I can only find this statement once in the New Testament, Hebrews 10:25. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, and so much the more as you see the day approaching”. What day? The day of our Lords return to take us home. What is Paul saying to the Church? In our modern day church, the preachers use it as a whip to keep people coming to their church. Is this what Paul was saying? No!
If you read the entire chapter you will find out what Paul was talking about. The idea that he is saying we are to go to a church is entirely foreign to Paul. There is no such thing as a church building or structure other than the body of Christ. In fact to use it as such is totally wrong. We, the entire body of Christ are the Church. Each of us as we come together become the Church united. There is a slogan I read on the internet somewhere that sums it up, ” The church has left the building”.
This scripture is a stand alone verse that can be applied to us as Christians. We need the fellowship of like minded people and their support in the hope of the gospel we have believed. Going to church is only a facsimile of what we really need. We need each other in true fellowship as a family member, someone who really loves us in spite of our short comings and faults.
In the book of Acts we find the 120 assembled together in one accord when the Holy Spirit came upon them. We should always be looking for opportunities to get together and lift up the name of Jesus. I remember reading a story years ago about a believer who got hurt by his church family. Another brother in his church family came to him and shared a camp fire together. As they sat there talking the man who came to help his friend who got hurt, started to poke the fire and as he moved the embers around he withdrew one lone ember. They both sat there in silence watching the fire. The ember glowed brightly as it was removed from the fire and slowly started to cool and lose its brightness. The hurt brother watched silently as the ember cooled, finally he spoke. “I understand your message and I am ready to rejoin my family, thanks”. In other words if we stay in fellowship with each other we remain full of fire, but if we remove ourselves from other believers we slowly cool off and the fire grows dim but not out
The “Church” is not, and has not been the “Church” of the book of Acts for almost as long as it has been created. For the first several hundred years or so it operated as it should. Then the Pope system was created, and this put the “Church” at a great disadvantage until Martin Luther. But what was created by the Reformation stayed the same in form and function. Priest-Preacher teaching, people listening. This is not entirely scriptural. We need teachers, but not lecturers as “Pope Priest” I am not putting down the Catholic church or any other Church.
To give you a more vivid idea of our “Religion” system called the Church, I watched a show called Rick Steves European Travels. In it he traveled all around Europe and during his travels he visited the great cathedrals. I saw the Catholic church as I have never seen it before. The burning incense, the pageantry of entry with the cross and expensive costumes and robes, with great hats upon the Priest heads. Then the Priest goes behind a veiled area and prays his religious prayers and does his thing, while the people sit in awe. It looks so holy, but it is all for nothing. Just useless religion.
We are Priest of the Most High God. (A kingdom of priest, Revelation 1:6, Exodus 19:6- You shall be unto me a kingdom of priest and an Holy nation). Then in (1 Peter 2:9-But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an Holy nation, a peculiar people).
This is what we all are, Priest. A level playing field, no one above another. We need to stop this charade of religion and become what God says we are. When we do come together as priest, we need to become like students going to school. Being taught by another more learned man of God who has a gift to teach. Take your position as a student of Gods word, listen to what you are taught, take notes and when you get home go over what the teacher has taught you. Does it line up with the Bible and what it says in context and not just a snippet of truth that is only that mans opinion. Gods opinion is the correct one always.
As I have said many times before, we are all to be students of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15). Take your place where God has put you and become the Priest to all those you come into contact with daily. You do not need a Seminary degree to be effective. You just need to be real and take Gods word seriously. Remember you will make it, just don’t give up.
Thanks for all your support. We are closing on our farm today, so I may only be able to write a shorter blog for awhile. See you in Ohio or Kentucky soon.
The Kilted Priest 