Expert: Joe Norman - 9/27/2011

Question
QUESTION: I told the church that i had to work and i perform service in my home sing prayer and communion and my tithe i put back. They told my service to God did not count because it takes to or more to have a worship service. I have never read that in scripture is this in the word help me. I am asking you because i have gotten real bible answers when you respond. Thank you
In His Precious Love

ANSWER: Hi debra,

I do appreciate you choosing to ask me your question once again. As always I strive to give solid Bible answers to the questions posed here. I am not sure if my assumption is correct, but based on what they told you, I assume you live alone. If I am incorrect I apologize. I do understand why they told you what they did and where they get that idea because there are two scriptures they depend on for that point of view.

The first scripture which makes them assume in order to worship God there must be two or more is found in Matthew 18:20

20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

But if you read that whole chapter you understand that Jesus is speaking specifically to the apostles. It is argued that specific verse is general though because He didn't say where two or three apostles are gathered together in my name. Still this is not a passage speaking specifically about worship service of the church. In fact at this point the church doesn't yet exist.

The other verse they lean on in regard to not worshiping with the rest of your local church family is Hebrews 10:23,24

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

If you read the whole chapter carefully you will see this is about coming together to share in the Lord's Supper and worshipping God as a body of believers. It is clear also when you read any passage on what we call "communion" as well as all examples of it being done in the New Testament, it is always as a group of believers coming together...a local church.

Having said that, God's laws were made for man and not man for God's law. What do I mean by that? I mean sometimes God will understand a special circumstance. If you are unable to attend worship with your local church family due to your work schedule, I believe God will understand your situation and it is better for you to try to do some sort of service alone at home than have none at all. But I don't believe any Christian should be content to stay in such a situation.

Currently my work doesn't permit me to attend every service. In fact I am only able to be there for Sunday morning service right now. But I have a goal. I am in college to get a good career started once I am done that will be days and give me the ability to worship 3 times a week or however many times the local church family agrees to meet. I am also looking for another job I can do while in school that is better hours that won't conflict with attending Sunday nights and Wednesday nights.

If your job doesn't permit you to be there Sunday mornings and it's not going to change in the foreseeable future, I would think you would strive to find a new job that will let you worship with your local church family. That is the ideal and what most pleases God. If this is temporary, I commend you for doing something rather than nothing. But we are to SHARE in our remembrance of Christ's great sacrifice. We are to share in our worship to God and join our voices in both song and prayer.

I know the things I stated are mostly just my opinion. There isn't a scripture I can think of to support my opinion but I do believe it's ok and acceptable to God to worship from your home if that is the best you can do - so long as it's temporary and you are striving to make it possible to one day be able to worship with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

I do hope that I have helped you. If you have follow up questions or new ones I am more than happy to help if I am able to in any way. To God be the glory in all things.

In Christian Love, Joe Norman

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I wanted to also ask about evening service is the command found in the bible. I want to say thank you for your Holy Spirit guided answer. I do understand what they were trying to say. I truly pray that we are blessed soon with a partner that will be until death due us apart. In His Precious Love. Debra

Answer
Hi again Debra,

There is nothing in the Bible to indicate we MUST meet on Sunday nights or Wednesday nights. As far as we know, the church in the first century gathered together daily but no time is ever mentioned in New Testament scripture. We do know they met on the first day of the week (Sunday) to share in the Lord's Supper but are again not told of what time of day it was - morning or evening. The indication is that the exact time is not important. But sharing in the Lord's Supper was always done on Sunday and never any other day. It was also done weekly from all we can learn. But we should always strive as Christians to gather whenever the local body chooses to meet. Why would any Christian not want to be with fellow Christians in worship?

I would hesitate to say my answers are "Holy Spirit" guided because no one today is guided in any miraculous manner by the Holy Spirit. Today the Holy Spirit only works through God's divine providence and through the Scriptures. I too pray you are blessed with a partner who will be faithful to you until death parts you. I am always more than willing to help you in any way I can on this site to answer questions. I apologize for not having any specific scripture to share this time.

In Christian Love, Joe Norman