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. (Hebrews 10:25 NKJV)

Her obvious frustration told me she had fought this battle too many times. Hurt and agitated, she had grown weary with Christian social media posts demonizing people for not attending church. I understood her heartache. Over the last two years, I’ve shook my head as preachers criticize people for not being in church.

People misjudged her, not even knowing she sat in a wheelchair, and she struggled with debilitating pain. Despite this, she remained an active church member as people from her church visited and had communion with her. She offered inspiration to the body of Christ.

Confession time. I hate admitting I used to consider people who didn’t prioritize church attendance as undedicated. Then I got Covid over a year ago. I missed more church in 2021 than ever since my salvation. I stayed home, avoiding reinfection.

Let’s see exactly what the Bible says about being in church. In-person service offers something online church doesn’t, but sometimes people can’t always sit in the congregation in a building. People like my friend, people with compromised immune systems, People who act as caretakers for people with low immunity to anything from the common cold to Covid.

The author of Hebrews urged his readers not to forsake the assembling together of Christians because his readers faced great persecution, and some of them began disassociating themselves from Christ to avoid persecution. He didn’t browbeat the sick and disabled. He warned people fleeing persecution for their faith. Can you see the difference?

Here’s what we often forget, the second part of the verse. Exhort one another. Other translations replace the word exhort with encourage, because the Greek connotes an act of encouragement. This command to uplift brothers and sisters in Christ doesn’t condone brow beating people on social media and casting guilt and shame. We have to ask the question: do I glorify God when I judge someone for missing church? That’s not how God wants His children to act.

Friend, if you can’t make it to church for any reason, align yourself with like-minded believers for fellowship. Do you know someone who you haven’t seen at church recently, check on them? Encourage them as our verse commands. Maybe you can open that door for them to be there.

Lord, give us understanding towards those who haven’t been at church for a while. Help us be an encouragement to them and not a hinderance. Amen.

DIG DEEPER

Read the verse that precedes this one, Hebrews 10:24 NKJV:

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

HIKING THE TRAIL

If you currently attend church, reach out to someone who can’t attend. If you can’t attend, keep the lines of communication open with other believers.

RELATED RESOURCE

Has your new year hit a pothole already? Do you grow weary of trying and never moving forward? We engage in spiritual warfare daily, but how many days do we forget to dress in the armor of God? How do we even do that? I wanted to know those answers myself, and I created a FREE printable 7-day prayer guide that focuses specifically on each part of God’s armor. Get yours here.

Originally posted on January 7, 2022 @ 3:00 am