the Body of Christ

Which of the above images best portrays a gathering of people representing the Body of Christ?  In the image on the left, there may indeed exist a certain kind of unity among those holding hands.  Yet, there is nothing in that picture which suggests what commonly shared idea or ideas were responsible for the apparent display of unity.  Whereas the photo on the right strongly suggests that it is the Word of God (the Bible), which is the ground of unity among those individuals each holding the Bible.

The Word of God is the unifying Principle for the Body of Christ.  Shared belief in the doctrines of Scripture, is what constitutes the basis for unity among Christians.  The divine revelation of truth, in Scripture, delivers every truly Christian society from the flaws and divisiveness of human opinion, as well as the Bible provides a comprehensive worldview which satisfies the spiritual needs of every born-again person.  The factor which above all others characterizes each and every member of the Body of Christ, is an uncompromising acceptance of the truthfulness and the supreme authority of God's Word, for one's own life.

The image on the left, above, aptly conveys the humanistic character of the contemporary apostate 'Church.'  The group in the photo on the left is man-centered; whereas, the group in the right-hand photo is God-centered.  You get the idea.

Now, let us consider what the following verse of Scripture really means, which states:

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.  (Hebrews 10:25)

Who is meant by the word "ourselves," in the above passage?  We may not say with certainty who is meant by the word "ourselves:" because, that passage~as it is but a fragment of a larger sentence, does not appear in context.  Below, is the complete sentence, to which the above fragment belongs: 

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he [God] is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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.  (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Now the meaning is clear.  "Ourselves" includes those who "hold...the profession of our [Christian] faith."  The sentence construction strictly limits the injunction (the command) to include only those who are professing Christians.  The notion (as some mistakenly believe,) that the command 'not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together,' means that Christians must not stop going to 'church'~that is to say, an iconic location or setting where, typically, unbelievers and Christians "assemble" together, has no foundation in Scripture.  In fact, Scripture directly and indirectly proscribes such practice.  (Which makes it even more puzzling, why it is that some hold to such mistaken ideas.)

Let us next consider the positive aspect of the command under discussion.  Christians are commanded by God not to forsake the "assembling of ourselves together."  In other words, obedience to Jesus Christ requires that we must, inasmuch as may be possible, continue in regular fellowship with other Christians.  Nevertheless, as I have already shown that conventional (contemporary) ideas of 'church' do not conform with the will of God as that is revealed in Scripture; a serious problem has arisen as the direct result of the Apostasy, such that Christian persons are increasingly challenged to identify and connect with any sizable group of real Christians.  But that difficulty does not set aside the commandment; although, it likely means that  Christians will need to reconsider what it means to be a (local) Body of Christ.  And that necessity shall doubtless prove very beneficial to purify the true Church in every way: doctrinally, spiritually, and socially.

I urge you that, in your quest to join yourself with a group of genuine disciples of Jesus Christ, you should keep it simple.  I do not at all mean that you should adopt an attitude which can be described as "ecumenical" (mixing pseudo-Christian persons and creeds with Bible-believing Christians, is even worse than mixing heathens with Christians).  But take the time~and be bold enough~to discover what it is that others believe concerning the Bible.    And evaluate their profession of faith in view of those persons' lifestyle.  If you are walking with God in the Spirit as you ought to be, it isn't too hard to discern who is, and who is not, really a follower of Christ.

When Christ will soon appear to receive His Bride, you will not want to be found "yoked together" with unbelievers, worshipping the gods of the mixed multitude in their Babylonish temples.