{"id":3508,"date":"2013-08-28T06:45:49","date_gmt":"2013-08-28T13:45:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/?p=3508"},"modified":"2014-08-23T15:30:39","modified_gmt":"2014-08-23T22:30:39","slug":"why-go-to-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2013\/08\/28\/why-go-to-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Go to Church?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Hebrews 10:25, <i>Not forsaking the assembling.<\/i><i> <\/i><\/strong>The following is a brief study on the importance of being in spiritual fellowship with other redeemed believers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2013\/08\/28\/why-go-to-church\/church-congregation-16958344\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3509\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-3509\" alt=\"Church congregation 16958344\" src=\"http:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Church-congregation-16958344-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Church-congregation-16958344-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Church-congregation-16958344-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Church-congregation-16958344.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>What do the Scriptures say about the necessity of believers assembling together?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Torah commands Israelites to assemble weekly on the Sabbath (Heb. <i>Shabbat<\/i>) and at the seven annual feasts, which are set-apart convocations (Heb. <i>miqrai kodesh<\/i>) and appointed times (Heb. <i>moedim<\/i>) (Lev 23:2).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Consider this:<\/strong> How can one properly obey the Torah without assembling weekly on Shabbat and the biblical feasts? To <i>not<\/i> be part of a congregation (a community of redeemed Israelite believers in Yeshua) and to <em>not<\/em> assemble on YHVH\u2019s regular appointed times is to disobey the very heart and core of the Torah!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Keeping Torah is a community affair.<\/strong> Those who are independent and act like Robinson Crusoes and Lone Rangers are not fulfilling the requirements of the Torah. Torah was for the nation of Israel, and Israel was meant to be a united community, not a bunch of scattered, selfish, and narcissistic individuals each looking out for himself and doing what was right in his own eyes irrespective of other members of the community.<\/p>\n<p>The Testimony of Yeshua (the New Testament) record shows us that the first century <i>kahal <\/i>(church) was a community. The apostles expected that redeemed believers would be attending a congregation each Shabbat (Acts 15:21).<\/p>\n<p>The <i>kahal<\/i> is like a human body; in fact, it\u2019s the spiritual body of Yeshua (Rom 12:4\u20135; 1 Cor 12:12\u201330). All the parts cannot function properly unless they come together. Shabbat and the feasts are YHVH\u2019s appointed times when this occurs.<\/p>\n<p>In Acts 2:42, we find listed the main purposes of the spiritual community of the redeemed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The local congregation is<!--more--><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>a place to be taught the apostles doctrine (i.e., biblical truth of the Word of Elohim).<\/li>\n<li>a place to be encouraged to remain steadfast in the apostles doctrine (i.e., biblical truth of the Word of Elohim).<\/li>\n<li>a place of fellowship<\/li>\n<li>a place to break bread (i.e., the spiritual bread of Elohim\u2019s Word and the physical bread of shared community meals).<\/li>\n<li>a place to pray collectively, to engage in synergistic prayer (i.e., there are many examples of community prayer found in the Scriptures: John 17:1\u201326; Acts 1:14; 4:23ff; Yeshua talked about the prayer of agreement where two or more pray agree as touching any matter, and it shall be done, Matt 18:19\u201320)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>YHVH started his <i>kahal<\/i> at Mount Sinai (Act 7:38). The community of redeemed Israelite believers is a continuation of that community of Israelites that began at Mount Sinai when YHVH gave the Torah to his people.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What are the benefits of being part of a local congregation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Testimony of Yeshua (the NT) uses the Greek word<i> ecclessia<\/i> in reference to the <i>kahal <\/i>of Yeshua. The word <i>ecclesia<\/i> refers \u201cto a group of individuals called out from the world that is organized and meets regularly.\u201d This is the meaning of the Greek word.<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place to learn the fear of Elohim (Acts 5:11).<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place to corporately praise YHVH (Heb 2:12 qv. Ps 22:22, 25). YHVH inhabits the praise of his people (Ps 22:3).<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place to learn to walk in love and in the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit cannot be walked out fully except in community where people learn to work out their differences, and to cooperate with each other in a selfless way. It is a place where iron sharpens iron, where people learn to turn the other cheek when offended, and to love others unconditionally.<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place to grow and to excel in spiritual gifts (1 Cor 14:12). Within the local <i>kahal<\/i>, the gifts of the Set-Apart (Holy) Spirit should be at work to edify, exhort and comfort the believers (1 Cor 12, 14). Such a rich spiritual infrastructure can only function as believers come together regularly in the corporate setting.<\/li>\n<li>The local congregation is a place to share testimonies of answered prayers, blessings, spiritual breakthroughs people have received and other wonderful things YHVH has done (Acts 14:27). This builds up or edifies everyone and brings glory to YHVH. Through public testimonies the evil one is overcome (Rev 12:11) and all are encouraged and spurred onward and upward spiritually.<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is the pillar and ground for truth (1 Tim 3:15). The truth of YHVH is taught and defended within the local congregation, and there YHVH\u2019s sheep are protected from grievous wolves who, if the sheep were outside the group, would be picked off one at a time.<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal <\/i>is a place of spiritual accountability (1 Pet 5:5). There is accountability for a person\u2019s actions and words within the context of a community where people get to know each other intimately. When the saints, in love and respect, hold each other accountable for their actions which are contrary to the Word of Elohim, this helps everyone to overcome sin and to mature spiritually.<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place to provoke (Gk. to incite or sharpen) one another unto love and good works (Heb 10:24).<\/li>\n<li>In the local <i>kahal<\/i>, people learn to die to self by sublimating personal agendas and needs to the greater needs of the community. Those who are stronger spiritually learn to hold up, build up and encourage those who are weaker (Rom 14:1). This brings everyone to a higher level of spiritual maturity.<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place where people learn to serve one another (Acts 16:1) as they follow the example and admonition of Yeshua (Matt 23:11).<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place to help the needy and to support the ministry (Phil 4:15).<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal <\/i>is a place to receive prayer for healing (Jas 5:14).<\/li>\n<li>YHVH\u2019s desire to add to the local <i>kahal<\/i> of believers (Acts 2:47).<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place where like-minded believers come to support each other in times of persecution, to corporately pray or intercede for each other, and to corporately discern the will of YHVH with regard to what their response should be toward that persecution (Acts 8:3; 12:1, 5).<\/li>\n<li>There is moral support in community. People can help each other when they\u2019re down, and rejoice when they&#8217;re up (Rom 12:15; 1 Cor 12:26).<\/li>\n<li>A local spiritual community offers a multitude of counselors. There is wisdom and safety in a multitude of counselors (Prov 11:14).<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place where people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds can learn to love each other unconditionally as equals before YHVH-Yeshua.<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> provides a venue and platform for those with itinerate ministries to be able to present.<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> provides a place for people to meet and marry.<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> can help support and strengthen weak marriages.<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> provides a place for the spiritual instruction of children.<\/li>\n<li>The local congregation has pastors, shepherds and elders who can marry and bury people, provide counsel, visit the sick, and care for other needs of the flock.<\/li>\n<li>Yeshua taught that the local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place of arbitration for people to work out and to resolve their differences \u2014 to learn to get along and to live in peace (Matt 18:17; 1 Cor 6:1\u20134).<\/li>\n<li>Elders, servants, and leaders are raised up in the local <i>kahal<\/i> (1 Tim 3:1ff). The \u201cfive-fold\u201d ministry is able to function within the local body of believers (Eph 4:11; Acts 13:1; 1 Cor 12:28).<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place where ministries are birthed and launched and from which the kingdom of Elohim can be expanded and the gospel message spread (Acts 11:22). Spiritual synergism occurs when like-minded spiritually oriented people share their wisdom, knowledge, gifts, efforts and resources in helping to advance the kingdom of Elohim. Those who are detached from the local <i>kahal<\/i> <b>can\u2019t<\/b> accomplish as much as a group that pools its resources, support, experience and wisdom.<\/li>\n<li>As Yeshua is the head over his <i>kahal<\/i>, so the husband is the head over his wife and family. There is a dynamic inter-relationship between Yeshua and his <i>kahal<\/i>, and husbands and their families. Paul calls this relationship \u201ca mystery\u201d (Eph 5:32). When Paul uses the word <i>mystery<\/i>, he is referring to \u201csomething that is hidden or is a secret that is confided only to the initiated, and not to the general public. As one becomes a regular and an active participant in a local congregation, the mystery of how marriage and the family is a spiritual shadow-type of the relationship between Yeshua and his <i>kahal<\/i> will become apparent. The inter-relationship between marriage, family and the spiritual body of Yeshua \u2014 the local congregation \u2014 is so important that Paul clearly teaches that a man could not be an elder in the local <i>kahal<\/i> unless he has been married and has his family in order spiritually. (Eph 5:21\u201333; see also 1 Tim 3:5 and Col 1:18). <b><i>Only<\/i><\/b> a man who was married and had raised his children was qualified to be a leader in the local <i>kahal<\/i>. We may infer from Paul\u2019s statements that <b><i>only<\/i><\/b> such a man could fully understand this deep mystery, and hence teach it to others.<\/li>\n<li>The local <i>kahal<\/i> is a place for Gentiles (i.e., those who are without God and without hope, Eph 2:12) to be grafted into the spiritual olive tree of Israel (Rom 11:13\u201324), and for the lost sheep of Israel to regather and be reunited as prophesied (Ezek 37:15\u201328).<\/li>\n<li>The local spiritual community is a place where end-times prophecy of Malachi 4:4\u20136 can be fulfilled. It is there that the hearts of the children will be turned back to the spiritual fathers of our Hebraic faith, and people will learn the ways of the Torah before the great and dreadful day of YHVH occurs just before the return of Yeshua (Mal 4:4\u20136).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What can we conclude from this study<\/strong> on the importance of being part of a local congregation?<\/p>\n<p>Our ancient forefathers, the children of Israelites, were part of a nation. They weren\u2019t lone rangers! They came out of Egypt as a nation, trekked through the wilderness as a nation, built the tabernacle as a nation, worshipped YHVH as a nation, and entered the Promised Land as a nation. Israel was also a family comprised of tribes that collectively were called \u201cthe children of Israel.\u201d They were also a congregation or <i>kahal<\/i> (Acts 7:38) who were called out of this world (or Egypt), and were given a divine calling and a common purpose (to worship and obey YHVH by following Torah) and a common destiny (to enter the Promised Land and to be the light of YHVH to the nations).<\/p>\n<p>The glue that held this community of families together was the Torah, and the cornerstone of the Torah was the weekly (seventh-day) Sabbath and the annual biblical festivals. Without these, Israelites tended to drift away from YHVH and his Torah such that the rubric \u201cand every man did what was right in his own eyes\u201d become the norm in Israel to describe their spiritual declension toward Torahlessness, idolatry and general spiritual lukewarmness. A quick review of the Book of Judges will confirm this fact.<\/p>\n<p>Can one properly observe the Sabbath and feasts and be Torah-observant without being part of a community? Affirmatively no! Leviticus 23 is very clear on this point. The Sabbaths and biblical feasts are divine appointments (Heb. <i>moedim<\/i>) when YHVH\u2019s people are commanded to suspend their worldly routines <i>and meet together with him<\/i>. Furthermore, these days are also called set-apart (holy) convocations (Heb. <i>miqrei kodesh<\/i>) or literally \u201ca set-apart time when YHVH\u2019s people are called together\u201d to meet with him and each other (Lev 23:2). This was the \u201cchurch\u201d in the wilderness to which Stephen makes reference in Acts 7:38.<\/p>\n<p>At every turn, the apostolic writers emphasize the continuity of this spiritual community. From its very inception in the upper room, the \u201cNew Testament church\u201d was a united community that met on the Sabbath and annual festivals. The Book of Acts is an historical record of this. The early redeemed Jewish believers were spiritually empowered together on Pentecost, prayed, broke bread, received spiritual instruction, sang, worshiped and suffered together (Acts 2:42; Eph 5:19; 1 Thess 5:14). Paul likens the community of believers to a human body comprised of various interdependent and indivisible parts that can\u2019t exist independently and expect to fulfill the purpose of glorifying Elohim, manifesting the light and love of Yeshua to this world, and otherwise, edifying, comforting and exhorting one another (see Eph 4:11\u201316; 1 Cor 12 and 14). Brethren, these activities occur when redeemed Israelites assemble together on YHVH\u2019s appointed times: the Sabbath and biblical feasts.<\/p>\n<p>The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews foresaw a time when believers would forsake the assembling of themselves together\u2014presumably on the weekly Sabbath and feast days\u2014and he warned against our doing this. In fact, the author admonishes the people of YHVH to be <i>more<\/i> dutiful about getting together as the day (of Yeshua\u2019s return and judgment) approaches.<\/p>\n<p>Do you believe that we are living in the end times and that the day of Yeshua\u2019s return is imminent? Do you want to be obedient to the commands of YHVH as revealed in his Torah (YHVH\u2019s instructions in righteousness)? Do you want to be an active, growing and life-giving part of the spiritual body of Yeshua? Do you want to face the perilous times ahead alone, or with a community of like-minded people at your side? Then <i>forsake not the assembling of yourselves together <\/i><b><i>as the manner of some i<\/i>s<\/b><i>, but exhort one another, and so much more so as you see the day [of Yeshua\u2019s return] approaching<\/i> (Heb 10:25)!<\/p>\n<div class=\"evernoteSiteMemory\"><a href=\"javascript:\" onclick=\"Evernote.doClip({title: 'Why Go to Church?',url: 'https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2013\/08\/28\/why-go-to-church\/',contentID: 'post-3508',suggestTags: 'Church,Congregation,Hebrews',providerName: 'Hoshana Rabbah Blog',styling: 'text' });return false\" class=\"evernoteSiteMemoryLink\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.evernote.com\/article-clipper.png\" \nclass=\"evernoteSiteMemoryButton\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"evernoteSiteMemoryClear\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hebrews 10:25, Not forsaking the assembling. The following is a brief study on the importance of being in spiritual fellowship with other redeemed believers. What do the Scriptures say about the necessity of believers assembling together? Torah commands Israelites to &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2013\/08\/28\/why-go-to-church\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[64],"tags":[22,597,136],"class_list":["post-3508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-weekly-readings","tag-church","tag-congregation","tag-hebrews"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Go to Church? | Hoshana Rabbah Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2013\/08\/28\/why-go-to-church\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why Go to Church? | Hoshana Rabbah Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Hebrews 10:25, Not forsaking the assembling. 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The following is a brief study on the importance of being in spiritual fellowship with other redeemed believers. What do the Scriptures say about the necessity of believers assembling together? 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