The Answer to "Do I Have to?" Is Always "No"

The title of this article may seem confusing to some. Certainly one may ask, “Are there not things that we HAVE to do?” and of course the answer is yes. What I mean to highlight in this article is the attitude that produces the question, “Do I have to?”

Often one may ask the question, “Do I have to come to worship?” I would say, “No.” What do I mean by that? First of all, there is a sense in which no one HAS to do anything for we are all free moral agents and can decide whether or not to do a thing. However, I think most of us understand that when a person asks, “Do I have to come to worship?” the fuller, and intended, question is, “In order to be pleasing to God, do I have to come to worship?” And again I would say, no, and yes. Allow me to explain further.

A necessary part of our faith is attending worship services: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering…not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:23-25). So, in that spirit, one HAS to attend worship. It must be kept in mind however, that God wants our willing, sincere, and whole hearted service; anything less is unacceptable, detestable to God, and He would rather that we not offer it at all. On more than one occasion God told His people to stop worshipping. Is that because God does not require worship? No. It is because their worship was Do-I-Have-To-Worship. Notice: “When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting” (Isaiah 1:12, 13). The Psalmist writes, “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering” (Psalm 51:16). How is it that God can call their worship “iniquity?” How is it that God “desirest not sacrifice?” Perhaps this illustration will be helpful: a young man drives 3 hours one weekend to visit his sweetheart. They enjoy a wonderful day together and he prepares to leave to return to his home. Just before his departure she asks with a smile, “Are you going to come see me next weekend?” And he responds, “Do I have to?” What do you think that young lady’s answer would be? If you are like me, we imagine her answer would be something like, “NO! Don’t even BOTHER!” Is that because she does not want a visit from her beau? Of course not! It is because no one wants Do-I-Have-To-Love, including God.

It doesn’t matter what the subject in question is. Do I have to come to worship? Do I have to evangelize? Do I have to give? Do I have to love my neighbor? Do I have to love my enemy? Do I have to read my Bible? The answer is always “No.” God does not want that kind of service. Rather, listen to the Psalmist’s conclusion: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise…THEN shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: THEN shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar” (Psalm 51:17, 19, emphasis mine). It is only when, “Do I have to?” becomes “Do I GET to?” that the answer is “Yes.” Yes, God wants our service, but only from hearts that draw near to Him (cf. Matthew 15:8, 9; James 4:8).