jshurley04 said:
So what you are saying is that you have NEVER skipped breakfast, lunch or dinner in your life to accomplish some task, what ever it may have been? I will give you that church services where the Word is proclaimed is like a meal, but not every service has preaching, at least that is what most churches advertise. We usually call the Wed. night service a prayer service which means that there is going to be prayer and not preaching. So if someone skips because of job requirements then they are in need of repentance? What about police and firemen? or even our military?
You cannot turn a principle into a command just because some twisted sense of logic demands it. Is it spiritually healthy to skip church, NO! But you cannot make it into a command, Christ gave us only two - Love God and love others. This attitude is imposing rules just like the Judiazers did in the first Century.
I see nowhere in the verse
"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."
to indicate that it is only a principle and not a command.
As a matter of fact, since the thought of the writer is continued in the next two verses with
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."
The writer put the forsaking of the assemby right there in the category of 'willfull sin.'
A Christian should be in the House of God whenever the Lord allows the doors to be opened. He or she should be there to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. He or she should be there for fellowship and strength. He or she should be there to be fed the Word of God.
There are enought unbelieving police, firemen, and emergency workers in this world that a Christian should not even have an excuse for missing even one service where the Word of God is preached.
Matthew 4:18-20 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Christ's Disciples, Peter and Andrew, left off their work to follow the Lord. How many today are truly willing to forsake all worldly activites and events in order to obey the Word of the Lord and 'Forsake not the assembling of ourselves together'?
