In view of Paul’s teaching that regulates the use and purpose of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthains 14, it is apparent that the main emphasis in saints getting together is to fulfill the needs of the body. Each provided a need for other members of the body, the accomplishment of which could be met fully when all gathered together. Each had a spiritual gift through the laying on of the apostles’ hands and no person was adaquate to fill that role by himself or herself.
Two words sum up this aspect of their meetings. The first is the concept of ministry or service. It is well known that the term “diakonos” was not used in the NT for the person whom some call ‘the minister’ as being usually the one ordained person in a congregation carrying out most, if not all, of the ministerial tasks. It is used generally of any and all kinds of service, though sometimes it used of people who are the actual objects of service. The basic use describes the service of God that is expressed in serving one another. It rests on the principle taught by Jesus that disciples must not act as rulers, expecting to be served by others, but as servants (Mk. 9:35; 10:43) who look for ways to minister to others.
The other word used to describe this activity means “building up (oikodome). It is the stated aim of all the gifts (see 1 Cor. 14:5, 12, 26). The same thought reappears in Ephesians 4:12, 16, where the purpose of ministry is the building up of the body of Christ, and in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 where one believer is to build up another. The metaphor was also current with Luke who uses it in Acts 9:31 and 20:32 to stress a function of their interaction.
To illustrate by using the same example of singing and praying, consider whether these two provided the purpose for the gathering of Christians. Several passages show that brethren prayed together. 1 Cor. 14:15-17 finds Paul providing instructions in the use of spiritual gifts. Neither prayer nor singing is a spiritual gift but those with gifts prayed and sang in the spirit. Those are two activities expected to be seen when brethren get together regardless of the amount of people or day of the week. In Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, God commands that we “speak to one another” and “teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” There is nothing in this context that indicates this is a formal public worship generally practiced among members of the church one day a week. Again, this describes a lifestyle among God’s people that is consistent with their true character. Three facts stand out in the matter of edification. First, saints are designed by God to serve one another. Second, it requires gathering with at least one other person to be accomplished. Third, that they worshipped together when they assembled is clear but that they had to meet in order to worship is not clear. Fourth, we do not go to worship any more than a fish goes to water for a swim. We are to be worshipping servants, continually struck by a Holy and awesome God. In response, we offer our bodies as “living and holy sacrifices”. Unlike a majority who put on their revererent attire on special occasions of worship, we are constantly offering the sacrifice of our body in service and praise to Him (Romans 12:1). We are “continually” offering up a sacrifice of praise to God (Heb. 13:16). Such praise is not compartmentalized into the religious portion of the week when we meet with other members at the “appointed times.”
The reader will observe that we have discussed passages that stress the importance of gathering together, but only two of those passages actually mentioned the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). One deals with the Lord’s Supper, while the other deals with the collection for the saints. When New Testament Christians ate the Lord’s Supper, in every account they assembled together to do so. Of all the ways to express homage to our God, this is the one that brings us together and to take it by oneself unassembled with others is counterproductive and unscriptural. In Acts 20:7 it says, “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…” In 1 Cor. 11 after Paul had corrected the error of the Corinthians and instructed them in the proper way to eat the Lord’s Supper, he then commanded them saying, “Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.” This is the only gathering associated with the first day of the week when brethren “came together to eat” the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:33). It reminds us that we are in communion with God and thus with each other as members of one another and that it requires the brethren to come together to accomplish.
Still, to suggest that this is the only time God expects me to be with my fellow brethren is inconsistent with the the daily needs and care shared among us. As noted above, we are not attempting to lessen the emphasis and need for gathering on the first day of the week, but rather to emphasize the fact that the people of God in the New Testament came together on days other than Sunday and that their need for coming together extended far beyond just taking the Lord’s Supper. Christians are required to assemble together because family belong together and the greatest common denominator is our common Father to whom we honor. Contrary to the tradition that has developed in our culture over the past years, the Bible does not command that Christians assemble only on the first day of the week. The admonishment of Hebrews 10 involved the individual’s need to be present when brethren gathered. One can neither give exhortation nor receive exhortation when absent from one another. The important thing to note in both Hebrews 12 and chapter 3 is the reason for the togetherness. We can’t stimulate one another unto love and good works and exhort one another so as to build faith and prevent falling from the living God unless we are spending time together. We need to be thinking of ways to accomplish this great need. The concern of our time is that when a brother or sister misses an opportunity to gather with other Christians, they are missing the encouragement they need to give and receive. This is not a social time for light hearted joke telling, game playing siliness that encourages the lack of sobermindedness and promotes the building of relationships outside the spiritual domain of kingdom-living. This is not to say that it’s a sin to tell a funny story or share in matters that are not spiritually related, but it should not be the focus of our time with each other. It sets up an atmosphere for the carnal man which we are suppose to be fighting. When members of churches gather, the unfortunate truth is that an evening can be spent where even the mention of God is missing. The focus of our time together should be based on the spiritual relationship. Instead, we provide an occasion for weak, undicipline Christians to develop feelings for others that are not wise, while the children are left to themselves to do the same things.
When the focus is on the Lord, and love for one another, there is no reason to despise this opportunity to gather with one another. Treating it lightly not only demonstrates one’s priorities, it shows a disregard for fellow Christians with whom we have so much in common. Because the body is said to be the body of Christ, Christians are individually members one of another (1 Cor. 12:27). When Christians assemble together as a body, they are able to “stir one another up unto love and good works.” But when one of the members of the body is absent, the effect is exactly the opposite. There is a member missing and therefore, the body is hurting. When someone fails to be among brethren, the immediate conclusión should be that they are hindered by unpreventable circumstances. For this reason, it is understandable why saints would naturally “wait for one another” (1 Cor. 11). If one is sick, a message is sent to that effect, and the rest can pray for their well-being and look forward to seeing to their needs on their path back to better health. But when one is absent simply because he/she has chosen to do something else, what a blow that is to their brethren who care so much about them. What a blow it is to Christ to see the disregard one has for His tremendous gift. It is no wonder the Hebrew writer describes it as trampling the Son of God under foot (Heb. 10:29). We not only rob ourselves of opportunities for spiritual growth (Heb. 10:22-24) by choosing convenience over conviction (Acts 24:25), we are placing God behind something else (cf. Matt. 6:33; 16:24). In light of all of this, do we truly believe that God is still pleased with us when we show such disregard for his plan and purpose? God has given us great things through Christ, but if we continue to trample those things under foot for the sake of “mammon,” personal recreation or pleasure, then what a fearful day is coming when we come before the Almighty’s throne.
In conclusion, togetherness is a wonderful gift from God. Though we feel overwhelmed in the world, God provides a means for us to be lifted up in Christ through the encouragment of fellow-workers. Realizing the importance placed on being together, we must commit ourselves to developing that habit. While the statement is an obvious one, it is outside our comfort zone to be together more than the “appointed times” for “church services”. The thought of being together every day is very awkward. If we were in the habit, we would be just as vigil and adamate about seeing each other throughout the week (see Hebrews 3:13) as we are on the first day of the week. The actions of a vast majority indicate that “going to church” is the desired goal. While many are we in the habit of “going to church” at the appointed time because that is what is expected by the system, we are not in the habit of encouraging each other in our walk with Christ? Encouragment should not be an incidental by-product of our meetings that occur on exceptional occasions. It is the objective of our meeting. If that is not being accomplished, we must figure out how to fix it, rather than change the purpose of our gatherings.