What if you did not go to church last Sunday? Many believers state, they would not think of not going to church or missing a single Sunday. I’m not sure if its fear or just believers simply not knowing what the Bible says in reference to church attendance. To the surprise of many believers, you will not find a requirement to attend church written anywhere in the bible. Although a claim like this would upset even the most faithful of church members, it will never cease to be fact. Tradition is the glue that seemingly hold churches together. Breaking tradition in many of these churches is like being disobedient to God.God can not (nor will He) punish or hold you accountable for something He did not say in Hid Word. Fear seems to be the tool of choice in most places to fellowship, whether leaders are aware of their frequent use of it or not, can not say, only that it is highly effective.
Is God waiting to thump you for missing a Sunday? No. Are you in danger of going to hell if you work on Sunday? No. Why then will many church pastors teach their members that God can be worshiped anywhere at any time. Sure, corporate worship and the place where believers congregate is a source of strength for the believer. Yes, fellowship is vital and necessary for the Christian, how else can you grow in the strength and knowledge of the Lord unless you assemble with them.
Assembly is a noun, and denotes a gathered body. Assembling is a verb, indicating the action of gathering together. To forsake–abandon–the action, or practice, of gathering with fellow-believers is quite different than occasionally missing one such assembly.
When Hebrews 10:21-25 is read in its context you will see the Hebrews were leaving their new found faith in Jesus Christ only to return to the Law of Moses. In today’s churches, I can understand the purpose in warning believers against their infrequent participation in worship services. The less that your around the people of God, you stand a better chance of reverting back to your former ways. But, to use this passage of scripture to say to the people of God, they will go to hell for missing church services or they must be in attendance every time the church doors are open is misleading and manipulating people.
Preachers and teachers, why not tell and teach the truth and tell the completed story when you tell it and teach it? To the reader: missing one or more Sundays, doesn’t not mean you have forsaken the assembly of your self. Only you, will know if you have or not. Remember, you only forsake, when you decide, you will never, return to the place of fellowship or fellowship with Gods people.
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