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NASB | Hebrews 10:25 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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ's return] approaching. |
Subject: Why church? |
Bible Note: I have to agree that church is not manditory... as salvation certainly isn't dependent upon church attendance. Having said that, let me say, also, that choosing to avoid church is a little like choosing to avoid food. In both cases we will suffer lack of growth, begin to waste away and eventually die. It's all a little bit silly to believe we can reject either..don't you think? Over 20 years ago I found myself in a cult-like church and felt that God had abandoned me and had allowed me to be deceived. I took it personally and I determined that I did not need, nor want any part of church...ever again. My decision resulted in a futile exercise of 'running in place' and the longer I ran on my own the weaker I became. At the end of 20 years without fellowship my Christian walk had so deteriorated as to be indistinguishable from a that of a non-believer. To consciously avoid church and the fellowship it provides is to avoid the most basic command of our Lord Jesus Christ... John 13: 34 and 35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." When we decide against participating in the fellowship of Christ in context with His church we, in effect, are deciding against the Lord's commandment to love one another. When we are out of church we are out of context with Christ. The Bible would have us understand that the church is the body Christ..the community of believers in Christ...it is meant to be the believers new family provided by God in Christ. It is within this family of believers that our walk is given credibility and that we are held accountable and, even, more importantly, we are fed and we grow.. Without fellowship with our brother's and sister's in Christ it is difficult to be any more than a nominal believer, at best, and growth is next to nonexistant. My recommendation to anyone who may be deciding against church...rethink your position. I would suggest to you that, just as you cannot avoid food without disasterous consequences to the health of your physical being.. neither can you avoid the spiritual food provided in the fellowship you will find in church without reaping disasterous and dibilitating effects on your spiritual life and being. Love, in Christ,....dennis |