The Assembling

The writer of Hebrews wrote, in chapter 10:

“..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.”

In days past and especially recently (because of COVID) I have seen this scripture used to prove that we have “a mandate from God to meet on Sundays” or any other day. That group claims that “NOT meeting” would be tantamount to disobeying God. “We will fear God and not man!” they conclude, and then point to this verse as their proof text.

I will quickly examine this verse to show what it really means.

When we read the Bible, it is important to note the irregular phrases and words that are not typical in our vernacular. For example, often repeated words or words that seem out of order or phrases that seem odd should give us a clue that there is an a-typical expression or at least one that may not be familiar to us. Things that seem contradictory (“God so loved the world…” and “Love not the world”) should be examined more closely so that the meaning of the scripture can be discerned from context, understanding, and/or revelation.
This verse is one of those verses.

“..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.”

It starts out just fine “..not forsaking” so we’re cued in on something we are not to forsake, but then it quickly becomes odd to our vernacular “..the assembling of ourselves together..”. Some may think, “Well, this is just a hold over from King James English, so it seems long and drawn out. It simply means we should meet together regularly.” And then we see that this exhortation is set against "the Day". We must know what that means, too.

In the Greek, the word for ‘assembling’ and ‘together’ is the same word: episynagōgē. To write is out, it would read “the episynagōgē (of ourselves) episynagōgē”. That’s a little odd, right?

If this verse was just about meeting together, the word synagō might have been used to signify getting everyone together in one place.
But this is the gathering of ourselves together. This signifies the assembling of parts of a whole, the Body coming together as one. This is not “one according to location”, but one according to function.

We can find further clarification in Ephesians 4:
“..speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Simply meeting together for a gathering does not fulfill the exhortation in Hebrews chapter 10. We are not to resist the gathering of ourselves together with others, to form the body of Christ wherein each person does his/her part to the building up of the whole body.

It is the difference between a bag of car parts vs. a fully functioning vehicle.

The same word, episynagōgē, is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1

"Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our [episunagógé] gathering together to Him, we ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first..."

The Day, then, is the Day of the Lord, not Sunday or Saturday. It is the gathering together of the corporate man that the Day of the Lord's return is set.

The episynagōgē of the Body is a work of the Spirit that we are not to resist, He is the one who determines our place and function in the Body of Christ.

Blessings,
Aaron56

Is it possible to assemble together by collaborating on Christian Message Boards?

Or, does one need to walk into a church building on a regular basis in order to "not forsake the assembly"?

It would be possible only if we could recognize each other in the Spirit. This seems impossible without knowing each other beyond anonymous board posts.

I would also say that a church building is not necessarily needed to assemble according to the standard of the Body of Christ.

First let me say, I enjoyed the whole post sweetly, people have tried to interject going to church into the context of Hebrews 10, the whole of my walk. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against the practice of going, but you can't fit a square peg in a round hole.

But anyway, I did notice the resistance by a few church leaders, as common sense became the overwhelming factor to do right by the community as a whole. Which put it to rest in "most" of the opinions that have always insisted in the work, opting to obeying the ordinances of men.

Two years pass by and "Here we go again !" Hi ho, hi ho, off to "good works" we go!

Final thought: I just can not consider that any believer, with "a Bible in their hands," going to church thought themselves less of a believer, with "a Bible in their hands," for two years!

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine ( Matthew 28:18-20) and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people.

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:41-47‬ ‭KJV‬‬


it seems we’re a long way from home no matter where or how we gather

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

but never too far from Him! Thank you Jesus \0/

amen , I was meaning to say we seem far from one another after so many long years , as if the love we had for one another has grown very distant and cold compared to where the church began.

almost as if this is taking over and calling itself the church

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:15-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Going to church, even before this virus, was not meeting with brothers and sisters in Christ who supported each other, it was only sitting stiffly in a seat for an hour listening to someone comment on scripture. If you wanted companionship you would go to a bar. In church people were evaluating other people. Sometimes women who loved the Lord got together over coffee in one of their homes and shared, but this is usually not the case even in bible study groups.

Even on this site where Christians get together to share their love of the Lord, there are quarreling and enemies. Few even speak of how they interpret scripture, they hit, fight, and attack anything that does not agree with their interpretation. There is little "I think it is different" and a lot of "you are a fool".

Your points are valid.

Part of the issue is not knowing each other in the Spirit.

"Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer."

Many are elevated in the congregation because of money or influence.

I'd say, it's the largest part, but since you talked of it twice, and I sat here thinking about it for over an hour ( well, an hour per sentence) of what to say because the Bible writes so much about it. I'm thinking now, maybe it's all we should be talking about as believers in Jesus Christ.

Going back to Moses:

Numbers 11:27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.

Numbers 11:28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

Numbers 11:29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord'S people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!


Isaiah 64:5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Isaiah 64:7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.


Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Luke 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

Luke 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.


Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Galatians 4:20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.


Philippians 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.



Until today, with Bibles given for free and His servants crying out for unity as always, joining in on the harvest that remains plentiful, saying, "Who will believe the report of the Lord?"

I think we can know others in the spirit whether face to face or afar off like a forum such as this.
Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, knew they would reject Him at Nazareth, knew about the the many husbands of the woman at the well, knew Peter would deny Him, knew that Thomas would have to see Him.

Yes, Jesus had the spirit without measure, but we also have been given a measure of faith with instructions to seek earnestly all that God liberally gives to every believer by faith in Him in whom is our sufficiency, our strength, our love, our strong meat that stays in us becoming a part of His house.

We also see that He was marred more than any man, was despised of men and suffered death on the cross for us conquering death, that we too might overcome through Him because He first loved us. He is our Light that makes the mountains break before us into singing, if we would but humble ourselves in faith and seek Him.

Willing to partake in the longsuffering that God has for us all as His servants, in knowing His love, His peace, His fulness, making us able ministers of the new covenant that has been made and established by an oath, that can not be broken.

We have been made to be a part of each other trusting in the work God has done in us with certainty that He will also do the same in others, even imparting our own souls in the dearness of that unity in Him we share together as one rejoicing in Him as He rejoices over us!



Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

Luke 1:4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Isaiah 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Matthew 26:34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

John 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

There used to be a live chat room here...does that still exist?

There was also a chat where members could talk using their mics...that still exist?

Thanks!

there is an app to download for the Christian chatroom on phone or pc/laptop, once you download the app sign in and you're there, text and talk live chat

I guess it's too early to start bashing Christmas and such, so we are having a number of Threads/Comments regarding Congregational Worship, huh?

Goodness.............

Can the Threads of Pastors being paid, and Tithing be far behind?

Thank you!