Forsaking

Forsaking The Assembly

"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)

You’ve probably noticed that a part of verse 24 above appears on each issue of The Carpenter’s Apprentice. I think it is a great admonition as to what the people of God are to be about. The context in which it falls is of considerable interest but space limitations prevent me from quoting it all. Suffice it to say, Hebrews is about the superiority of the new covenant to the old covenant. The old was inadequate and passing away as this letter was being written.

The proof-texting that has been done with this passage is considerable and warrants a scholarly challenge. How often we have heard this passage used to establish the ordinance that we should "go to church." Specifically, some of us were taught that the day in question here was the Lord’s Day/Sunday. I don’t believe that is what this passage teaches.

Those of the tradition in which I was raised who are reading this are probably already raising their eyebrows, so let me take a moment to deal with this issue before moving on to the actual subject of the text.

Attempting to make "the day" in this passage refer to the first day of the week creates a logical problem. To paraphrase, "Don’t forsake assembling together as the day of assembling approaches." To suggest that means, "Assemble all week long and even more as you get closer to Sunday" just seems awkward (and it certainly hasn’t been practiced by anyone I know).

The context makes it clear the day under consideration here is the day of the Lord, not what we call the Lord’s Day. Hebrew Christians were being encouraged to continue in their faith in spite of the conditions under which they lived.

Persecution had caused some to abandon their brethren and return to the old covenant system. As the Hebrews of old forgot the hardship of Egypt and longed for the few delights they enjoyed, so first century Jewish Christians enduring the hardship of their forty year journey from Calvary to their vindication in A.D. 70 were tempted to return to what was comfortable. In Hebrews 3:7, the author reminds them not to harden their hearts like their fathers, but to encourage each other to faithfulness.

It should be obvious that the anticipated "day" here is not Sunday! How quickly we seek to re-establish a law to bind people and enslave them to tradition. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not opposed to meeting on Sunday. I’m for meeting with Christian brethren every day and I enjoy such fellowship at every opportunity afforded me.

However, I don’t see Sunday as being any more important than any other day. Paul seems to speak to this issue in Romans 14:5, "One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. "

Admittedly, differing interpretations are possible here. Paul could be drawing a distinction between the Jewish and Gentile Christians. Those of Jewish heritage might well have continued observing the feasts (remember Christ’s instruction in Matthew 26). The Gentiles would not hold them with any special consideration, but the Jews might.

Another possible interpretation is that all days are to be treated the same since the consummation of the ages is at hand. There is nothing wrong with observing a particular day "as unto to the Lord" but neither is there an admonition to do so. Hence, Paul says not to judge one another on this matter.

Let me quickly add that there is no question that we are to keep the Sabbath. The critical question is which one? The word Sabbath literally means a ceasing. It is the same word used to describe what God did on the seventh day of creation.

It is my present view that, prior to the fall, Adam and Eve continually observed a Sabbath rest. There was no toil or strife in their day to day life spiritually or physically. Following their sin, things changed dramatically.

What they previously enjoyed effortlessly in the physical world suddenly required arduous labor. But that was only indicative of what was happening spiritually.

They were out of favor with God and they knew it. Based on the offerings of Cain and Abel, it is apparent that the first couple recognized the need to atone for their failure. The stark reality was that nothing they could do would restore what they previously enjoyed.

Most people are still striving today in one way or another to make atonement, or at least rationalize that they have. Only those who have been granted faith in Christ are able to cease from striving. Sadly, many in "the church" still strive under the belief that their efforts in some way merit God’s favor.

Let’s be very clear - there is nothing you or I can do that obligates God to grant us even one more heartbeat - much less anything else!

Do we still work in the physical sense? Certainly. Does that mean we are not at rest? I don’t think so. The true Sabbath rest of which scripture speaks is a spiritual rest, not a physical one. Even the language Christ uses, supports this understanding of rest: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)

Did you ever notice that Christ’s invitation to rest involves not just a yoke, but a burden? We cease our striving to appease Him and begin living to please and serve Him. The Hebrews writer appropriately urges his readers to be diligent to enter the rest that is coming.

Their trials were to be short-lived and they would be vindicated as faithful sons of God. In Hebrews 4:1-12, we find the author’s encouragement for Hebrew Christians to endure so as not to miss entering that rest. Did they, or did they not? The "Sabbath that remaineth" was future to them, but it came in A.D. 70 and the faithful found their rest.

As Christians, have we entered our rest? Yes! Like Adam and Eve in the garden, we have not ceased doing, but we have ceased our striving. We have been reconciled unto God on the basis of faith in Christ alone. When we cast off our fleshly bodies, we fully enter the rest forsaken by our first parents.

We have peace with God in Christ and no one will ever find it any other way. The pagans think that by their efforts God will find them worthy. After all, they aren’t as bad as the next guy. The Jews trust in the old covenant which was annulled and which can never make them righteous. Both groups seek what we as Christians already have, peace and rest.

Sadly, many Christian denominations act as though that rest cannot be enjoyed in this life. It seems we have difficulty imagining life in the presence of the Father through living out the Royal Law in Christ.

What scripture offers as tradition, we tend to establish as regulation. In doing so we rob ourselves and others of liberty in Christ. The charge of "forsaking the assembly" is just one of many ways this plays out in legalism.

The author of Hebrews has in mind those who turn their back on what they have received and deny it, not those who fail to show up every time the "church" doors are open.

To forsake means to abandon. How did we ever get around to applying this to Christians who won’t follow an established tradition of meeting twice on Sunday and then on Wednesday night (or should I say, once on Sunday since the tradition is now changing to meeting only on Sunday morning)?

I will never forsake assembling with other believers. It may be any day of the week, but I will continue to meet with those who love God and who gather to glorify Him, edify one another, and testify to the world of His goodness. I won’t feel a compulsion to make Sunday morning attendance a new law, complete with penalties for missing it.

I will be diligent to make every day holy unto the Lord and to see every appointment as a divine one. Because I have entered God’s rest, I am free to enjoy the relationship that makes holy living a present reality rather than a future hope.

I like that a lot. It beats the heck out of imagining God keeping an attendance record!