"Not Forsaking The Assembling Of Ourselves Together"

So many of today’s citizens of the Lord’s kingdom think nothing of missing Sunday evening worship and Wednesday evening Bible classes. They are apt to ask the following question to justify their forsaking the assembly: “Do the scriptures explicitly say that we must attend Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services?” The answer is obviously “No.”

The inspired writer of Hebrews does, however, give other reasons for assembling at every designated service:

• So we may “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Hebrews 10:23)  — not ending up as apostates from God’s truth – Hebrews 10:26-31.

• “To stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24 NASV).

• We are to “love one another” (1 John 4:11) and we are encouraged to “do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).

• To “exhort one another” (Hebrews 10:25) to faithfulness (Revelation 2:10).

• The Lord says that we are to love Him with "all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind" (Luke 10:27). If we absent ourselves from the assembly where He is present, do we truly “love” the Lord? Are we putting His kingdom “first” in our lives (Matthew 6:33)? The Lord will not accept “second place” (Exodus 20:3; Jeremiah 35:15; Matthew 6:24; 1 John 2:15).

• To set a good example before others (Ephesians 5:3; Philippians 3:17). Christ intends that every one of His disciples uphold the truth (Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:1-2;1 Corinthians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Ephesians 3:17; 1 Peter 2:12). As we faithfully assemble with the saints, God’s truth is upheld and we provide an example before others.

In addition to the above scriptural reasons for attending every assembly, the elders of the church have designated “other times” (other than Sunday morning) for the saints to “assemble.” Are we “obedient” and “submissive” to the elders (overseers) of the church (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17) when we "willfully" forsake the assemblies designated by them?

Dear reader, let us prayerfully consider the above reasons for attending every designated service, "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25). The world has to see Christ living in us (Gal. 2:20; Romans 6:6) before it will be motivated to “change” their lifestyle and be obedient to Christ (Romans 1:5; Romans 16:26).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets