Why do some believers feel such guilt because they missed Sunday worship? I tell you the burden is so heavy on most believer, they think they are going to be struck by lightning for missing a day. I can remember when growing up and in most places of worship the follow is stated by the preacher: “The Bible says to Forsake Not the Assembling of your selves together” This is another improper use of Gods word to instill fear in the people of God. Am I saying the scripture does not say this? What I am saying is your not given the entire meaning of whats being said.Short of an exegesis of the scripture, lets take a look at the word “FORSAKE” which means to leave, flee with the intention of never returning”. Can that be said about you for missing 1 Sunday? No, can it be said about you for missing 5 Sundays? I think not. How can the preacher know you intentions? He doesn’t. So how can anyone say the your have forsaken the assembly of your self when you missed one or many Sundays? If you show up in church 2 years later, did your forsake the church? Was your intention to never return? Not if your sitting there in a Sunday or weekday service.
When a person makes the conscious decision to never return to the company of, or the gathering place where the saints are, this is what scripture is referring to. I realize that many believers have been hurt in the modern churches of today, but we the believers need a place to fellowship and grow in the strength and knowledge of the Lord. You are the church, the building is not.
The building is where the church (body of believers) meets or congregates (hence congregation). Many pastors mock the phrase “I am, you are the church) and they don’t want to hear this, it undermines their influence and power they like to exercise over the people, it also impacts the revenue of those in it for the money.
So, you did not go to church this or last Sunday! You have a Bible right? “Read it! You have a phone right? “Call another believer on the phone and encourage each other”. Go to where other believers are and just fellowship! Stop feeling guilty and bound and worship God everyday with your living and interaction with people and let them see the God you are claiming to know, love and worship.
You didn’t go to church this Sunday?…So!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
AMEN! I am so glad for this article. Thank you for that! And I believe the same for my marriage, yet my wife does not understand that! I have NO intentions of leaving her, committing adultery, or refusing to provide for her financially. But there are times when I feel the need to be gone for a few days. I have tried to share with her that Christ did that often with his disciples! You can’t tell me that none of those men weren’t married.
It would really be nice for you to put an article of the Bible’s teaching on this!
Thank you!!!
Thanks for reading. I find it disappointing and yet alarming that many women in the church will accept and take for the Gosple truth,every word the proceeds out of the mouth of pastors and evangelicals over what is truely written in the word of God. I pray that no man has to step away from the one they love for a few days and it’s so unfortunate that many wives don’t realize their husbands are close to that point. Many wives take for granted and rest in the fact they know right well, their husbands will never leave them, abandon them or cheat on them, but they also forget that we are men with hopes, dreams, desires emotions and feelings. I can and have written such articles as you have mentioned, but what women will read an article telling her she needs to honor, heed and show more trust, honor and respect towards her own husband “the priest of the home” over the pastor in the church. How can any married woman, claim her love for Christ and yet shown contemp for her faithful husband, this very act takes place in many churches acros America.