Forsake Not the Assembly

 Have you ever heard a preacher quote this Scripture telling you it meant “going to church”? 

               “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some; but  
               exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
               Hebrews 10:25   

Let’s investigate this Scripture and see whether or not this is what it means. 

forsaking, Strong’s 1459, Greek egaktaleipo   to leave behind in some place, i.e. (in a good sense) let remain over or (in a bad sense) to desert 

assembling, Strong’s 1997, Greek episunagoge a COMPLETE COLLECTION 

manner, Strong’s 1485, Greek ethos      usage, custom, manner 

exhorting, Strong’s 3870, Greek parakaleo   to call near, invite, invoke, beseech, comfort, exhort, desire, pray, intreat, besought, call for; meaning “to call to one’s side”, hence, “to call to one’s aid”. It is used for every kind of calling to a person, which is meant to produce a particular effect, hence, its various meanings 

approaching, Strong’s 1448, Greek, eggizo    To make near, i.e. approach, draw nigh, be at hand, come nigh, come near, draw near 

So, to make clear from these definitions, this verse says: 

                    “Not forsaking a complete number of ourselves together as is the custom of some; but  
               call to one’s side or aid; and so much the more as you see the day draw near. 

Therefore, this Scripture is not telling you that you have to be in a particular building each week. Instead, it is telling you not to forsake fellowship with a complete number. 

What did Y’shua/Jesus tell us was a complete number?

               “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of 
                them.”   Matthew 18:20   

This is how miracles happen, how people are encouraged and how lives are changed when just two people or a small group get together. The first-century believers modeled this with small meetings from house to house. Christianity is a relationship based lifestyle, modeled by our Saviour through discipleship. This model has nothing to do with our present day practice of “going to church”. 

For more information, See So, Just What IS “the church”?