When We Gather

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10: 24 -25 NKJV

My friend Dennis related a story recently of playing golf with a friend whom he had not seen in awhile.  Well, one of the first questions his friend asked him was one we've all heard from time to time, "We're you in church Sunday?"  Now, as a pastor, Dennis is more than capable of having a discussion on the virtues and responsibilities of christians, so I am quite certain that he can handle such a question when asked.  However, his story got me thinking on just how we view our church "fellowship" these days.  We all know that traditional template of christianity, of how we do our duty and march to church each and every Sunday.  Well, except in the summer, when vacations seem to take importance.  Don't get me wrong, for I've heard the question often enough as well.  All too often, I see it as a invasion of privacy.  I guess I shouldn't, but somehow when someone asks me if I was in church on Sunday I immediately start to think that they have an agenda.  Like I was some lost sheep of Gods flock in need of saving.  Is this how Dennis saw his friends inquiry?  Only he knows that answer.  I'm just speaking for myself.  So, what is that requirement that we christians march dutifully into our Lords house each and every Sunday to fill the pews with believers?  Is there such a requirement?  Many well meaning christians will point to the author of Hebrews 10 that we "Not forsake" our gathering together?  But does this scripture have the very meaning of meeting in a physical building or temple?  Before getting into this question we must ask ourselves, is our Lord confined to a building?

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; "for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:  TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.  Therefore, the one whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.  "Nor is He worshippd with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.  "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and he boundries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him, though He is not far from each one of us; "For in Him we live and move and have our being, as some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'
Acts 17: 22 - 28 NKJV

Is God indeed confined to our churches and synagogues?  As the apostle Paul told the men of Athens, "God does not dwell in temples made with hands."  Now, does that mean that God cannot be present in our worship services and gatherings?  Of course not, but we do our heavenly Father a disservice by limiting Him to the structures which we have created to honor Him.  Indeed, our houses of worship are "His" house, but as we do with our own dwellings, we come and go as we please.  God does the same.  But back to the original question, what requirement is there that we fill our local church each and every Sunday?  I cannot find one.  Now, we only benefit ourselves by attending church as far as fellowship with fellow believers.  It is in this manner that I believe that we should not forsake our gathering together.  Fellowshp is a good thing.  When we look at the early church, they did not just come together on Sunday mornings but shared life togeher.

Now all who believed were gathered together, and had all things in common, and sold their possesions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2: 44 - 47 NKJV

Of course, the society we have today is far different from that of the early church, but the idea remains the same.  For I believe that we are not a group of congregations, but one community in Christ Jesus.  Our own Sunday morning gathering, our square table talk, is one we look forward to during the week.  The three men who constitute this group are truly men in Christ Jesus who have come together to know more about Him.  Above all, that is what's importannt.

~Scott~