Morbus Sabbaticus, or Sunday sickness, is a disease peculiar to church members.
- The symptoms vary, but it never interferes with the appetite.
- It never lasts more than twenty-four hours.
- No physician is ever called.
- It always proves fatal in the end--to the soul!
- It is becoming fearfully prevalent, and is destroying thousands every year.
The attack comes on suddenly every Sunday. No symptoms are felt on Saturday night; the patient sleeps well and wakes feeling well and eats a hearty breakfast. But about church time the attack comes on and continues until services are over for the morning. Then the patient feels easy and eats a hearty dinner. In the afternoon he feels much better, and is able to take a walk and read the Sunday papers; and afterwards eats a hearty supper. But about church time he has another attack and stays at home. He wakes up Monday morning refreshed and able to go to work.
~Source Unknown
16 comments:
Very convicting. Wow. I didn't feel like going to church last night with the possibility of the rain changing to ice, but my husband wasn't put off by my suggestion.
We went and so did many others and we made it home safely. Why is it we think we can go through life without the need to worship with God's people and study and pray together? Thank you Maxine.
So ironically humorous.
Funny how we make excuses for not attending service but can fly out of bed like early birds to catch that sale at the Mall regardless of the weather or how we feel. I know because I'm just as guilty as the next person. It is most definitely a ploy of the enemy playing on our fleshly apathies.
Susan,
I know where you live and You had every reason to question the propriety of going! It was bad last night, but I'm glad you went and received a blessing.
Sparrow,
We are all guilty from time to time. But we're always glad when we make that extra effort to go. Oftentimes, it's when we have the greatest struggle and do it anyway that we receive the greatest blessing.
The Lord has taught me over the years that I am the biggest loser if I miss church. Now I try never to miss unless I have a "real" sickness!
very well said my friend!!
we all need a kick in the pants once in a while to get us up and going when it is church time...
because after we have made the effort we are always blessed and so happy that we went...
I'm afraid that the illness is contagious so we have to be very careful if we give in to it... we never know who is using us as an example!!
Great Post...
Rightly said, Mimi. We never know who is watching us as their example.
Cami, I don't know what language that is, but it looks Latin!
Maxine, My Dad was struck with this malady for about five years before he was saved. It seems that the best medicine , at least for him , was a good dose of salvation. I am not kidding in the least. It is a true story. My Dad is now in heaven but I am so thankful that he found the "cure" the blood of Jesus Christ. connie from Texas
Thank the Lord that He got saved. I just read about your mom at your blog and what a blessing she was. I agree with you that often the real malady is the need for salvation. When we truly love the Lord, we WANT to go to church!At least most of the time.:-)
This would be funnier if it weren't so sadly true. Ah, for the passion that longs for God's presence and desires to worship him. Thanks for such an insightful post.
This was a good read--so sad, but so true!
hmmm yes this is funny and very true..
I have a confession to make.I have not been to a Sunday church service other than funerals or weddings for years.It is not because I suffer from Morbus Sabbaticus. I have been a witness to many who attend church each and every Sunday and walk out the door and commit sin after sin.You could say that this is not a good reason not to attend that I could go and set an example to those people..
I have a friend who has in the past called me her heathen friend simply because I do not attend Church.She doesn't any more...
I know where my heart lies, I feel God in everything I do, everywhere I go in everything I see, I hear his Spirit speak within me.If I were and I have stood on a high mountain, I can feel His strength His arms around me protecting me.. I have often been brought to tears by looking at a tiny flower he has created; My heart jumps each time I feel a breeze gently touch me. When I am having hard times I know God is walking right beside me. For me Church is when I open my eyes each morning, and thank God for my day, watching the sunrise, being able to take a walk and hug a tree, squat down to feel the earth and watch a bee, feel joy at the touch of rain and cry at the beauty of a rainbow and when the sunsets I thank God for giving me this wonderful day and allowing me to be a part of his creation..
I could go on and on but I have probably said too much...
Also - I meant to say that I LOVE your new music!!
Well, hello Carol and Cami.
Blogger did not send me an email about your comments, so I just saw them or would have commented back sooner.
You are so right--this is a controversial issue for sure and that is something I try to stay away from. One thing is for sure, Carol, you don't have to answer to me or anyone else, but to God, and while it would weigh heavily on my conscience not to attend church, it doesn't yours. And that is what Romans 14 is all about--its one of my favorites. I guess we can each view the other as the weaker sister on this one. :-) Thanks for that one, Cami.
The real issue is whether it is required by God in His Word, and Scriptures such as Hebrews 10:24-25 and the book of Acts, and the fact that the epistles are written to the organized church meeting somewhere are convincing enough for me. If God has not brought you to that place in your Christian walk, Carol, I still love you just as much! And you are so right about people attending church and leaving it to totally forget about God the rest of the week. There again, God will be there judge, not any of us. And one thing that is a great sadness for me is the weakness of the organized church today. I can understand why some people who are sincere Christians just would rather not bother. Finding a good solid biblical church is one of our greatest challenges.
When we get to heaven, we'll be worshipping our God together, I feel confident. Then it won't matter anymore.Love you both!!
Oh boy. God will be "their" judge, not "there." Not a good mistake for a writer to make. :-)
Ok - I am not losing my mind although it may seem like it :-) What I was trying to say in the comment that somehow disappeared, was that I agree with Kathy. My first thought was to be amused and chuckle at this depiction -- but then I felt sobered because it is so true. The same holds true in many circumstances in our Christian walk -- like when we stay up late reading that novel, but rush through a chapter in His word. I could go on and on -- but this was a good post!
I tried to post last week and I'm thinking I did something wrong.
I wanted to say that yes, there are folks who need to go to church. But there are those who go to church and, once out the door, never give any indication that they've been.
I truly believe God lays it on our hearts about how He wants us to worship. Some have been so wounded by the church they may never step foot inside one again.
If we are obedient to God's leading, then we are exactly where we need to be.
Blessings.
Hi Francine,
Thanks for sharing. I did want to point out that this little amusing article is about CHURCH MEMBERS who don't attend as they should or don't keep the commitment they have made to their church. It has nothing to do with people who have made the decision that they don't want to attend or who abstain from it. That's another issue altogether.In a way, I rather wish I hadn't posted this because church attendance is a serious matter and not one to poke fun at.
At any rate, I pray that the Lord will give each of His children wisdom as to how we can best live our lives in obedience to Him, church attendance being one such area of the Christian life. As I said before, each of us stands accountable to God, not to someone else, and our only safe guide is the Scriptures. Our feelings are not safe ground, only God's Word.
You are so right about many being wounded. Unfortunately, I have seen and experienced that firsthand. But I have been on a journey through the Word and He has landed me where I am today, for which I am thankful.
And if I can give one more piece of advice to anyone who is struggling with this issue: In the sinful world we live in,There are many counterfeits to what is good and right. If someone finds, as we did, that God would have them to be a part of a fellowship with other believers, I'd urge them to make sure they find a good solid and biblical one that tries, though imperfectly, to stay faithful the God's Word. And that's a tough call nowadays. I don't know about you, but my reading of the book of Revelation often makes me look forward to the day when we will neither "hunger nor thirst anymore" but be in the presence of the Lamb and God will wipe away all tears from our eyes. That is one assembly of the saints that I certainly want to be a part of. Hallelujah.
Thanks for your input, Francine. Have a blessed day.
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