Why We Gather Together
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23–25).
The words “do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together” reflect the heart of one who understands just how vital gathering with our brothers and sisters in Christ is to Christian growth. Because the passage notes that the habit of some is to forsake these gatherings, we must cultivate a deliberate habit of coming together. Otherwise, we will find ourselves drawn toward the many distractions the world offers to pull us away from the corporate gatherings of the local church.
One of my greatest mentors in understanding what it means to be a pastor was Eugene Peterson. Keenly grasping the message of Hebrews 10:23–25, he wrote:
“In worship the community of God’s people assemble to hear God’s Word spoken in scripture, sermon, and sacrament. The faith that is created by the proclaimed Word develops responses of praise, obedience, and commitment. At no time has there ever been a biblical faith, or any kind of continuing life in relation to God, apart from such common worship. By persisting in frequent, corporate worship in which God’s Word is central, God’s people are prevented from making up a religion of their own private ideas about God. They are also prevented from making a private individualized salvation out of what they experience, by separating themselves from brothers and sisters with whom God has made it clear His saving love is to be shared, both in receiving and giving.”
The author of Proverbs understood this as well. Proverbs 18:1 proclaims, “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” Both the writer of Hebrews and Eugene Peterson echo this truth: isolation fosters self-deception, while community fosters growth and accountability.
There are aspects of Christian life and character that can only be developed as we willingly submit our lives to one another in corporate worship and service—where we intentionally stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
How desperately I need the body of Christ! Its members, both corporately and individually, are the instruments God uses in the ongoing process of conforming me to the image of His Son.
我們為何相聚
「我們也要堅守我們所承認的指望，不致搖動，因為那應許我們的是信實的。又要彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善。你們不可停止聚會，好像那些停止慣了的人，倒要彼此勸勉；既知道[a]那日子臨近，就更當如此。」（希伯來書 10:23-25）
「不可停止聚會」這句話，反映了一個人深知與主內弟兄姊妹一同相聚，對基督徒的生命成長是何等重要。經文指出，有些人已經養成停止聚會的習慣，因此我們更需要刻意培養常常相聚的習慣。否則，我們很容易被世俗的各種誘惑所吸引，從而遠離地方教會的群體聚會。
在我對牧者職分的認知過程中，尤金．彼得森 (Eugene Peterson) 是對我影響最深的導師之一。他敏銳地領悟了《希伯來書》10:23–25 的信息，並寫道：
“在敬拜中，神的子民群體一同聚集，聆聽神的話語，這話藉著聖經、講道與聖禮被宣講出來。因所宣告的話語而生的信心，會發展出讚美、順服與委身的回應。從來沒有任何一種合乎聖經的信仰，或任何與神持續相交的生命，是可以脫離這種共同敬拜而存在的。當神的子民持續並經常地參與以神話語為中心的群體敬拜時，他們就不致憑著自己對神的個人理解，塑造出一套屬於自己的宗教；同樣地，這也防止了他們將自己的經歷變成一種私有化的救恩；他們不會將自己與弟兄姊妹分隔，因為神已清楚表明，祂那拯救的愛是要在彼此的領受與付出中共同分享。”
箴言的作者同樣明白這個道理。《箴言》 18:1 說：「與眾寡合的，獨自尋求心願，並惱恨一切真智慧。」希伯來書的作者與彼得森都呼應了這個真理：離群索居會讓人產生自欺，而群體則能促進成長並建立督責關係。
有些基督徒的生命特質與品格，唯有我們甘心在群體的敬拜與服事中，彼此委身和順服時，才能被塑造出來——在那裡，我們會有意識地彼此激發愛心、勉勵行善。
我何等需要基督的身體！無論是作為整體，還是其中的個體，教會的肢體都是神所使用的器皿，在持續不斷的塑造過程中，使我愈發彰顯祂兒子的形像。