Hi everyone, I have seen of a division of thought about church going and also the Holy day Sabbath/typically Sunday worship. I know some people can worship on another day-Saturday etc. When I see these divisions I tend to look into the detail to form an accurate opinion.
I thought I would look at this as there was talk online like the Holy day is no longer promoted and also posts about church going not being promoted as we can worship at home just our own Temples as we have them. It has been an interesting find. I decided this post to look at what the scripture says about church going to provide accurate information on this question.
This post is about the holy day (Sabbath/Sunday) and just regular church going. This post has been written using vintage Bible notes, the consensus of several church ministers, lived experience of myself and others who are Christians of varying views on church going and also the Sabbath and it is supported by Biblical scripture and it reflects the modern day church.
Jesus asks Christians to take the Sacraments in his memory (Matthew 26: 26-29) and we usually do this at church.
The Bible also states that we should not give up gathering together to worship as members of the Body of Christ (Hebrews 10:25). "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Christians are strengthened by praying together and for the world and they can also be strengthened by the Sabbath/Sunday rest. God's wants his people to enter into a spiritual rest (Hebrews 4:10).
Jesus himself would worship his father on the Sabbath as well as custom please see scripture evidence for it- (Luke 4:16-21). Jesus also said his house is a house of prayer for all nations (Mark 11:17). Then he taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? Jesus also indicated the disciples would be keeping the Sabbath after his ascension (Matthew 24:20).
There is a physical church, whether it is online in a house church or in person in a building and there is a community of believers who are actually members of the church and members of the Body of Christ and both of these are important (Ephesians 1:22-23).
Some people to misunderstand this scripture (Matthew 18:20)-" Where two of us are gathered together...I will be in the midst of them."This scripture is about reconcilation within church members.
Jesus also said that-think not that I have come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I have not come to destroy/break the law, but to fulfil it (Matthew 5:17). Jesus was about the spirit of the law to. Jesus said he is the Lord of the Sabbath and has taken authority of it for Christians, meaning that he is not bound by the restrictive legalistic restrictions of the previous law (Matthew 12:8) (Mark 2:28) Jesus has brought us the spirit of the law also-let me explain his further.
I asked my rector this question and they said that in Christianity Jesus was about healing and miracles. Today our expectation should be that anything that helps us to heal is ok to do on the day of rest. Also doing acts of good and mercy are fine to according to by my Bible's expanded notes. Jesus also doesn't stress how many times we need to take the Sacraments in his memory, and if you are not able to take it regularly at church or (or given to at your place of rest) and are not well enough then that is ok and you could watch church online if wanted to.
Taking part in a life saving or health and safety activity too as agreed by Jewish experts today is also ok to take part on the Holy day for Christians. This question to I spoke to a Rabbi also and this is spiritual guided law today which was also in unity with a church minister. When the Bible was written a lot of conditions had not yet come to light that may also make it difficult to rest today. What I do now is do my best and aim to follow the rule, but if I cannot I try and not beat myself up for it as Jesus knows that I am doing the best that I can and to focus on health and recovery if unwell and continue to pray if well enough for that time period and I do ok because of God's grace.
To make this simply understood-
If you have no food to eat and must get food for your health-this is ok to do on the Sabbath.
A person who suffers from depression and finds gardening helpful, yes as well.
You are in a crisis mentally and need time out for therapy for autism, yes as well.
If you worship yourself in church and are too unwell to attend, Jesus simply understands and keep your faith in your heart until you are well enough.
It is about the spirit of the law, and not the letter of the law. Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath “ (Mark 2:27). It was to be a blessing to the human family. It was intended to a blessing rather than a burden which is spirit of Jesus' teaching which stands.
You can be a Christian and not attend church, but that doesn't mean that church going is not desirable and promoted in the Bible. I never went to church for some years in my life due to being unwell and was still a Christian with a personal relationship with my faith but I still knew that church going was promoted in the Bible. I do go church today and have found the ideal church for me now I am able to attend and it is just three minutes from me in my local area and fits perfect all of my needs.You should always feel welcome to go to church, no matter how long you have been away from it, as we are a family in Christ.
The following scriptures are used inaccurately by some people to support no longer having the need to attend church and say that we are under Jesus new law and the Sabbath is no longer required because we are covered by him-
(Colossians 2:16) “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days” This scripture does not support us terminating the Sabbath -but it encourages us not to be put off by those who may ridicule you or try and put you off from upholding it or whatever you choose to do (Colossians 2:16). This scripture is at essence about us avoiding to judge another. This is to supported by ordained ministers who I asked to validate this.
(Hebrews 4:1) “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” This scripture is also used to support not upholding the Sabbath. This scripture does not ask us to stop upholding the Sabbath, but it questions us and guides to enter into a deeper spiritual relationship with Jesus rather than just worshipping and not developing your spiritual life. Developing spiritually through the Holy Spirit helps you to develop your spiritual journey with Christ.
There is also mention of the Commandments in the Book of Revelations-(Revelations 22:14). "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city." God in the Ten Commandments asks us to worship on the Sabbath day which is still expected and desirable. “All his commandments. They stand for ever and ever; they are done in truth and equity” as (Psalm 111) tells us. This is again relayed in (Revelations 14:12) "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Some people see keeping all the Commandments as the way of the Saints, but that is for you to decide.
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The Sabbath continues in this same assembly in the New Heaven and New Earth (Isa 66:23) (Mal3:6 )(Heb 13:8) just as it was on earth for the apostles decades after the Cross following in the example set forth by Jesus. For new believers in Christ the message of Acts 15 becomes clear about effectively our bottom line for new Christians. Through the works of Christ alone what Act 15 points out is that salvation is by faith through grace alone which are the most important things that we should rest on as Christians-but the church remains promoted and spiritually enriching, but if you are not able to attend it does not rest on your salvation to eternal life, which rests on Christ alone and our spirit will bear witness to the truth.
Within the Council of Jerusalem the Mosaic law of circumcision was removed in (Leviticus 22:3) for new Jewish converts to Christianity in Acts 15 and this became optional, but there was no mention of the Sabbath being mentioned on the list of behaviours/things to avoid for new believers. Act 15 listed things to avoid, not what to do-it also didn't mention the 1st Commandment for Christians as said by Jesus Christ which was to love God 1st and respect others as the 2nd Commandment (Matthew 22:38). Acts 15 does not cover the full scope of Christian spiritual guidance
Acts 15 is about stopping people from falling into legalism and trying to bring in other rules, plus stopping dissension amongst different believers. Acts 15 is part of what happened as the church developed and people worked out what it means to follow Jesus Christ from a variety of different prior perspectives. The council came up with four basic things to start with so new Christian converts would not be overwhelmed. Nowhere in this scripture is mentioned that God’s Sabbath was set aside. Jesus position was clearly stated in (Matthew 5: 17-19) and stands.
Jesus resurrection was on the first day of the week and this has symbolic meaning for Christians. It is a day of rest and it continues the older tradition. Jesus came to fulfil the law and you can worship in a church on any of the day of the week it is open too, and you set that as your holy day if you choose to if it burdens you less. Jesus came to bring the law to its logical conclusion and not break the law and he fulfilled the law. In terms of this-if you are burdened by Sabbath or any other day as a holy day think about if you want to keep it as you should do it freely and form your own conclusions (Romans 14:5-6).In (Acts 20:7) the apostles also continued to worship on the Sabbath after Jesus resurrection. Good news, is it that it does not mention that women should not be involved in ministry.
So in summary The holy day Sabbath/Sunday continues in the New Testament and regular church going in addition or in place of the traditional holy day if it meets your needs better and is less of a burden to partake on other days of the week at your own will depends on your own choice.
The early church to went from taking place in small private gatherings where they went out to distribute the Eucharist to taking place in more established church's today with online services to follow later.
Baptism and other ceremonies to like Confirmation and being Christened happen through the church today whether outside or inside. The Bible closely links Baptism to the giving of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16) and Jesus told us to be born of water and spirit-Jesus stated that, "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5) (Acts 16 31-34).
So worshipping via a church on Sunday is promoted in the Bible (or on any other day to and I can attend weekday mass at times) and having a Temple of the Holy Ghost which has been given to them by God's Holy Spirit through faith (1 Corinthians 6) does not mean that church going is not promoted. God in Psalm 104- "(Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth") gives us our spirit at birth and then we adorn our new Holy spirit when we become born of water and spirit as Christians through baptism with the Holy Spirit. Whether you have been given the Holy spirit through God’s grace and your faith or not we are all expected to honour our spirit and body whether baptised or not (1 Corinthians 6:12-20).
We can honour our spirit and do spiritual things of the spirit like truth, not being proud, envy, evil behaviour, love, and not be carnal minded. However, this is not justification to be used to exclude church going because we have our own spirit and to worship our Holy Temples at home alone not in acts of praise if you are a Christian. If you do not wish to attend church then it is your right, but this argument is not supported in the Bible. Paul asking us to glorify own Holy Temple with the Holy Spirit was to respect the Holy Temple that we have of God's and is limited to that (1 Corinthians 6).
Revelations (1:20) speaks about the candlesticks of the church's-in relation to this post, this means most simply that church's have a divine calling and value to Christ today to bring light to the world.
I will share this message from another Christian to end this post-
The vast majority of Christians have been taught to see Sabbath keeping in a light of harmful, arrogant self-righteousness. If someone keeps the Sabbath, then it seems they must be falling back the Mosaic Law, trying to work their way to heaven like a Pharisee of old.
I attend church on Saturday/Sabbath. But I am very aware that I am an errant and sinful human being, with no hope of salvation without the kindness and mercy of a loving Saviour, Jesus. And isn't Christ what it is all about in the end? Ultimately, I think it is important to point out the facts, Bible texts and logic of Sabbath keeping. But if it is not done through and for Christ, then it has no meaning at all. And under the spirit of Pharisee-ism, Sabbath-keeping can become just as burdensome as when the rulers wanted to kill Jesus for healing on the Sabbath.
We must all follow Christ, asking for the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us understand God's will for us. Because otherwise all the facts and details become just more points of confusion. Before I try to get the spec out of my brother's eye by teaching them the importance of remembering that God created the world in 6 days and rested and sanctified the 7th, I must ask for God's help to get the log of all my sins and wrong-doing out of my own eyes!
Returning to my post-
Also, the Holy Spirit is present at Church’s if people worship appropriately and has given people miraculous healings and miracles. I have felt the Holy Ghost present at church when they gave me healing in church. The Holy Spirit is the 3rd attribute of God and so God is still present in Church and The gifts of the Holy Spirit are for believers and used to serve the church as well, like with laying on hands, people can receive healing as well. I felt like I had to post though to clear this thing this being misused on social media to try and justify not attending church. Peace to you all.
I would also suggest for the more spiritual personal reasons that you read this article to why Church going is desirable. This document is used internally in many church's to guide people on church going.
www.gospelimprint.com/GI-documents/Leaflets/07-03.15-Back%20to%20Church.pdf