Bobby Witherington

It is a sad fact! There are many members of the church of our Lord who periodically choose not to assemble with other saints to worship God. Perhaps some of them believe that “it is not really a big thing” for them to excuse themselves from the regularly scheduled Bible study and worship services of the church. Hence, we ask what really happens when a child of God forsakes the assemblies? Before replying, I would hasten to state that forsaking involves an act of the will.  There are times when illness or unavoidable circumstances might force a person to miss the assemblies even though he desperately wants to be there. For example, Paul said “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica” (2 Tim. 4:10). The point is this: Demas should have remained with Paul during those critical moments, but he chose not to. On the other hand, I recall a brother who planned all week to be present in worship, he arose early on the Lord's day, got dressed, and left early to be in worship, and then had an accident on the way to worship and was forced to miss. In fact, he spent the Lord’s day in the hospital. This brother missed the worship; he did not forsake the worship. Now, having distinguished between forsaking and missing, we again ask the question, “what happens when a child of God forsakes the assemblies?”

1. He neglects to follow the example of first century converts – the example of those who “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). “The breaking of bread” in this verse refers to the observance of the Lord’s Supper, which is to be partaken of on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), and which is to be observed by those who have “come together” for that purpose (1Cor. 11:33).

2. If he forsakes on the first day of the week, he violates the command to give as he has been prospered (1 Cor. 16:1,2), thereby robbing God (cf. Mal. 3:8)  of that which rightfully belongs to God.

3. If he forsakes on the first day of the week, he ignores the command  to eat the unleavened bread and to drink the fruit of the vine “in remembrance” of that One who died in his behalf (1 Cor. 11:24, 25; Matt. 26:26-29).

4. He refuses to consider his brethren “in order to stir up love and good works,”(Heb.10:24).  In fact, instead of being an encouragement to his brethren he proves to be a discouragement to others who are a part of the same spiritual family.

5. He violates the command of God which obligates all Christians to teach and admonish “one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace” in their “hearts to the Lord,” (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19). In so doing he refuses to teach and admonish others, and makes it impossible for others to teach and admonish him.

6. He sins against God. Surely all Christians recognize that it is a good thing for the Lord’s people to assemble together to worship God in spirit and in truth. However, the Bible says that “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (Jas. 4:17). One can sin by omission as well as by commission!

7. He demonstrates a lack of love for God and for Jesus Christ. Jesus said “the first and great commandment” is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37, 38).  However, Jesus also said “if anyone loves Me, he will keep my word” (John 14:23. One who openly professes his love for God, while willfully forsaking those assemblies of the church wherein God is worshiped according to His revealed will, is lying!  I know that sounds hard, but I am simply applying the spoken words of Jesus.

8. He refuses to have fellowship with other Christians. “Fellowship” (from koinonia, Greek) is defined as "communion; sharing in common” (Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words). It conveys the idea of being a joint partaker of. The proper observance of the Lord’s supper involves “the communion of the body of Christ,” and “the communion of the blood of Christ” (1 Cor. 10:16). Members of the church are “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). They are “fellow disciples” (Jn. 11:16); they are “fellow heirs” (Eph. 3:6); they are “fellow soldiers” (Phil. 2:25); they are “fellow workers” (Col. 4:11); they are “fellow servants” (Col. 1:7), etc.  All these “fellow” terms denote the fact that they are jointly partaking of, jointly participating in, and jointly sharing with other “fellow”  members of the house of God.  One who thus refuses to participate with other saints  in the things of God is refusing to have fellowship with them! Frankly, I find it amazing that some brethren have been known to take offense when they are notified that, because of their persistent unfaithfulness, they are regarded as no longer being in fellowship. Even though, for months, they themselves have deliberately refused to jointly participate (have fellowship!) with other Christians in the public worship of God Almighty!

9. He robs God of the glory due Him! We glorify God when we exalt His name in prayer, when we sing and make melody in our “heart to the Lord” when we reverently observe the Lord’s supper, when we encourage others to press forward in the work and worship of God, etc. Is a “Christian” (?) who lays in bed on the Lord’s day, who watches TV instead of worshipping God, who uses that day to mow his lawn, go fishing, or just goofing off, etc. glorifying God?

10. He sins “willfully” (Heb. 10:26). In Hebrews 10:25 God’s people are admonished to not forsake “the assembling of ourselves together.”  In Hebrews 10:26, the text says, “If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” In this case the forsaker of verse 25 is the one who sins “willfully” in verse 26. You see, to forsake is to sin, and it is to “sin willfully!”

11. He is trampling “the Son of God underfoot,” he is counting “the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing,” and he is insulting “the Spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:29).  Look at this verse in its context! Contextually, the writer is describing the condition and conduct of the person who forsakes the assembles, and who thereby sins willfully! It is not a pretty picture which inspiration paints in these verses, but keep in mind that it is inspiration which paints this picture. It is not simply the ranting of some preacher who wants to scold the brethren!

12. He is letting the devil have his way with him. Such a person might actually pray that God’s will be done, but he is heeding Satan’s will instead. Yes, Satan “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,” and we must “resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Pet. 5:8, 9).  But the person who forsakes the assemblies, in so doing, disobeys the command to assemble; he deprives himself of the encouragement so desperately needed to resist the devil, and he deprives himself of the Bible teaching which helps enable him to successfully resist the devil. In so doing, he does the will of Satan, and ignores the will of God! For shame!

Conclusion:

Sometimes brethren, who have been unfaithful for years, say “all that I am really guilty of is not going to church”– as if that were a matter too trivial to merit any real concern. Beloved, if you have been forsaking the assemblies, we plead with you to repent and return to God. God does not want you to perish (2 Pet. 3:9), and neither do we! Your soul’s salvation means a lot to us. We hope it does to you!