For those that grew up in the church, we often heard Hebrew 10:25 quoted (“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”) as a rationale for church attendance. In some cases, it has become rather legalistic when used in some churches and denominations where “church leaders” put pressure on parishioners to attend church.
[Side Note: To the point of legalism, I often remember verses of scripture in the version of the Bible that I grew up with (King James Version). While I now primarily read the New Living Translation for easier understanding, the King James Version was the version that memory verses were usually prescribed. I even had a friend try to defend using the King James as a point of honoring God because that was what everything was keyed to and shouldn’t we want to know God better(?!?!). . .as if there weren’t other ways to learn about God using other versions. All that to say, read the Bible in a version that makes best sense to you understanding that there are translation wordings that better describe the underlying thoughts of the original languages (Hebrew for Old Testament and Greek for New Testament).]
At issue is that the verse does not necessarily refer to going to church. The writer of Hebrews has just spent the beginning portion of the chapter talking about how Jesus’ work on the cross has cancelled out the point of the law and replaced it with a grace-filled relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ. So, it is through our relationship with Jesus that we are saved and have relationship with God, not fulfilling of legal code.
The use of “meeting together” does seem to refer to a “religious assembly of Christians” (see Strongs G1997). While it can refer to going to a church and attending a formal service, it is not required to be only that. Certainly, more informal opportunities for meeting would be appropriate. I have had meetings with a brother or sister in Christ where the presence of God was clear. A church service was not required. The follow-up in the verse is to encourage one another.
I find it interesting that the writer adds “as some people do” to the verse. It would seem that not everyone is in the practice or habit of regularly meeting.
However, taking a step back, the title for the section in which the verse falls is listed as “A Call to Preserve” in the Bible in which I read. I recognize that this was added after the initial writing to help readers have context. The point being made is that the writer of Hebrews is giving us strategies for persevering in our faith and relationship with God. That is the key to remembering what we’re about: persevering in our faith in and relationship with God.
As one friend puts it, all too often, Church today becomes a “floorshow” instead of a service focused on drawing closer to God. It is for the entertainment value through rehearsed events that “Church” is often accomplished. To that point, in the last institutional church that I attended, the service would start with a popular secular song being performed by the band to “warm” the crowd. Then they would move into the formula for the service (three songs, offering, and a sermon completed within an hour).
However, the focus for assembling together should be on developing, encouraging, and caring for each other.
Here are some examples of ways that I have assembled:
- I’ve had many times where I have shared a meal with other believers and the presence of God was there fortifying me through that time with the other person or people.
- My wife and I bought 42 acres of land to build a house and our children and inlaws decided that they wanted to be out there with us. That family core has been a place of assembling for us to care for each other spiritually. Some on the land still choose to attend a local institutional church as well but not all of us.
- I had a dear friend who has now passed that I would spend hours on the phone with him discussing things of God. It was a point of development for both of us. We walked through dark times for both of us together over the years.
- Years ago, my wife and I went out to Phoenix, AZ for a conference that I had out there. While we there, we met up with a previous colleague from the institution at which I was still serving. She and her husband (Ray) picked us up at the airport. I had never met Ray. Ray starting talking to me and I thought he was trying to connect with me as a guy. However, in one of the clearest times of hearing God speak, I heard “listen up” as Ray spoke to both me and Christine. We then spent the day together and all that I could think of was the scripture “did our hearts not burn within us” (as we heard Jesus speak through Ray).
- I’ve had many times of being involved in a small group “Bible Study” that have been great times of development and care for each other in the group. Getting together to study the Bible with other believers (with care not to institutionalize it) is usually a good one.
- The team at Asymmetric Faith meets regularly together as well despite not being local to each other.
So, as you consider the aspect of developing your relationship with God, consider what the writer of Hebrews notes about not forgetting to be encouraged through the meeting with other believers and followers of Jesus to encourage your faith. However, formal church does not need to be the only answer (or even any part of the answer) to assembling together.
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