The Assembling

By Jerry D. Ousley

            I get myself into trouble a lot because God has directed me to address topics that sometimes go against the grain.  I suppose I’m a bit of a rebel at heart, but then, so was Jesus.  He wasn’t afraid to speak against the things that the religious community had established as the truth.  He wasn’t afraid to expose the lies that bound the people.  And for that reason, He is my role model.

            Just like the Pharisees and Sadducees of His day, many in our own religious community have mis-interpreted scripture to fit the modern mold.  One of those misconceptions is church attendance.  Now don’t get me wrong; there’s nothing wrong about going to church as long as it isn’t done pridefully or simply out of ritual duty.  We are clearly to come together as believers in Christ.  The problem lies in the interpretation of “coming together.”  The verse most often used when talking about church attendance is Hebrews 10:25, which says, “…not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  This verse is very often quoted alone, by itself, but it is clearly a continuation of a complete statement.

            The writer of Hebrews was speaking of how Jesus gave Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin.  He shows how that the Jewish priests continually offered sacrifices that “can never take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:11).  He goes on to point out that Jesus offered Himself as one sacrifice for sins forever.  Verse 14 says, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”  Jesus’ one sacrifice paid for it all as we accept His free gift and apply it to our lives.

            Okay, so after writing about this the author begins the thought of coming together in verse 18.  This is a bit lengthy but let’s take a look at it so we get it right.  It says, “Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:18-25).  This passage of scripture not only talks about coming together but why we are to come together.  It is to lift each other up, to encourage each other in good works, to teach each other, counsel with each other and get ready for the coming Day.  It is capitalized and refers to the Day when our Lord returns.  So, the closer we get to that day the more we need to be encouraging each other.

            Now let’s compare the church gathering of today with that of the first church.  Today most church gatherings go something like this:  Dress up, get to the building on time, sing three songs, take an offering, and listen to the pastor preach a message.  Pray, give an invitation, and go home to Sunday dinner.  The larger the gathering the less time can be given, if any at all, for fellowship from other believers.  If there is to be time for individual fellowship it is done through additional services of small groups or other service opportunities. 

            Acts 2:41-47 gives us the picture of what the first church did.  After Peter preached that Pentecost, we are told that 3000 were saved.  The followers of Jesus were under intense scrutinization and so there was no way that all 3000 could meet together on Sunday morning.  Verse 46-47 tells what happened: “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”  Many try to compare the temple with today’s modern church buildings.  The temple is not an example of the church building.  The temple was where the priests were daily making these useless sacrifices for the sins of the people as discussed in Hebrews 10.  They went to the temple’s outer court where they witnessed of Jesus.  Their assembling together took place as they went from house to house, breaking bread and fellowshipping with the other believers.  The church was 3000 plus strong and growing every day.  But they met in individual groups in each other’s homes.  They didn’t wait until Sunday morning to get dressed up and go to a million-dollar building to sing a few songs, perhaps take communion, and hear a message.

            Now that we have established this, I want to go on record as saying that there’s nothing wrong with attending church on Sunday.  Go on; keep on doing it.  But know that that is not what Hebrews 10:25 is talking about.  We spend millions on buildings and attention-getting equipment when those funds could go to help others who go hungry and in need.  Our large mega churches are okay, but unless you get involved with other ministries and small groups you might as well stay home and watch the service on TV.  You can worship with your family at home.  The churches that are smaller and allow for fellowship time, testimony time from those in the pews and sharing time come closer to what the original church was about. 

            I could go on and on about this.  But a very important issue must not be left unsaid.  It is in the fact that the writer of Hebrews tells us that the closer we get to the Day of the coming of our Lord, the more we need each other.  We need each other daily, not just on Sunday or Wednesday night.  Every day we need to be in fellowship.  That is what the Bible is talking about when it says that we are not to forsake assembling together.  We come together in testimony and worship daily in our homes, house to house, eating together, praising God together.  Again, nothing wrong in attending church.  But make sure that’s not all you are doing.  Make sure that you truly fellowship, encourage, listen to and be listened to with other believers.  Then we can worship together, celebrating what God has done in each other’s lives.

            The very name, “church” means the assembly.  So, believers, let’s really assemble.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.?  Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.