Is It Necessary to Assemble?

Carrol R. Sutton

Sometimes weak or uninformed Christians will try to justify their negligence in assembling with the saints by saying, "It is not necessary for Christians to assemble. One can worship God at home." Is this idea of faith? Can it be advocated by faith? Let us consider the following facts.

1) CHRISTIANS ARE COMMANDED TO ASSEMBLE: Hebrews 10:25 says: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another and so much more, as ye see the day approaching." Note: Assembling involves a gathering together.

2) ACTS 2:31 indicates there was an assembly in which preaching and praying were engaged in.

3) ACTS 11:26 Tells us "that a whole year they (Barnabas and Saul) assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people."

4) ACTS 14:27 tells us that Paul and Barnabas "gathered the church together," and "they rehearsed all that God had done with them..."

5) CHRISTIANS ARE NOT TO SHOW PARTIALITY: Especially to those that come into their assembly dressed in finery. (See James 2:1-4). Note: This necessarily implies that Christians were assembling and that Christians should assemble.

6) WE LEARN FROM ACTS 20:7 that "upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them..." Note: We are commanded to partake of the Lord's Supper (see 1 Cor 11:23-29) and Acts 20:7 shows us what day we should break bread.

7) IT IS CERTAINLY GOOD TO ASSEMBLE WITH THE SAINTS IN ORDER TO WORSHIP GOD. I am sure that no Christian would deny this. If we are able to assemble, and we have the opportunity to do so, and we simply do not, we have sinned. (See James 4:17).

No, the idea that "it is not necessary for Christians to assemble" is not of faith and cannot be advocated by faith! Obviously Satan would be pleased if you accepted such an idea!