A Word on Hebrews 10:25

As of late, I’ve seen many American Christians take to social media to express their discontent with how the government, locally and nationally, is responding to the Coronavirus pandemic. I’ve found it quite interesting and very disheartening that many American Christians are quick to slap Bible verses on their actions during this time as if God Himself is endorsing those actions.

A glaring example of this is the use of Hebrews 10:25 which states, “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Many Christians have used this verse to justify the immediate reopening of their respective church buildings.

Christians can be quick to make quips like, “Let’s not just go to church, let’s be the church,” and “The church isn’t a building” but the outcry against the American government (which appeals to the American Constitution as its standard and not the Bible) for allegedly violating Hebrews 10:25 seems to reveal that some think otherwise. I believe this warrants our examination.

Christians desiring to gather together in person regularly is right, good, and biblical. However, I wonder if this is truly the motivation for appealing to Hebrews 10:25 to support the immediate reopening of church buildings. In these uses of Hebrews 10:25, there appears to be an emphasis on worshipping in a particular building rather than a longing to be with the people God treasures most, His bride, the church. If you are a Christian holding to Hebrews 10:25 as a basis for why the government should lift the restrictions on churches gathering in their buildings, I entreat you to consider the following:

It does not make logical sense to appeal to an entity using the Bible as the standard when the standard that entity adheres to is not the Bible (in this case, it’s the American Constitution – it may have some Christian sounding content but it’s not the Bible. It would be so sweet if our officials did use Scripture as the standard for governing our country but that simply isn’t the case. This ought to cause us to long for the Day mentioned in Hebrews 10:25 in which Jesus will return and make all things new!).
The original manuscripts of Scripture did not contain chapter and verse numbers. You MUST consider this before quoting a verse to ensure that you are sharing it in its proper context. By sharing verses out of context, you risk painting an inaccurate picture of the Bible and essentially, of who God is.
Hebrews 10:25 isn’t a complete sentence. This begs us to examine the full context of Hebrews 10.
Did you notice that Hebrews 10:25 is about willingly, habitually, neglecting to meet with God’s people? “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some. . . ” If you aren’t habitually neglecting fellowship with God’s people, it seems to be the case that your concern for violating Hebrews 10:25 is unfounded.
If you read Hebrews 10 in context, you’ll realize that the author is urging those who are Christians to continue walking in obedience to God in light of who Jesus is and what He has done for them. The emphasis is not on gathering in a physical building.
Hebrews 10:25 likely wasn’t written in a building or at least not in any type of building like the ones our modern American churches meet in.
The word “gather” used in Hebrews 10:25 comes from the Greek word episunagógé which simply means, “A gathering together, an assembly.” It refers to individuals who gather and not a location for gathering.
While a building is a practical tool, the use of one isn’t mentioned in this verse.
While gathering in a building often makes sense, a building isn’t a biblical requirement for gathering as God’s people.
The first church often met in houses. As people have recently gathered in houses, they are attending church in the way it was originally attended (Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15).
Many church plants start with a small number of faithful folks and meet in houses.
Hebrews 10:25 doesn’t provide instruction for how to gather although we can infer that our gatherings ought to be together in person and from Acts 19:39 we learn that gatherings ought to occur regularly.
The Bible doesn’t give a specific location for where churches ought to meet or what types of structures they ought to meet in. A possible reason for this is that God is often concerned with the heart behind the action rather than just the action itself. (Proverbs 4:23, 1 Samuel 16:7, Matthew 12:34). Beware of making it appear that the church must meet in a building in order to be a true church. Beware of making Christianity appear legalistic by advocating for adherence to requirements that don’t find their basis in the Bible.
Consider those who are chronically and terminally ill, such as cancer patients, who can’t physically meet with their local church body but desperately long to.
Consider your brothers and sisters who may be in the critical category or who hold different convictions about regathering. When you use Hebrews 10:25 out of context to support your personal preferences you may be unintentionally hurting others by making it seem as if they are acting sinfully or foolishly for “forsaking the gathering.” Beware of making it seem that the American way, or your way, is God’s way when it may not be. Be very cautious about giving your actions God’s stamp of approval when they can’t be biblically backed.
In order to determine what a biblical church is, you must appeal to the biblical definition of the word, “church.” The first occurrence of the word “church” in the Bible appears in Matthew 16:18. This verse states, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The word for “church” used in this verse comes from the Greek word ekklésia, which means, “An assembly, a (religious) congregation.” Like the Greek word for “gather” in Hebrews 10:25, the definition here refers to those who gather and not a location for gathering
Have you considered that the ordinances about temporarily closing places of worship extend to buildings and are not necessarily directed at groups of individuals or one religion in particular? Be careful about making it seem as if American Christians are being targeted and persecuted for the name of Christ when these ordinances extend to all religious places of worship. Many brothers and sisters around the world have endured cruel, unjust suffering as they seek to gather together and many have lost their lives by being faithful in this endeavor. Please consider them and what they’ve endured and be especially cautious about making it appear that American Christians are modern day martyrs. If it came to it, would you be willing to suffer and die for the sake of gathering with God’s people?
If you are zealous in using Hebrews 10:25 to support your desire for the immediate reopening of your church building, are you as zealous about sharing the importance of why churches gather (Hebrews 10:19-22) and zealous about sharing the urgent and terrifying warning of Hebrews 10:26-27?
When you use a verse, please ask yourself, “Am I using this verse rightly because I love God and cherish His word and hope others do the same, or am I using it because I believe it supports my personal views?”
As many church gatherings have not been occurring in church buildings, have you been faithful to gather together with your local church body when presented with the opportunities to do so even if those opportunities are occurring in a non-traditional manner? (For example, attending virtual church services, participating in small group meetings, Bible studies, and other ministry gatherings, etc.).
Have you prayed for your elders to have wisdom as they bear the immense weight of figuring out how to reopen?
Do you share the same passion for the Day drawing near in which Jesus will return as the passion you’ve expressed about your desire for the reopening of your church building?
Do you have more passion for the opportunity to worship in a building than you do for the people who typically gather in it and for the God who has united these people and you to Himself through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus?

Regarding Hebrews 10:25, Dr. Dennis E. Johnson, Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Seminary wrote,

“As in its other appearance in Hebrews (3:1), ‘consider’ (katanoeó) has a personal object: we must direct our attention to fellow believers, who need encouragement in showing love through good deeds. Previously the hearers had demonstrated love in serving others’ needs (6:10). Such compassionate care in action is the sort of sacrificial offering that all believers, as priests consecrated by Christ’s blood, must offer for the pleasure of God (13:16). The urgency of their responsibility toward one another is heightened by the pressures threatening to draw believers away from Christ and his gathered church. . . A final motivation supports the call to mutual accountability: ‘the Day’ is drawing near (10:25). . . This day will bring both judgment and salvation (1 Cor. 3:13, 5:5, 2 Tim. 1:12, 4:8). Therefore, its approach simultaneously sustains hope in suffering believers (Heb. 10:34, 11:35-38) and issues a terrifying warning to those who abandon Christ and his congregation (10:26-31). The author had told us how to respond to Christ’s word. Through his atoning sacrifice and living intercessions, we must ‘draw near’ to God in worship, confident of his welcome. Because God is the faithful fulfiller of promises, we must keep a firm grip on the hope we confess. The approach of the Day on which that hope will arrive in full must move us to care for each other’s needs and to cultivate each other’s faith, lest any lose their mooring and drift into ruin.”
ESV Expository Commentary Hebrews-Revelation

American Christians, I urge you to humbly consider how blessed we truly are to live in a nation with many freedoms which, essentially, are privileges. God, in His kindness and sovereignty, has placed you in a time and a nation in which you are free to practice your religion. While some have expressed anger regarding their church buildings being closed (albeit momentarily), I entreat you to consider the last time you were as upset about your own sin or the injustices happening to your brothers and sisters around the world who don’t share your American privileges.

You may not have your American freedoms forever – how are you stewarding them for the glory of God and the good of others? Are you clinging to certain Constitutional rights (which are not benefits promised to you in Scripture) more than you are trusting in God’s character? Is the way you are responding pointing to the imperishable, undefiled, and unfading hope you have in Jesus? Please, I entreat you, don’t allow your personal or political preferences to interfere with an opportunity to help others see and behold the beauty of Jesus.

As you study Hebrews 10:25 in context, my hope is that you will rejoice in the confidence you have because of the blood of Jesus (or that you will come to have that confidence if you don’t already) and that you will long to draw near to Him with a true heart in full assurance of faith with comfort and joy knowing that He who promised is, indeed, faithful.