Acting Right in Church

Ecclesiastes 5:1
“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.”

One should never underestimate how a Christian should act when they go to church. I believe many Christians who have the freedom to go to church without fear of persecution or incarceration takes for granted the privilege of being able to be in church. If every Christian realized the honor they have to attend church, I believe they would act better when they went.

The Christian is cautioned in the verse above, “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God…” Is this verse teaching that we should guard how we physically walk? No! It is teaching the importance of being careful how you act when you go to church. Several admonitions are given of some things you should be careful to do when you go to church.

First, be ready to listen when you go to church. Because of the frequency that we hear preaching, we often zone out of what is being said, missing what the LORD is trying to give us when we are in church. Christian, you must be very careful about paying attention to the teaching and preaching of God’s Word. You never know what you are missing if you are busy writing notes or texting others while the preaching is going on. You would be wise to put anything away that would take your attention from hearing the truths of God’s Word as they are being delivered through the preaching. Don’t take for granted that you already know what the truth may be; rather, listen to the preaching with a hungry heart eager to be reminded or to learn a new truth to help you grow in the LORD.

Second, be careful with what you say in church. Verse 2 says, “Be not rash with thy mouth…” In other words, don’t be a gossip at church. Nothing kills the spirit of a church more quickly than a gossip who spreads hearsay. Many churches have been hurt by the gossiping tongue. My friend, don’t be guilty of talking about things which you do not know. You may assume that you know everything, but you don’t know the whole story unless you are involved with the whole situation. Be careful to guard what you say so that your words are not words that tear down what the LORD is doing.

Moreover, be careful what you say when you teach or preach God’s Word. Those who are entrusted to teach God’s Word must not give their opinions but plainly teach what the Word of God says. Don’t try to show people how intelligent you are about God’s Word; most who attempt this end up straying from scriptural truth and end up teaching error. Whatever you teach or preach, be sure that it stays in accordance with God’s Word.

Third, be careful about keeping the decisions you make at the altar. Verse 4 teaches, “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it…” God holds you accountable when you promise Him that you are going to do something at the altar. Don’t take the altar call flippantly, but make every decision a contract with God that will be kept when you leave the altar.

Christian, the house of God is a place you should revere. Don’t treat it like just another place; rather, make it a place where you go to make life-changing decisions to be a better servant for Christ.

Author: Allen Domelle