Not Give Up Meeting

A few years after I found the Lord, I left the church I was attending because of the terrible message it was proclaiming. It was one of those Word of Faith and Prosperity Gospel churches that was more about sensationalism and gaining the world than equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. I was without a church to attend for a few years after that time, but still was able to mature in my faith through the teaching of the Holy Spirit and the help of a radio ministry I was fortunate enough to find. However, there is a large part of the Body of Christ that would have saw my years away from consistent church attendance as neglecting my duty as a Christian. I was not neglecting any Christian duty, but was simply avoiding bad teaching and learning to trust the Lord. Besides, the Bible doesn't command a Christian to go to church. And I don't really think you can call what most consider fellowship as fellowship.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10: 23-25

I have mentioned before how a fellow Christian scolded me for not being in a church and that I needed to be under the "authority" of a pastor. Aside from the obvious poor theology this person was using, many Christians use the passage from Hebrews 10 as though it is a command from God to regularly attend a church. Personally, that is looking at the bible and inserting a meaning into it based on currently accepted norms. Scripture doesn't say anything about going to church, it says not to give up meeting together. Given the fact the way the early Church was despised by many, and was fledgling in its growth, meeting together was probably difficult and definitely was not done in large, abundant and, publicly, accepted buildings like we see today. Meeting together took place in homes, under trees, on hillsides and any other place that they could find. So, this belief that Christians are supposed to assemble in a church building is unfounded. When I was not attending a church on a regular basis there were those that I know didn't believe I was a true Christian. After all, if they believe a mark of a true Christian is faithful church attendance than I see why they could think such a thing. However, I am not a Christian because of where I sit on Sunday morning. I am a Christian because of who indwells me. And it is God, in the presence of the Holy Spirit, who is faithful, not me. I don't say that to excuse me, or any Christian, from attending church. But that my status as a Christian or claim to be one is not based on whether I do or not.

"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." Acts 2:46-47

On average a church will have anywhere from one to four services a week, depending on the size of the church. Normally, two of those services are held on Sunday, one Wednesday and the fourth on Saturday evening. Many Christians will try and attend services every time the doors are opened for many different reasons. But, even the most devout Christians don't attend church everyday. But, we see the early church met daily! In today's fast paced world, meeting daily is almost out of the question for most people. Although some would love to do it, most wouldn't, even if they could. But, there are ways to meet daily that don't involve going to church. I belong to an online fellowship of believers who don't have a church home to attend regularly. This fellowship doesn't exist because people don't want to attend a local fellowship, but, like me in the past, they don't have a place to go that teaches the fullness of the Gospel and the finished work of Christ. And, while some have tried to attend churches, seeking to fill that need for fellowship with other believers, if you are not of like mind, is it really fellowship? Yet, on our online fellowship, we do meet daily with each other. We have people from all walks of life and from all over the country. And one more benefit from this fellowship is that we actually get to know each other personally. From my experience, when you are attending church, you really don't get to know your fellow Christians apart from the normal pleasantries we all share with each other before and after services.

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:16-20

Finally, the church is not an organization we belong to or a building we attend. The Church is the Body of Christ, an organism made up of individual believers all over the world. Our "duty" is not necessarily to meet together, but to go out into the world sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those we encounter. We do this by allowing God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, to live His life in and through us on a daily basis. Granted, the normal way we get equipped to do this is through meeting at church. However, it is not the way or, necessarily, the best way to get equipped. Furthermore, we don't get taught the meaning of scripture in church. The meaning of scripture is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. That is why somebody like me, who didn't attend church for nearly four years, was able to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. In many ways, the "isolation" allowed me to focus solely on His leading without all the distractions and trappings that come along with your average church. While this was happening I did desire to meet with like-minded individuals and I found it as I said earlier. While Christians need each other for support and encouragement, doing so at a local church is not required, not the only way to meet, nor should it be done at the expense of sound teaching.