Quite a while ago, I posted on one of blogs, perhaps not this one, some thoughts about the fact that the New Testament clearly does not define, as an act of righteousness, gathering for what most today call worship, pointing out that Hebrews 10 says that we should not forsake gathering together, as some early disciples actually did, but that we should gather to encourage each other. That, as far as I can see, is the strongest support in the New Testament for participation in a gathering. Certainly, Jesus didn't set up a church and command His followers to attend it.
Anyway, the Greek word translated forsaking in Hebrews 10 is "egkataleipo" which means to abandon. The most powerful call by the New Testament that we should gather is that we shouldn't abandon gathering.
Well, even with that low standard, I am beginning to think that Evie and I are treating the act of gathering too lightly.
We called off today's gathering again. There are two reasons for the cancellation. First, walking into our front door is still a bit precarious in the wake of last weekend's 30 inch snow. The daylight sun melts some of the snow which, then, freezes over night. The walk to our front door is, in fact, slightly ice covered even as I type this.
But, second, and more to the point, we are too tired and overwrought to prepare for and participate in a gathering.
Working full time jobs and dealing my parent's failing minds and increasingly bizarre behavior, and being introverts makes us both want to use this his day for hibernation purposes. And, so, the isolation of the day has a very good feeling for me.
I am aware, however, that a core purpose for gathering, according to the New Testament is for each of us to provoke each other to lives that bear fruit in love and good works. And, once again, we are not doing that.
Have we gone too far? Are we egkataleipo-ing gathering together? I don't know. But, at the very least, we are approaching that state.
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