Why Assembling Is Important
Many religious people, and even some in the Lord’s church, who have not been taught properly, believe that assembling with other Christians is optional. It is good to assemble, if you want to, but if other things are more appealing, little importance is given to meeting with other Christians.
Assembling is a command, not an optional thing for times we do not have better things to do. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking 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” (Heb. 10:24,25). The passage does not say “forsake not the assembly,” but “the assembling.” It is the act of assembling that we are not to forsake. That action is not limited to an assembly in which the Lord’s supper is observed, although it would certainly include this. Any time members of a local church come together, every member should be acting the same—assembling, if possible.
Why should we assemble with other Christians? First, we believe in the Lord’s death and resurrection and we declare that faith when we come together on the first day of the week to eat the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26). When we forsake that, what does it say about our faith and our hope? Do we really believe that He died for us and the He is coming to receive us?
Second, we should assemble to be exhorted to love and good works (Heb. 10:24). Earlier in this book, the writer said, “but exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13). There is encouragement to abstain from sin by being with those who have made the same commitment. The Psalmist said, “Oh. Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Ps. 34:3). Being with others who love God encourages us to exalt His name.
Third, assembling is essential to the proper functioning of a local church. It has often been asked: If every member were just like me, what kind of a church would this church be? If everyone were like some, we would meet only on Sunday morning and only occasionally on that day. There would be little teaching of God’s word and little praise of the God who sent His Son to die for us.
Assembling with other Christians is essential to obeying God and therefore to going to heaven. There may be reasons for being absent, when a person would like to be present, which is not forsaking. The Christian whose heart is set on pleasing God and encouraging others will realize the importance of not forsaking the assembling of himself, “as is the manner of some” (Heb. 10;25).
Assembling is a command, not an optional thing for times we do not have better things to do. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking 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” (Heb. 10:24,25). The passage does not say “forsake not the assembly,” but “the assembling.” It is the act of assembling that we are not to forsake. That action is not limited to an assembly in which the Lord’s supper is observed, although it would certainly include this. Any time members of a local church come together, every member should be acting the same—assembling, if possible.
Why should we assemble with other Christians? First, we believe in the Lord’s death and resurrection and we declare that faith when we come together on the first day of the week to eat the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26). When we forsake that, what does it say about our faith and our hope? Do we really believe that He died for us and the He is coming to receive us?
Second, we should assemble to be exhorted to love and good works (Heb. 10:24). Earlier in this book, the writer said, “but exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13). There is encouragement to abstain from sin by being with those who have made the same commitment. The Psalmist said, “Oh. Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Ps. 34:3). Being with others who love God encourages us to exalt His name.
Third, assembling is essential to the proper functioning of a local church. It has often been asked: If every member were just like me, what kind of a church would this church be? If everyone were like some, we would meet only on Sunday morning and only occasionally on that day. There would be little teaching of God’s word and little praise of the God who sent His Son to die for us.
Assembling with other Christians is essential to obeying God and therefore to going to heaven. There may be reasons for being absent, when a person would like to be present, which is not forsaking. The Christian whose heart is set on pleasing God and encouraging others will realize the importance of not forsaking the assembling of himself, “as is the manner of some” (Heb. 10;25).