It becomes imperative for believers to be thoroughly convinced of the necessity of gathering for corporate worship on the holy Sabbath – whether or not they will have preaching on that particular day. When persecution comes, churches will need to employ the resources the Lord is pleased to provide them in terms of churchmen able to minister the Word by reading the Scripture and/or a sermon, leading in song and in prayer, and comforting and encouraging the flock of God – helping them to look in faith to their Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.  

In a day in which many, especially younger professing Christians, fail to appreciate the importance of consistent attendance upon the corporate worship services of a biblically faithful church, it may be instructive to look at how some of our spiritual forefathers viewed the matter.

Two centuries ago, mainline evangelicals were concerned about the same issue. Their reasons varied, including the tendency of some professing Christians to allow bad weather to dissuade them from traveling to their regular place of worship. People had to walk, ride a horse, or take a wheeled vehicle. If in New England transportation remained a challenge at times – where compact communities had been the pattern from the early years of largely Congregationalist settlements – in the South travel was considerably more difficult, where settlement patterns were spread out, communities and churches farther apart, roads of poorer quality, and the influence of organized religion generally not as strong.

(Religious periodicals of the day included anecdotes that illustrated the hypocrisy of the young gentleman, perhaps, who chose not to travel in the rain over potentially muddy roads – to attend worship – in weather which would not have kept him from an anticipated social event.)

But another reason for addressing the matter of regular corporate worship dealt with the reality that many churches did not enjoy the services of their own pastor. Many churches that lacked a minister to preach to them each Lord’s Day struggled to maintain a viable weekly worship practice – the starting point to remembering the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Below are three historical snapshots of Baptists in the South which emphasize the importance of churches gathering for worship on the Lord’s Day, even when they lacked a minister to preach to them from the Scriptures.

Accomac Baptist Association, 1825

In his circular letter (an address sent to all the churches in the association), Pastor Levin Dix of the Accomac association reminded his brethren of a resolution from the year prior:

That we strongly recommend to the Brethren of the several churches, to hold meetings for the public worship of God, on the sabbaths in which they have no preaching, and strive to edify each other by singing, prayer, and exhortation. . . . Our reason for bringing this before you is a fear that it has not been put into practice.[i]

As was all too common an occurrence in that day, Dix lamented that “Some of you have the Gospel preached only once a month, and none every Lord’s Day; and too many appear to think it of no consequence that they assemble no oftener.” Even if a church enjoyed regular preaching, he pointed out, “. . . the necessity of holding meetings for prayer would not be diminished. No church of believers can have permanent prosperity without a prayerful spirit, and this, if possessed, will influence them to meet frequently for its exercise.”[ii]

Situated as it was on the isolated Eastern Shore of Virginia, in the early 1830s Accomac association listed six or seven churches with a total of about 400 to 600 members.

Chowan Baptist Association, 1829

Similarly, but according to their own expressed convictions, the Chowan association of rural, northeastern North Carolina, resolved,

That the Brethren composing our Churches, be recommended and requested to meet in their several Churches on the Sabbath, when they have no regular preaching, and sing, read the scriptures and a sermon, and unite in fervent prayers to Almighty God for a revival of religion in our Churches and Association, and for the extension of the Redeemer’s Kingdom throughout the world, and that the Lord would send into his vineyard more labourers, and crown the labours of those already sent forth with an abundant harvest.[iii]

In 1829, the Chowan association counted 29 churches with nearly 3,400 “In Fellowship.”

Charleston Baptist Association, 1820s

The Charleston association (South Carolina) was among the denomination’s most influential bodies, led by men like Rev. Dr. Richard Furman (for whom Furman University is named) and Rev. William Bullein Johnson, who succeeded Furman as president of the South Carolina Baptist State Convention, serving many years. In 1823, the association noted “with deep regret” that the recommendation from the state convention as well as from the association

to meet regularly on the Lord’s day, for acts of public worship, has not been generally attended to; and they do earnestly [entreat] the churches of this body, that they will conscientiously regard the sacred day; and whether they have ministers or not, will meet on it for public worship.[iv]

Five years later, the Charleston association resolved, with greater detail than previously:

That it be earnestly recommended to the churches . . . which may either be entirely destitute, or may not enjoy the advantage of a supply every Sabbath, that they assemble together on each Lord’s Day, for the worship of Almighty God; when singing the praise of the Lord, prayer, the reading of the Scriptures, and exhortations from such members as may be qualified, or reading select sermons or other religious publications, shall engage the attention of the church, and occupy with appropriate exercises this sacred day.[v]

In 1820, Charleston Baptist Association listed 37 churches with 3,900 members. Why does this matter important today?

Answer: as faithful ministers and churches are likely to face persecution in the years ahead – it’s already happening elsewhere – it becomes imperative for believers to be thoroughly convinced of the necessity of gathering for corporate worship on the holy Sabbath – whether or not they will have preaching on that particular day. When persecution comes, churches will need to employ the resources the Lord is pleased to provide them in terms of churchmen able to minister the Word by reading the Scripture and/or a sermon, leading in song and in prayer, and comforting and encouraging the flock of God – helping them to look in faith to their Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Forrest L. Marion is a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian Church (PCA), Crossville, Tennessee.

[i] Minutes of the Accomac Baptist Association (Philadelphia, 1825).

[ii] Minutes of the Accomac Baptist Association [1825].

[iii] Minutes of the . . . North-Carolina Chowan Baptist Association (Norfolk, 1829) [emphasis in original].

[iv] Minutes, Charleston Baptist Association, Nov. 1823 [emphasis in original].

[v] Minutes, Charleston Baptist Association, Nov. 1828.