Assembling Together
By Norman H. Crowhurst
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When we were ostentatiously disfellowshipped for believing the Bible only, after more than thirty-five years of trusting the Word as our guide in life, the hardest thing for me to reconcile was the meaning of the words contained in Hebrews 10:25, concerning assembling together.
For these many years this text was quoted to anyone who missed one of the five meetings a week conducted by the local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. Now I had been searching for another group with whom I could meet to fulfill this purpose. After visiting with many professed Christians, all of whom did not accept the Bible as the absolute standard for their belief, I had at last found a group called the Church of Christ, that appeared to do so.
This was joy itself for a few months, during which the Witnesses ostentatiously disfellowshipped us. I did not mind that for it showed with finality the sectarian nature of Jehovah's Witnesses. But what about Hebrews 10:25? I asked myself, "Suppose I had not met with the Church of Christ group, with whom should I thus meet to fulfill the admonition?" The Baptists, the Presbyterians, the Catholics, perhaps?
At a week long evangelistic meeting of this Church of Christ, the preacher quoted Hebrews 10:25 in exactly the same way I had heard it quoted (and had myself quoted it) many times before, among Jehovah's Witnesses. Undoubtedly many sectarian groups quote it the same way. I had talked with the Baptist minister, I remembered, who quoted this text with the same general idea--I must find some church with which to meet.
During this time I examined the text more closely. Manifestly all of these sectarian groups cannot be correct in applying this text exclusively to their own meetings. It is usually quoted about attending (or not attending) some specific meetings, such as Bible studies, preaching services, or, in the case of the Witnesses, the ministry school meetings.
In the broad sense of the words, any of these meetings could be construed to be "exhorting one another," and "provoking to love and good works." But I could not help asking myself whether these meetings were doing precisely what the writer to the Hebrews had in mind?
Suddenly I saw what my own acceptance of sectarianism had obstructed the Spirit's power to reveal to me before: all sectarians who quote this verse in such a personal way, to individual members who miss meetings, are themselves violating that very admonition in a collective sense, as a group.
When the various letters of the New Testament were written, there was a sectarian trend, which Paul discussed in his first letter to the Corinthian congregation. Some said they followed Paul, others Apollos, yet others Cephas. Yes, some even insisted, in a sectarian attitude, that they followed Christ. Paul asked them, "Is Christ divided?"
At that time, all Christians met together in Corinth. Their divisions, based on personalities, occurred under the same roof. This was the difference I had not before recognized. To correct sectarianism then was much easier than it is today.
From remarks to the Hebrews, it appears that some were disgruntled enough to leave off coming together. Sectarianism had taken the group to whom Hebrews was written, a step further. So the writer was admonishing them, as Paul did the Corinthians, against such partiality. They were to be mindful to love all the brotherhood, not just those with preferences similar to their own.
This means we should, as best we can, associate with all who profess the name of Christ, and certainly with all who accept the basic text of 1 John 4:1-3, whether they be premillennialists, post-
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Some things they believe or hold may not be in accord with God's Word. But may I reject any of them for that? For example, some insist that Saturday is the sabbath, others that Sunday is the Lord's Day. Which one does the Bible say that we, as Christians should observe? When I was baptized I felt that, right there, I gave my life to God, not one day but seven days a week, year in and year out! What does Paul write about in Romans 14?
That each follows his respective course to the Lord. So to the Lord he will answer. To the Lord also, I will answer, and I must not judge my brother in such matters.
It was John who told Christians that they would be known to the world as belonging to Him because they loved one another. Many an agnostic has quoted the reverse of this as evidence that Christianity is false--the sects of Christendom quite evidently do not love one another as the Bible says they should!
But we cannot correct that, you will tell me. This is true. Neither of us can change the whole of Christendom, but like the individuals whom Paul discussed in Romans 14, each of us is responsible for himself. I cannot make all Christians, even in my own town, meet together under one roof. But I can and must see that Norman Crowhurst is not partisan or sectarian.
Almost a year ago the Lutheran pastor called on me. I discussed some of these scriptural points with him as they were on my mind. He saw the matter the same way. He invited me to lead a discussion on the subject with his adult study group. I rejoiced in accepting the opportunity. God was blessing my acceptance of what the Word really teaches.
But when I mentioned this activity at the Church of Christ, where I was still attending, there was no such joy. "But they are sectarian," was the alarmed response. For that and other reasons my fellowship is no longer accepted at the Church of Christ building.
My meetings with the Lutherans were experiences of joy. They received me as a brother in Christ with great warmth. I found their rather ritualistic service strangely in contradiction with their professed absolute acceptance of the Bible. But their discussions were warm and open-minded. Like me, they believed that the one strait and narrow way is Christ, and not a denominational path.
I did not join the Lutheran Church, nor shall I do so, for I cannot again become a sectarian (Galatians 5:1). But I do accept my brothers in Christ who happen to call themselves Lutherans. And also those who use other labels. And the Lord is blessing my work for Him, for they are drawing closer to the Way, if they are not ready as yet to discard sectarian labels.
Some will ask, "Do you advocate following your example, that we should not be members of any church?" To this I answer, first, that each of us should be vitally concerned, personally, with whether he is himself a member of God's church, the bride of Christ, whose membership is known only to Him.
Next to this specific question, we cannot be isolationists, each going his own way on his own, merely because no one church contains all Christians. Those who religiously attend so many meetings every week with the feeling of having discharged their duty to Hebrews 10:25, may really be dodging this "duty" altogether, if they refuse to fellowship with Christians whose views differ from their own.
Third, what I see as God's place for me is not the place for every Christian. I am not teaching that what God has for me to do is the same thing He has for every other Christian. Unity is not conformity!
Some will prefer to continue associating with a particular group for consistent fellowship and spiritual nourishment. For
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I feel that it is God's leading for me now. Tomorrow it may be different. My life is His, to use as He wills. I do not believe that He has the same job for all of us to do. Nor does each of us use the same gift for all of his Christian lifetime. Paul told the brethren at Corinth to seek the greater gifts. This must mean that their Christian work would change, individually.
The greatest gift God has given me, at this place and time, is that of being free from any denominational entanglement, to help all of my brothers in all of the denominations. This is my place. It may not be that of other Christians at this time. It makes me no greater or no less than my brothers. One is still our Master and we are brethren. I do not question His leading, I merely follow it, prayerfully and with trust in Him.
Our readers will recognize areas of divergency in his approach and that of our own, and especially in the terminology employed. But we grew up in a factional arena where one who differed with the "powers that be" in the Churches of Christ had no avenue in which to express himself to the brethren. He was cut off from all of the papers and written off as dead. We hope, through God's grace, to undo a lot of that kind of injustice and unfairness, of which we were so guilty, and it is in that spirit we published the book, "Voices of Concern," and expect from time to time to present articles such as the above.