Assembling

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Hebrews 10: 25

This is a fascinating scripture in light of the current state of affairs. The “doctrine” of social distancing seems to be at the exact opposite of what the scripture writer encouraged the saints in that day to do. If we read this scripture and apply it literally, are we wrong for allowing the current doctrine from keeping us from assembling ourselves together? How do we handle such opposing ideas?

When Paul was speaking to the Hebrews, this thought of “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” was a part of a broader context in which he was trying to encourage and teach the church. Paul starts this thought by saying the following in Hebrews 10: 19-24:

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

And having a high priest over the house of God;

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Remember Paul was speaking to Hebrews who were well versed in the law and the old covenant. This line of thinking in verses 19-24 follows his teaching, in verses 1-18, on the failure of the old covenant to be able to deliver. Paul, therefore goes on to teach how Jesus is the fulfillment of that covenant and how He provides a way for each individual to enter into the “holiest” of God because of His blood. He is encouraging those Hebrew readers through imagery that they would understand (i.e. the veil, the high priest, hearts being sprinkled, bodies being washed with pure water).

The real emphasis in these verses, however, is in the individual being able to hold fast their profession of faith and having others provoke one another unto love and to good works. How does this practically happen – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. Verse 25 goes on to say, but exhorting one another. The thought here is that we need to call near, invite, comfort, intreat and pray for one another in order to provoke one another unto love and good works. “Church” is not a country club. “Church” is not a just a place for ones to get fed and then to go on their ways. When we assemble for church, we are there to encourage, to support, to lift up, to comfort, to cheer-on one another … in other words “to consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.”

But what about social distancing? Let’s again look at verse 25. It, again states, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.” It seems clear to me that there were some in that day whose heart drew them away from assembling together to the point where it became a part of their custom or manner. Paul is talking about a condition of the heart not a rule or a law that was thrust upon them. These one’s that were forsaking the assembling of themselves together were making a conscious decision to do so out of a heart that was contrary to this sound teaching. They chose, for whatever reason, to not consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Their hearts were not for building up the kingdom of God. They were like the nobles in Nehemiah’s day who “put not their necks to the work of their Lord” (Nehemiah 3: 5). If social distancing is a welcomed relief from having to spend time with other Christians and even attending the services of God in order to be a help in the work, then the heart is not right to begin with and there is a bigger issue with the heart that needs to be resolved.

The lesson on what we are dealing with can be found in Acts 8: 1-4:

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

On face value this may not look like the same situation that we are dealing with today. However, there was fear and decisions were motivated by fear. There was death and the fear of death. They had scattering, we have social distancing. But even in the midst of all of that as they were scattered abroad they “went every where preaching the word.” See the difference in the heart condition. They were not forsaking the assembling of themselves. On the contrary, they were using the situation to assemble abroad and to take the word of God to other people. They were making, as the current phrase goes, lemonade out of lemons! Even though there was great fear that drove the believers out of Jerusalem, they did not let that fear stop them from delivering the gospel unto other people who otherwise may not have heard the word if they had remained in Jerusalem.

With what is happening today, there could be some justification to rise up and defy the laws of the land. We may have a right to assemble according to God’s word. However, let’s take a lesson from those saints in the morning-time. When we are given lemons, let’s make lemonade. Let’s make it less about us and our rights and more about the opportunities to preach the word.

There has been a greater opportunity to reach out to others using technology than what has been done in time past … and that is a good thing. As we are allowed to “socialize” more, in the future, but still may not be able to meet in large assemblies, let’s preach the word in our regions; not just with technology but also face-to-face. This may be an opportunity to take the gospel to people that might not otherwise grace the church doors. Remember, this same morning-time church did not have large assembly spaces in which to worship, as a whole. They worshiped in houses; they worshipped by the riverside; and they recognized two main truths of the church. First, Jesus said:

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18: 20

Second, they knew that they, as the body of Christ, were the church. A building did not define them. Laws and fear did not stop them! Jesus Christ, through his Holy Spirit lead them … and a great work in spreading the gospel was accomplished.