It’s a three-verse sentence with a three-pronged admonition, all playout out before the backdrop of that day.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
– Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB
Notice the inclusion of the author in his admonition to the believers as he penned, “Let us.”
Let us do what?
Let us:
• Steadfastly hold fast our hope and not be ashamed to share it
• Encourage one another
• Not miss meeting together.
I have shared previously, in principle, about the first two; thus, I will focus on the last of the three: the need to meet.
We are all familiar with the saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” History tells us,
“Any early Christian who attempted to live like a pious particle without the support of the community ran serious risks in an age when there was no public opinion to support him. His isolation, whatever its motive-fear, fastidiousness, self-conceit, or anything else-exposed him to the danger of losing his faith altogether.”[1]
William Barclay expounds further on the quote above:
1. He may not go to church because of fear. He may be ashamed to be seen going to church. He may live or work among people who laugh at those who do so. He may have friends who have no use for that kind of thing and may fear their criticism and contempt. He may, therefore, try to be a secret disciple; but it has been well said that this is impossible because either “the discipleship kills the secrecy or the secrecy kills the discipleship”
2. He may not go because of fastidiousness. He may shrink from contact with people who are “not like himself.” There are congregations which are as much clubs as they are churches. They may be in neighbourhoods where the social status has come down; and the members who have remained faithful to them would be as much embarrassed as delighted if the poor people in the area came flooding in. We must never forget that there is no such thing as a “common” man in the sight of God. It was for all men, not only for the respectable classes, that Christ died
3. He may not go because of conceit. He may believe that he does not need the Church or that he is intellectually beyond the standard of preaching there. Social snobbery is bad but spiritual and intellectual snobbery is worse. The wisest man is a fool in the sight of God; and the strongest man is weak in the moment of temptation. There is no man who can live the Christian life and neglect the fellowship of the Church. If any man feels that he can do so let him remember that he comes to Church not only to get but to give. If he thinks that the Church has faults, it is his duty to come in and help to mend them.[2]
Bottom line: the missing of regular meetings with the saints is detrimental, if not ultimately fatal, to a believer’s faith.
In an interview on Good Friday (2019), Cardinal Timothy Dolan said something that really grabbed my attention regarding this topic of meeting together:
“People love to believe, but they’re a bit hesitant to belong.”[3]
Following up on Cardinal Dolan’s statement I found, “the phrase ‘believing without belonging’, coined by British sociologist Grace Davie in the 1990s, describes the growing number of people who say they are ‘spiritual but not religious’ and leave organized religion behind.”[4]
Thus, it seems there has been no improvement, from the 1990’s through today, for the need of Christians belonging to a body of believers.
Let not that trend be so with us! If your church needs to be rekindled with revival fire, be the one who prays and encourages; if your church is thriving, be the first to give God thanks, and continue to encourage.
Regardless of where your church may be, stay connected as we see that day approaching!
