Occasionally the question comes up as to whether it is really necessary for Christians to meet together each time the doors open to the building--in our case, Sunday morning for a Bible study, then worship; a period of worship again that evening; and another study on Wednesday evening. It's not a bad question; really, it's not unreasonable to ask, "why even meet together in the first place?"
Jesus, shortly before His crucifixion, gave his apostles unleavened bread to eat and "fruit of the vine" to drink, commanding them, "do this in remembrance of Me," Lk 22:19,20. In doing so, He instituted "the Lord's supper"--a memorial of His death. In 1 Cor 11:26, the implication is that it is to be kept by all Christians until the end of time: "...as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." Following the example of the early saints (Acts 20:7), Christians meet all over the world each Sunday to remember Jesus' death.
But what about the other times the doors are open? Why ought we to use those opportunities to meet as well?
In instructing Timothy in how he ought to behave, Paul wrote, "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart," 2 Tim 2:22. Timothy wasn't to go it alone; he was to lead a godly life in association with others that were seeking after Christ as well. It's not that we are to avoid all contact with unbelievers (that's simply not possible, 1 Cor 5:9,10; nor is it desirable--how could we be a light to those in darkness, Mt 5:16?); it's that we need all the encouragement our fellow believers have to give!
Now, we may feel that we are solid children of God; our faith isn't on the brink of collapse, and we feel we are walking pretty close to the Lord. Yet, the Hebrew Christians were warned, "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "TODAY," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin," Heb 3:12,13. As Americans, we may not be suffering the same hardships they endured--persecution, affliction for Christ's sake--but we can still be hardened by the deceitful nature of sin. We can still fall from Christ: "...let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall, 1 Cor 10:12. And this passage notes a daily need!
Even such a spiritual giant as Paul recognized his own need for encouragement: "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established--that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me," Rom 1:11,12. While only he could grant the ability to perform miraculous spiritual gifts, one gift that they could give each other was that of encouragement. Of course, while one reason to meet with the saints is in the good things we receive from our brethren, we ought to return the favor! As we read in 1 Thess 5:11, "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."
To build one another up in these ways, we have to meet with one another--and not just on Sunday morning. While Heb 10:24,25 is often abused by well meaning brethren, isn't that it's point? "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, (25) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." If "the Day approaching" referred to the destruction of the temple, that day has come and gone; yet the good that comes from assembling as a local church has not, and never will. There is perhaps a greater need for edification and encouragement in times of distress; but even if we feel we don't need the encouragement, perhaps we could "consider one another," and remember the good that we do others by meeting with them.
Ultimately, while it is not commanded that we attend each time the doors open, how we feel about meeting these other times can reveal our focus in life. As Jesus said, "...where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," Mt 6:21. There are times when we can't meet with the church: an emergency comes up, sickness, needs that cannot be met otherwise--and there may be other valid reasons as well. Certainly God knows our hearts, and whether it is just not possible for us to do otherwise. But if the problem is simply that something else is more important to us--earning money to buy a new boat, going to a ballgame, or even just visiting with friends or relatives--our focus is on earthly things, not on Christ.
