QUESTION:
Does the command of Heb.10:25 include Sunday and Wednesday evening services?
ANSWER:
The casual and disinterested manner with which many approach the worship of God is regrettable indeed. It appears, that to some, worship is more of a bother than anything else. How do we sandwich a worship service into our day of hunting, fishing, and playing, seems to be the primary concern of some. The concept that the Lord's day is a special day for God's people to use in worship and praise to Him, is foreign to the thinking of many Christians. Heb. 10:25 mandates that we not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. The obvious reference is to the assembly of saints on the Lord's day. (Acts 2O:7) While I believe there is a deeper lesson in this verse i.e. one concerning leaving the new law for the abrogated law of Moses, the fact remains that as a symbol of the new our writer stresses the assembling of saints for worship and our obligation to that assembling. The New Testament scriptures furnish us with instances where the church met at times other than what we might call the "Sunday morning assembly." (Acts 15:4-22) Interested and dedicated brethren were there for these gatherings to show not only their support for the church and work of God, but to receive the available blessings that come from such gatherings. Specifically other meetings arranged by the church cannot be placed on a par with the assembly countenanced in Heb. 10:25, however the careless and widespread disregard for those gatherings is a sad commentary on the spiritual development and dedication of church members everywhere. To say the least when brethren miss church services to go to ball games, or participate in recreation, or whatever, they are not seeking the kingdom of God first. They are not puttingfirst things first, and it shows. Such behavior should not go unchallenged. Brethren, surely it has not come down to the idea of "how many services of the church can I miss and still be acceptable?" Has it?