Attending Church

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb 10:19-25)

This passage has been used to argue that Christians must go to church (every Sunday! Or nearly every Sunday). In other words, it has been used to impose a new law on those who were supposedly freed by Christ's blood. So, what is it actually saying? Let's apply this question: what is good news about this passage?

First of all, let's look at the reason for the admonitions: "since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ..." that is, the Gospel. Because we have been cleansed from a guilty conscience, we can draw near to God.

Second, what is the contrast to neglecting the gathering? "Spur one another on toward love and good deeds." That is, we gather together in order to spur one another on and encourage one another.

Finally, then, what does it mean to gather together? It must be to come together in assurance of salvation to help one another grow in living out of that assurance.

So, why is it good news to go to church? We might better ask: when is it good? If we go and that is not what is happening, if we are merely being chastised or admonished for being bad, or if we are having our consciences improperly assuaged, that is, washed with mere fleshly rags, rather than the blood of Christ, then we have not, properly speaking, gathered together in the way the author of Hebrews calls us to.

And notice that the motive for going is not because it is a means of grace (though it is) or because that's what good Christians do, but because we have the confidence to draw near to God. In other words, it is because now we can safely come before God, that we should come before God together. Or, to put it another way, the healing of our relationship with God is the basis for our (renewed) relationships with others.

If church is not a place where our safety before God because of Christ is emphasized, where we feel always at risk of chastisement for sin, then we will have immense trouble coming in this confidence. And that, I want to suggest, is why people leave the (white evangelical) church, sometimes forever, sometimes merely for a season.


The passage does not say "get out of bed, O sluggard, and get to church!" Nor does it say, "You should find Christians to be the best people, so you should enjoy being with them!" Rather, it says, "Come and hear again how you are safe in Jesus's salvation and come help us know this more deeply."

There is another clarification worth making here. Gathering together and spurring one another on toward love and good works are not the same as serving in a church-based ministry. Serving in a church ministry is not required for, nor will it guarantee that you are, gathering and spurring.



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