To Gather: why?

Every August the church I attend has a "Promotion" Sunday. The students move up to the next grade, just as the new school year begins. Most adults stay in the same class, but it is generally a time to make a change to a new class if one were to do it.

My class leader did a lesson that day this past August on why we gather. She prepared us ahead of time that we would be discussing why we gather, so we had "answers" prepared.

• fellowship
• accountability
• Bible lessons
• child free time

A good mix of "church" answers and open hearts. And my teacher agreed with all of these, but, she said the main reason we SHOULD gather as a class is because God's word tells us to.

Hebrews 10:25 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

25 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.

Let's break this down:

1. Believers must not forsake gathering together. Those who are focused on walking in faith will not let themselves be isolated. We must be with those whose focus is the spreading of the Gospel and Kingdom work.
2. Our gathering together is to be an encouragement. How can we encourage each other:
1. Prayer
2. A listening ear
3. Sometimes just by faithfully showing up.
3. URGENCY
1. The last part, "all the more as you see the day drawing near" tells us that the closer we get to the end of the Church Age we need to gather more.We need to gather so we can stay strong, we can pray for each other, we can affirm God's will. 

As we were discussing this last part of the verse, a lady asked if the word gather (assembling) is the same as what is talked about in 1 Thessalonians 4:17:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

My class leader was not sure, so I looked into it. Strongs Concordance says that caught (G726) is Greek, harpazo: to seize, catch away, pluck.  

The assembly from Hebrews is Greek (G1997), episynagoge: a complete collection, a meeting for worship.

So no, they are not the same. But this study has kept me thinking of the day that is to come. And the gathering that will occur soon. Friends, if you have watched the news you know things are getting bad. 

• abortion up to birth in NY (many other states trying to follow suit)
• Little boys becoming "queens" and posing with grown "queens" who are basically nude, and it being applauded
• 5 year old boys being "allowed" to to transition to female, encouraged by their transgender dad (identifies as a woman) and mom
• diseases almost eradicated in the United States making a comeback (measles and mumps)
• investigations into abuses by the Catholic church of children
• The Pope admitting that clergy abused nun's in the Catholic church
• The Southern Baptist Convention being investigated/called out for letting those accused (and sometimes found) of abuse to remain in positions of authority
• so many stories of mothers killing their children (and I am not talking about abortion)

And these stories are just in the past 2-3 weeks. Its appalling how bad things are getting, and more and more of believers are looking up. The depravity of this broken world is making our hearts call out to our Father.We are longing to be gathered up at the trumpet call. But until then, lets gather together here on earth. Let's share the Gospel, encourage each other, and continue to pray.