red in the face then politely turned me down.
 
Pax said:
The Baptist minister is certainly on the right track. The Catholic Church looks at this verse in connection to the Eucharist. When we read the book of Hebrews we find many interesting things that flow from the prophecy found in Malachi 1:11 which says:

" For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts."

This is one of the Eucharistic prayers used at mass. The passage is clearly a prophecy and it pertains to the mass and the offering of Jesus body and blood which is the only perfect offering made to God. Likewise, the offering is made thousands of times everyday around world from the rising until the setting of the sun.

Also note that verse 12 says this:

“But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and the food for it may be despised.”

Note that this is the Lord’s table and there is food upon the table. This food in the NT is the precious body and blood of Christ.

Hebrews 10:8-10 says:

…“Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Lo, I have come to do thy will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second."

Verses 10:19-22 go on to say:

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

This is Eucharistic language in keeping with the prophecy of Malachi. It is after this that the book goes on to the quote used by the Baptist minister. Think about this…look what Jesus has done for us and given to us. Is there really something better than this? How can we choose to ignore mass and the Eucharist in favor of a football game or sleeping in after a late night party? When we choose something other than mass and the Eucharist on Sunday we are no better than Esau exchanging his inheritance for a bowl of pottage.

P.S. Hebrews 12 makes a reference to Esau.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Great Post! This is something I will study further.
 
Gamera said:
That is an appropriate passage. I think the most relevant verse is, “…Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven,” Matt 16:19. The Church has Christ’s authority to make rules for us.
Click to expand...
Yes, his sermon even had a little of “Church Authority” being preached. He may have not intended it and I am sure it was missed by the congregation but it sure caught my attention.
 
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1193 Sunday, the “Lord’s Day,” is the principal day for the celebration of the Eucharist because it is the day of the Resurrection. It is the pre-eminent day of the liturgical assembly, the day of the Christian family, and the day of joy and rest from work. Sunday is “the foundation and kernel of the whole liturgical year” (SC 106).

2195 Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord’s Day.

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body. Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

2192 “Sunday . . . is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church” (CIC, can. 1246 § 1). “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass” (CIC, can. 1247).

2170 Scripture also reveals in the Lord’s day a memorial of Israel’s liberation from bondage in Egypt: “You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out thence with mighty hand and outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day.”

2191 The Church celebrates the day of Christ’s Resurrection on the “eighth day,” Sunday, which is rightly called the Lord’s Day (cf. SC 106).

LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Amen.
 
Hap said:
Sorry that was my word. He did say that it would be a sin against God of the worst kind, which sounds like a mortal sin to me.
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Ah,k…not necessarily the same, according to our theology, but still…a Baptist minister making distinctions between gravity of different sins…😛 sorry, not intending to hijack the thread 😛
 
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