?You Know What?
Bro. Turner:
Is it just as necessary for Christians to be in attendance on Wednesday night as it is on Lords Day? TT
Reply:
This question seems popular these days, although it has been around for a long time. Perhaps current discussions of legalism have touched off the matter. I have read many good answers, but Ill give two cents worth.
Just being in attendance does one little good, on any day. The Assembly is not a sacrament, by which grace is dispensed to the ones present. Assembling with Saints is the act of being gathered, and the passage (Heb. 10:25) applies to any and all opportunities which we may have to study, worship, and work with out brethren in the furtherance of the Lords cause. A careful study of the context (Heb. 10:19-25) shows that being together with brethren is a part of holding fast the profession of our faith; but it is a drawing near and faithfulness to God, not to the brethren nor the act of assembly.
The difference in the Lords Day and Wednesday is that approved Bible examples teach us first century brethren came together to break bread and laid by in store on the 1st. Day. The passages (Acts 20:6-7; 1 Cor. 16:2) indicate a weekly gathering and give significance to the 1st. Day. It is not my understanding that the First is a holy day, or that ritualistic attendance is any more acceptable on that day than it would be on any other day. Christianity is not a sacramental type religion. The attitude that reasons, I assembled on Sunday, so I do not have to assemble any other time unless I just want to will invalidate what one has done on the Lords Day. With such an attitude one could not consistently criticize mechanical bead-counting.
Some write as though the elders make a holy assembly Out of Wednesday night, by setting that time for study and prayer. No such thing! The elders do not make divine law, they guide, direct, watch-over and shepherd the sheep as they follow divine law. Ignoring their direction, when no violation of conscience toward God is involved, means you are unwilling to work as a team with your brethren. This is serious, not because mid-week assembly has been desecrated, but because of your attitude toward God and the things of God.
I refuse to try to turn Wednesday night into another Lords Day so as to increase Wednesday night attendance. The genuine spirit of Christianity is enhanced neither by legalism nor by social bribery. When brethren desire the sincere milk of the word love God with all thy heart... soul mind and seek ye first the kingdom of God (1 Pet. 2:2; Matt. 22:37; Matt. 6:33) they will welcome each opportunity to associate with brethren of like faith and love, and do all possible to worship and glorify God.
When brethren understand the difference in the O.T. law of the letter and the N.T. law of the spirit -- when we become Jews inwardly rather than outwardly (Rom. 2:28-29) — then we will cease to ask such foolish questions.