There are few differences between the abuses of the Catholic Church that Martin Luther so opposed in his day and the asinine (thank you Anna) practices of todays Charismatic Christian leaders. Both use cleverly invented myths and seek their followers money.
Archive for the ‘post’ Category
Preparing my Sunday Message.
In post on February 13, 2010 at 5:56 pmI was thinking about this scripture,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25)
“…As is the habit of some…” am I the ‘some’ that the author of Hebrews was referring?
I have guilted myself with this label, I sometimes think God thinks this way of me. Others have told me outright that I am in this category. I have wrestled with this scripture especially since I willfully stopped going to a church and being part of its leadership team, worship team and Thursday prayer meetings. In ceasing to attend my friendships have gradually ceased to minimal to no contact. I am not blaming someone else or blind to my involvement in the ceasing of church friendships. Rather I have seen it for what it is when I attended and when I no longer participate. Lacking.
I have read commentaries that take Hebrews 10:25 as meaning attend a church and submit to church leadership and then I read blogs by hippies who say lets all move to the mountains, grow beards and have community by the fire pit.
This is a battle in me because, I tend to lean with the thought that going to church is important. I know that is a shocker for some who may know me, but I want relationships especially with Christians.
Recently I said to someone I am select-ably social, his response was “thats offensive.” Why offensive? Is it not prudent to think this way? Jesus said, “…and do not throw your pearls before pigs…” not everyone is qualified to be in the ‘meeting together’ that the author of Hebrews mentions.
My heart will not rest with a demand that I attend a church, or that I am submitted to some church leadership or church exercise that seeks to solve all my past hurts. Who wants to be controlled by leaders? Who wants to be accepted because you play a musical instrument boldly? Who wants your leadership potential to be discovered so you may become like them – meeting bound & tired.
So I was challenged again after these thoughts by John Piper who ‘tweeted’,
“Religion is what man does with his solitude.” No, says Lewis. “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together.”
I was frustrated with John Piper for possibly suggesting that my lack of church attendance was problematic. (I did not have any conversation with him about his intentions with this ‘Tweet’) but it touched a nerve with me that a scholarly and sincere teacher of scripture might reduce Hebrews 10:25 to mere church attendance. So I read CS Lewis’ thoughts on “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together” and try to understand what Piper and Lewis and the Author of Hebrews may mean.
CS Lewis’ quote comes from his book The Four Loves, from the chapter titled Friendship. Already my defensive posture was relenting with the reading of this chapter title. Friendship, speaks of something grander then church attendance. I read concerning his thoughts on friends and I felt the melting heat on my icy condition – I long for its reality.
I have had sincere friends, I have had friends who delighted in me and I in them. A thought started to dawn as I pondered about friends and this scripture from Hebrews. Maybe this is what the author of Hebrews had in mind. That friends would meet together regularly and encourage one another in Christ, talking about our walk with the Jesus, loving God as we drink coffee and discussed spiritual things and seeing the day drawing nearer when Jesus returns we would eagerly anticipate together.
So now my thoughts have rested on this Hebrews 10 instruction. I will seek for friends nearby who aim to satisfy these directions from the Apostle Paul to his friend…more like a son Timothy,
…pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22
I had enjoyed this fellowship in the past. Being challenged and challenging friends to sincere devotion to Christ.
So I wholeheartedly agree without any frustrating thought about meeting together, that we ought not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrew 10:25)
I’ll leave you with this quote to ponder about fellowship.
Two friends delight to be joined by a third,
and three by a fourth,
if only the newcomer is qualified to become a real friend.
CS lewis -The Four Loves – Friendship
