Out of context again...

Consider this verse that is commonly used today to encourage people to go to church: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 Does “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” mean I have to go to an actual church building every Sunday morning in the construct of how church is done today? Well in some denominations they will insist that it does and they insist that it actually includes not just Sunday morning but Sunday and Wednesday evenings as well. This is the modern day “Doctrine of Attendance” and it certainly is not biblical. This will be shown throughout this writing. ‘Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together’ means something much different and deeper than what the majority of churches teach today. It certainly does encourage believers to gather together whenever possible but it’s not at all targeted in saying that we must do church at some church building. It’s much more than that. First we need to take the passage in it’s complete context and in order to do that the entire chapter is really needed to capture the full essence of what God is saying in regards to not forsaking the assembling of believers. It must be clearly noted that the writer of Hebrews, when he refers to“ourselves” that this is in reference to believers only. He is talking to believers. This is very important to keep in mind as we continue forward in looking at what this assembling ourselves together as believers in fellowship really means. Here is the entire chapter for consideration: Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish a the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. The context of verse 25 in light of the chapter it resides in, taken as a whole, is much more than a call to show up for a service at a building. It's a call to remain in meaningful fellowship whenever possible with true believers so that one does not fall away from God and go back into sin. It is a wake up call that falling into the hands of the living God is a fearful thing if we do so after wilfully going back into sin. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) [24] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. [26] For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. [28] He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: [29] Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? [30] For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. [31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:23-31 The reader has to understand that when it states "for" at the very beginning of verse 26 then verse 25 cannot stand on it's own in order to achieve the proper and truthful context. This is called "floating" a verse on it's own to arrive at a context that is desired verses the actual context of the verse. In other words, it becomes something Good did not intend to say with that verse. It's misrepresenting God's word and thus it is literally taking His name in vain. The Bible states that we need to walk in unity and together with sound doctrine and this is with believers. This is true biblical fellowship. This is the context in which verse 25 needs to be taken in instead of twisting it to say something completely different like the modern doctrine of attendance does. Remember Hebrews was written specifically to believers. This verse does not mean you need to go to any particular modern day church because more than likely that church welcomes with open arms non-believers who are serving sin and not God when God specifically said not to do so. God said the following to the children of Israel and this applies to the modern “church” today as well. The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation. Lamentations 1:10 Notice how God stated both sanctuary and congregation? This is so we would not miss the point but somehow the majority of “churches” today miss this point all together regardless. Then this following verse is thrown into the debate as if it is also a call to go to church. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 True God is present everywhere because He is omnipresent and He certainly is in the midst of two or three, witnesses... While this verse does mention the church, it has nothing to do with telling anyone they should be in church. It's purely about encouraging a brother to repent and what to do if he doesn't. Notice that once he is confronted with all the necessary steps he is deemed a heathen and is thrown out of the church as heathens are not to be in the fellowship of believers or church as demonstrated above. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. [18] Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [19] Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:15-20 It is amazing how cohesive God's Word is. In Hebrews 10 verse 26 it was shown how important "for" was in regards to the truthful context of the verses before it. Here it is again in the key verse this time, Matthew 18:20. This tells us that, in this case, all the verses before as well as verse 20 itself are dependent upon each other. You cannot float verse 20 alone to make it say something God did not intend to say. It is also amazing that both of these verses used to prop up the doctrine of attendance include in the verses themselves as well as in their supporting verses the idea of two or witnesses for judging sin in others within the fellowship. This certainly does not happen in most churches and this because they fail to keep and teach these scriptures correctly.

Essentially by taking these scriptures out of context it encourages believers and non-believers alike to partake in a church process that is not biblical as it does not reach the true depths of what God intended the church to be. It's not a process, it's not a building, it's not a program. It is the building up of the true believers, the saints, to reach and teach the lost and to baptize those who would believe and then bringing those souls into the fellowship believers.

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