by Steve Hamilton<\/p>\n
First Century Christians lived in a time when their government declared war on Christianity. The assaults on people of faith were not done in secret (Hebrews 10:32-34). Lands, homes, and property were taken by the governing powers. Preachers were regularly interrogated by civil authorities for speaking the truth about Christ (Acts 5:17-18).<\/p>\n
Members of the church did not want to assemble because of the government intrusions (Hebrews 10:35-39). It just wasn’t safe going to church. Aquila and Priscilla were forced to leave their home in Rome due to the edict of Claudius (A.D. 49) expelling all Jews from the city (Acts 18:1-2). Apparently, many Christians were likewise caught up in the expulsions throughout the Roman Empire, as history records the “plundering of their possessions<\/em>” (Hebrews 10:34), presumably as they fled. Philo accounts how Jews in Alexandria were forced to leave their homes and herded together in the city (In Flaccum 8.56). “Their enemies overran the houses now left empty and began to loot them, dividing up the contents like spoils of war.” The incident was “accompanied by other acts of public outrage and violence” (cf. F. F. Bruce, NICNT: Hebrews, 269). Would we blame these Christians for not attending services, given their concerns for their personal welfare?<\/p>\n The Hebrew writer records how the early Christians “endured a great fight of afflictions<\/em>;” and became “gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions<\/em>,” while implying that many were mistreated simply for association with other persecuted Christians (Hebrews 10:32-33). Philo (Against Flaccus 72, 74, 84-85, 95, 173) and Josephus (Against Apion 1.43) recorded how Jews were subjected to public humiliation and abuse in a theater during an organized massacre (A.D. 38).<\/p>\n Of course, we know how Paul spent many years in prison for his faith (Colossians 4:18; Philippians 1:7; Hebrews 10:34). We could reminisce of Stephen’s murder (Acts 7:58ff), John the Baptist’s execution (Matthew 14:6-11), or James death under Herod Agrippa (A.D. 43). Not to mention the persecution lead by Saul that left many Christians injured or dead (Acts 22:4-5).<\/p>\n It is in this environment that the Hebrew writer warns the brethren not to forsake assembling (Hebrews 10:25). He immediately conjoins such an act to willful sin (Hebrews 10:26-31). Afterward, he implores them not to abandon their faith after everything they have already been through (Hebrews 10:32-39). The act of forsaking the assembling of saints is indicative of one who draws back to perdition (Hebrews 10:39). To further encourage the battered brethren, the author of Hebrews cites many examples of people with the kind of faith that doesn’t draw back (Hebrews 11). Endurance becomes the theme as the Hebrew writer returns to the hostility present at that time (Hebrews 12:1-4). Ultimately, Christ is the perfect example of faith as one “who endured such hostility from sinners<\/em>.”<\/p>\n Isn’t it strange how our brethren will often water down the importance of assembling? The early Christians went to church knowing it could mean their arrest, torture, or humiliation. To be associated with Christians was enough to ruin one’s life. Yet the book of Hebrews chronicles explicit commands and exhortations not to forsake the assembling. Forsaking church services reflects our faith.<\/p>\n Imagine our brethren on the judgment day telling Christ on the throne that they thought it better to miss the assembling of the saints for any number of reasons. There were sporting events, family socials, overtime at work, minor health complaints, the need to sleep in, etc. What would the early Christians think of those excuses after all they went through? God wouldn’t excuse their desire to forsake church services just because they were being persecuted! God certainly won’t excuse our forsaking church services for any reason within our control.<\/p>\n In the near future, persecution might be added to our list of reasons to forsake. Will we miss the assembling of the saints just because it might cost us our possessions, our dignity, or even our lives? Christ “laid down His life for us<\/em>” (I John 3:16). Is He asking too much when He requires our attendance in worship to Him?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Steve Hamilton First Century Christians lived in a time when their government declared war on Christianity. The assaults on people of faith were not done in secret (Hebrews 10:32-34). Lands, homes, and property were taken by the governing powers. Preachers were regularly interrogated by civil authorities for speaking the truth about Christ (Acts 5:17-18).…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[84],"class_list":["post-95768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-worship"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":31874,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-you-support-conscientious-objection\/","url_meta":{"origin":95768,"position":0},"title":"Do you support conscientious objection?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 19, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Do you or your church support selective conscientious objection and conscientious objection? 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Answer: We were taught to pray, \"Give us this day our daily bread\" (Matthew 6:11), but God still commands us\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37138,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/we-lost-the-surprise-somewhere\/","url_meta":{"origin":95768,"position":3},"title":"We Lost the Surprise Somewhere","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 10, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I remember watching Mayberry RFD and related shows most of my childhood. Poor ignorant Gomer Pyle who worked as an auto mechanic was a notable character. But I can still recall my shock when I found out that Jim Nabors, who played Gomer, could sing --\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Gomer.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":61889,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-book-of-my-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":95768,"position":4},"title":"The Book of My Life","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 23, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. 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