Willing and able

If you are interested in understanding my approach to attendance at home groups and Sunday meetings and prayer meetings, the following will be of use to you:

I want people at the gathering-opporunities that the church provides who are (1) willing, and (2) able.

(1) Willing

If you are not willing to be there, do not come. If you are not willing to view the occasion as an opportunity to build God's Kingdom and make a contribution toward His glory, then you are not willing. The gathering-opportunities of the church is my chance to build someone else up and bring glory to God. Church gathering-opportunities are opportunities provided for God's people to bring Him glory. They are privileged occasions.

(2) Able

If you are not able to be there, then do not come either! If you are sick, or out of town, or conflicted in a way that makes you not able, then feel freedom not to come. The beauty of life is its uniqueness. No two situations or people are the same. Whether the saint is able is determined by conversation with the Holy Spirit. It should be the Holy Spirit who has the ultimate say. Don't forget that the Holy Spirit can speak through others too, so don't be afraid to seek advice from others on whether you are indeed able.

Being able is not always in the control of the saint. Being willing is always within the control of the saint.

The saint will not always be able; but the saint should always be willing. Therein lies the rub.