“Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:25

Jesus is coming back! This is the hope of every Christian. He promised to go and prepare a place for us and when he is done he will come back and take us to be with him forever (John 14:2-3). When exactly Christ would return, no one knows. While on earth, Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). And it has been quite a while since he left. How much longer before he returns is unknown. While we wait for that promised return, how do we anticipate that glorious day? What is the correct disposition to have as we await the Master’s return? Is it okay to be idle while we wait or do we get just about any time-fillers to occupy us while we wait?

In a previous article, I had said that the waiting period should correctly involve service. The Church in Thessalonica exemplified this. They turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead –Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).

Don’t Give Up Meeting Together

Good as the Thessalonian example is, it is not the only thing that scripture admonishes us to do while waiting for Jesus’ return. The writer to the Hebrews urges a commitment to Church meetings as part of the waiting process.

“Let us not give up (forsake, neglect, quit, stop) meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” is the command. Terms like ‘give up’ and ‘quit’ presuppose that there could be things in a, or the, church that could make a person part ways with the church. And many have done so. Over the years, people have had varying experiences in different congregations – some trivial, some clearly bitter – that have been the reason(s) for their quitting Church altogether. Whatever those reasons may be, however defensible they may sound, the Bible says some are in the habit of giving up meeting together but you should not be like them. And there is good reason for this advice: “as you see the Day approaching”.

Instead of being a quitter on Church, Hebrews 10:25 asks that all of us consider how we may (see how inventive we can be in; discover creative ways to; do all we can to) spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Some persons have not completely withdrawn their memberships, but they have left subgroups or units where they hitherto employed their gifts, talents and callings to serve God and the body of Christ. They are now occupied with doing nothing or worse still, have become professional critics. You only need to have the misfortune of sharing a seat with them in a Sunday service to have your ears full of all the things that are wrong with everything. Instead of being a quitter on Church, Hebrews 10:25 asks that all of us consider how we may (see how inventive we can be in; discover creative ways to; do all we can to) spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

For the Safety of Your Own Soul

When I was a child, my mother sometimes used wood as fuel for fire to cook. When the different pieces of wood were brought together, they made a huge fire. Anytime she wanted to tone down or turn off the fire, she could ask any of us children to take the wood out of fire. Sometimes only one piece of wood would be taken away from the rest to reduce the intensity of the flames. It didn’t matter how long the separated wood burned, how large or dry it was, the fire it bore would eventually go out.

Yes, you can read the Bible on your own and understand, but your vision isn’t whole; there are things you will never see alone. The light that others share in preaching or during studies will deliver you from small-minded considerations of God’s Word

The same is true for you as a Christian. No one is an island. When Adam was created, God later said it was not good for him to be alone. When Jesus saved you, He intended that you would be a part of his body, the Church. There is no authentic Christianity without belonging to a Church as a living member. You may ask about persons who, for example, may be incarcerated. Those are special circumstances. And when I say Church, I use the term as mostly used in scripture. I know there is a sense in which the universal body of believers is the Church of Christ, but the context of this command is that of a local assembly of believers that provides you with a place for worship, fellowship and service. You cannot survive on your own. Like a piece of wood taken out of the pile that makes a fire, your fire will eventually go out no matter how fiery you may be. Yes, you can read the Bible on your own and understand, but your vision isn’t whole; there are things you will never see alone. The light that others share in preaching or during studies will deliver you from small-minded considerations of God’s Word.

There is no authentic Christianity without belonging to a Church as a living member

Jesus had warned previously that in the last days (in which we clearly are) there would be an increase in wickedness and because of this, the love of most will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). Most! Let that sink in. Unfortunately, this is already happening. There are many, many, people whose love for God has grown cold because they have neglected the regular gathering of believers in Church. Where is the place that you can belong to that the combined love fires of others will keep your own love from growing cold? The Church! Haven’t you heard that if two lie together, they will keep warm? How can one keep warm alone? Are you not aware that though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves? A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:11-12). When you belong, you are protecting your own soul, your love, from growing cold. So be done with thinking that you do anyone a favour by your commitment to Church.

What that means is that as you are aware of Christ’s return, anytime you think about it or remember it, you should respond or prepare for it by increasing or deepening your commitment and frequency to Church meetings, not reduce it

The verse in consideration gives the second coming of Christ as the reason why you should be committed to the fellowship of believers. It says, “all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Other translations say, “even more frequently”; “especially”; “more earnestly”. What that means is that as you are aware of Christ’s return, anytime you think about it or remember it, you should respond or prepare for it by increasing or deepening your commitment and frequency to Church meetings, not reduce it. There may be situations that would threaten to limit or hinder your participation altogether, but your consciousness of His return should cause you to say, “No situation, I would be even more committed because the day of my Lord’s return is closer now than when I first believed.” Offences should not stop you; work engagements should not stop you; economic difficulties should not. If you are committed, whatever difficulties come, you will prayerfully find ways to circumvent them. For instance, a sudden lack of mobility or finances to move around easily might mean moving to a nearby congregation. Quitting or trimming down your commitment should be out of the question.

A Command to Obey

Commitment to Church meetings is also a clear command of scripture. What Hebrews says is not a take it or leave it suggestion; it is a command. You cannot be anticipating Christ’s return while wilfully neglecting his command to not give up meeting together. It goes contrary to God’s wise design for His Church to claim to be a Christian yet refuse to belong to the body. In God’s mind, all believers constitute the body of Christ. Paul said “you are the body of Christ and each of you is a part of it”. He argued that, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” If the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body (1 Corinthians 12). Can you see how so contrary to design it would be to lay claim to Christ yet separate from his body, the Church?

Instructions such as “love one another”; “pray for each other”; “bear one another’s burdens”; “forgive each other”; “confess your sins one to another” and the like are meant to be obeyed in Church

In addition, there are many ‘each other’ commands in scripture that God expects you to obey. The place that he has provided for you to practice those commands is in the Church. Instructions such as “love one another”; “pray for each other”; “bear one another’s burdens”; “forgive each other”; “confess your sins one to another” and the like are meant to be obeyed in Church. You don’t want to appear before the judge of all men having not utilized the platform he provided and not obeyed these instructions.

The Church in Jerusalem

The kind of Church membership that anticipates the return of the Saviour must be living and active, not passive or lukewarm. This is not about just being present and marking off your name on a register. Are you an active member or a bench-warmer? Participate in the life of the local Church you belong to.

The kind of Church membership that anticipates the return of the Saviour must be living and active, not passive or lukewarm

Shortly after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the formation of the Church, we see exemplified, the kind of membership that should characterize our belonging to Church. Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”. These things were to them worthy of devotion, dedication and steadfast commitment. They joined with the other believers in regular attendance at the Apostles’ teaching sessions and at communion services and prayer meetings. In today’s Church, aren’t Bible study and prayer meetings the least attended meetings? Can we with this attitude claim to be awaiting the return of Jesus Christ? In fact, one way to check yours or anyone’s living walk with Christ is in this matter. Irregular attendance to Church meetings is usually a symptom that all is not well with a person’s walk with God.

Irregular attendance to Church meetings is usually a symptom that all is not well with a person’s walk with God

This is the model laid down for us in the word of God. Don’t just have your name on the Church’s register, be devoted. To what? Regular meetings, teaching sessions and prayer meetings. Why? Because Jesus is coming back. Take opportunities to serve. Give yourself, time, money and other resources to the body of Christ. Pray for your fellow brethren and the leaders. Mourn with those who mourn; rejoice with those who rejoice. Don’t run home after a meeting, exchange pleasantries with others. Be alive. Do these all the more so because Jesus is coming back and you are waiting for Him.

Learn more…