Do You Seek Togetherness?
Over the last thirty years, my wife and I have moved many times. It seems as if the number is a lot larger, but for certain we have lived in at least 20 different locations. We have also worshipped with brethren in numerous states. Whether as the located preacher, conducting a meeting or a class, or just visiting, it is likely we have assembled with well over 100 congregations large and small. Beyond the places of worship, we have gathered with Christians in even far more venues enjoying their company, sharing their lives, coming to know their families, and comforting one another over the trials and struggles that present themselves. Whether in a home, an auditorium, a gym, a grange, a restaurant, sitting at a ballgame, out fishing, taking a walk, at conferences, the park, antique malls, countless settings, the togetherness made a difference. Who knows how many emails I have received from Christians over the years or calls I have received or made to other Christians/preachers. It helped and continues to beat back the feeling of being a Christian and being alone.
Christians since the first century have met together on the first day of the week to worship God and remember their Savior at His command by communing with other Christians though the Lord’s Supper, singing, study, and prayer. They follow the example and inference of coming together from Luke 22:19, Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 11: 17-29, I Corinthians 16:2. This practice has been verified and recorded through plentiful extra-biblical writings of Christians and non-Christians from the first century forward. This has been observed from those early days throughout the world. However, there are examples, not commanded by God, when Christians in the past gathered. Acts 2:46 records Christians gathering at the temple as well as “house to house” sharing meals together. The fact that Christians early on did not meet in “church” buildings is without dispute. Equally as true is that the preponderance of times they met together was not for the purpose of worship. People lived normal lives of work, play, and other occasions when they came together individually and as a community to share their time with one another. Why do they do this? Because people typically do not spend their time alone. They enjoy building relationships, having fun, sharing conversation, encouraging one another, and helping one another in life. This is true for Christians and non-Christians alike.
Jews and Christians have often suffered over the ages. Near to the first century during the time of the Maccabees there was unrest. Pompey would take Jerusalem in 63 BC for the Romans. The Jews were under this governance when suffering the murder of their children by Herod during the childhood of Jesus. Jesus would later go to the cross instead of Barabbus an insurrectionist (an activity drawing the attention of Rome). The Jews would be forced from Rome at the hand of Claudius during the 40s AD due to concern over insurrection. The insurrection of the Jews during the 60s Ad ultimately brought about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by Rome. Christians were not immune from being tied to the behavior of the Jews. They were considered just a sect of the Jews. Unfortunately, not only did Christians suffer because they were either Jews or associated with them, but they also suffered at the hand of the Judaizers for their beliefs. The witness of this is great throughout the New Testament. While, the destruction of Jerusalem eased the punishment of the Judaizers upon Christians, Rome would certainly have their hand upon Christians as time would progress. If you found yourself a Jew or Christian during these times do you think you would isolate yourself from those who could lend you support? The Christians specifically would need to gather themselves together even more closely as it seemed they were being persecuted from all sides. They would need the comfort, aid, and fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ to get them through the terrible times.
Enter the book of Hebrews. Hebrews is written to what is believed to be a Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish Christian audience. The letter furthermore is believed by many to have been written specifically to the Jewish Christians of Jerusalem possibly months before the 70 AD destruction. Whether or not that is exact, or the letter was written to Jewish Christians of that timeframe throughout the known world of that time, the Christians were alive during a time of increasing stress, hard times, persecution, and peril. Apostles were being martyred! Fear and uncertainty most certainly surrounded Christianity. Herein comes Hebrews 10:23-25:
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but encouraging one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
This passage is most often used to guilt people into making every bible study a body of Christians holds i.e. additional Sunday morning, night, and Wednesday evening gatherings. No such mandate of these specific times was ever made in scripture. The authorized command of assembling by Christ in remembrance and examples of assembling on the first day of the week by the Church has been established, but no other has been bound in heaven nor can be upon the earth. If the context of Hebrews 10 were specifically refencing a congregational time of worship, the first century Christians would not define the time of assembling as done today. Under such a specific view the time would be the first day of the week. However, is this what Hebrews 10 is referencing? The context of Hebrews would resoundingly say “No!”. The meaning is far deeper and critical. The assembling here using the logical ability to infer, as authorized by Christ in (Matthew 22:29-32), would always direct Christians to the understanding of communing together for comfort, encouragement, and strength. Specifically, as they see the time of duress coming near. Again, in context, a time of judgment would be approaching the Christians (Hebrews 10:13, 27-39). They had been in and would be through trials. They needed “encouraging” (25), “compassion” (34), “confidence” (35), and “faith” (38). If the time coming was the destruction of Jerusalem, persecution from Rome, or the final Judgment of all (unlikely due to the immediacy of the language of Hebrews), as stated earlier, the Christians would need the comfort, aid, and fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ to get them through the terrible times. This involves a whole lot more cruciality than a mindset of making a Bible study. It means in one’s life gathering with Christians frequently in a wide variety of settings and locations for multiple purposes.
The Hebrews 10 passage brings about a truth that the entire Bible confirms. Being in contact with and surrounding ourselves with godly brothers and sisters will build us up and see us through all seasons. It will help us avoid the feeling of being alone, helpless and stranded in a world of sin. While it is a truth that frequent Bible study is uplifting and done so in assembling with other Christians has the possibility of making it even more so, we must leave passages in their appropriate context as addressed to the given audience. To “forsake”, “treat as empty”, “desert”, or “leave behind” assembling with others also has a far different connotation associated with it than being concerned about a specific Bible study time. Christians we need to remember that at times, there are different needs that must be met. We are created for the purpose of good works. This means your time may be better served talking to someone and spending time with them, rather than having your head in the good and holy Book (Matthew 15:1-9). Value the time to go serve someone and show the love of Christ. Let us not be like the Pharisees happy to show our check list of successfully attended class times, but rather be as the anonymous good Samaritan who seized the moment to do what is right and pleasing in the sight of God.