What is often said: "Forsake not the assembling"
What the Bible actually says:
"Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another." -Hebrews 10:24-25
This is almost always used as a verse
to point out that we are supposed to go to a church weekly. This isn't
only taken out of context but it isn't even the entire verse or
sentence as it appears in scripture.
This text doesn't simply tell us not to forsake assembling together, it tells us what to do when we assemble. We are to stir one another to love and good works. We are to encourage one another. One another means each other, it indicates that action is given and
received by each person involved. I encourage you and you encourage me.
So given that this text is used to tell us to go to a church, how in a
typical Sunday morning church service can we practically encourage one
another and stir one another to love and good works? Church
services are spectator events. The professionals perform and the
audience sings along or says "Amen!" There is no "one another" involved
or even allowed. Forsaking a weekly church service does not equate to
what this scripture speaks of. In fact you can forsake biblical
fellowship, which involves participation & contribution, while
still going to a church service every week! Don't let anyone pressure
you into being in a church building on Sunday morning with this verse.
See this post for more: In Context: "Forsake not.." & "I can do all things.." Revisited
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