Pastoral Letters

Is it alright be absent from school?

December 2, 2018 Author:Rev (Dr) Andrew Tan
By the time this pastoral letter is published, most students would have completed their examinations. How did they prepare for their examinations? They would have done several things. During class they ensure that they pay careful attention to what the teacher says. They would also do their homework diligently. This is because what is taught in class will be tested during the “final judgement”—the final examinations. For that reason, if they missed class for some valid reasons, most students would find out from their teachers and students the materials taught that day. But why bother? This is because there is judgement day—the final examinations. Hence every (good) student dares not miss classes—there is a price to pay for being absent.

Dear Christians, every Sunday God’s Word is taught during Sunday worship and Sunday School. Some think this way: “It is alright to miss Sunday Worship or Sunday School. Afterall I did not pay a cent for these courses. Furthermore, what I learn has nothing important to do with my school examinations or job. I won’t be fired for missing Sunday School class.” You are right [!] to say that your school results or pay will not be affected (at least, in a direct way). But you are definitely wrong to say that it will not affect you in a serious way. Proverbs 1:24-29 says:

But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD.

If you ignore God’s Word (wisdom) you will pay a heavy price because only God’s Word can truly protect you: when you obey God’s Word, God will bless you; God’s Word is wisdom that guides you to walk in safe and blessed ways. Every sermon and every Sunday School class does that: to guide your footsteps away from disaster. If you understand that every sermon and every Sunday School lesson is so important, what should you do? You would naturally ask those who attended the class: “Can you tell me what was taught that day?” I urge you to get the Sunday School notes and read. Sunday sermons are uploaded onto the church website at www.tolcc.org. You really must not miss class or the sermons because most of the materials taught will not be repeated because there is simply too much important and critical content to be covered. We have started on the Five Points of Calvinism. This is important for understanding your salvation. Do not miss any lesson. If you do not understand the contents taught, please ask the teacher.

Teachers and pastors can only lead you to the water source. But if you refuse to make effort to drink it, we cannot force you. But please understand: just because we do not force or nag at you does not mean that what is preached or taught can be missed. Listen to Sunday sermons and attend Sunday School classes as if you are sitting for final examinations at the end of the year—which will come not at the end of the year but on Judgement Day. Be diligent. Then, “whoever listens to me [Wisdom] will live in safety and be at ease without fear of harm” (Prov 1:33).