The scripture says not to forsake the gathering of yourselves together. First off, to forsake means to give up, to abandon or leave altogether. It does NOT mean that you must go to 5 meetings a week. You could go once a month and still say that you are not forsaking it. The second argument is as long as two or more or gathered than it doesn't matter if it is an official meeting at the hall.

Joy2brfree....just something I have been thinking about for 2 weeks...but thanks for where to look for the answer...I am gonna order it NOW!!!

Hugs to you....and Can't wait to party with ya...lol (hope it is soon..)

Codeblue

This is a scripture that is commonly misapplied by (elders) witnesses. You mentioned Hebrews 10:24 and 25. You hear it applied to meeting attendence which is mentioned in verse 25 as, " not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together". I can't stand the elder who emphasizes the, "as some have the custom" part. Elders who pontificate the scriptures mention this and act as if they are the only one's who get it. Go ahead and pat yourselves in the back! You completely missed the point you pontificating hacks! (Those being the pontificating elders).

They completely ignore the scripture before it that puts everything in perspective and exposes them. They read the words and attribute something to themselves that they have no understanding of because their actions prove it. Verse 24 says, "let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works". How many times did 'just going' to meetings make you feel encouraged? If you allowed yourself to think that just going to meetings made Jehovah happy, you bought into the JW mindset.

Their incessant need to honor routine distorts their ability to grasp simple scriptures. I had been thinking of starting a thread on this myself because I have always hated their application of these scriptures.(Amongst other things)

First of all -we are told where two or three are gathered in my name _JESUS he is in the midst!!!So we can be with others ( I believe >belivers in Christ) I also believe Jesus is the HEAD of the church.. We his followers are the "bricks" to build the temple .Which the HOLY Spirit indwells. SO I dont need to go to a building .Especially the Kingdom Hell- We are part of the body- You may be the hands, ( that help folks) you may be the caregiver( that tends folks,) the feet (that aids folks) the heart (that loves folks ).Or even the Mouth ( cough ,cough,  (that upsets people) lol...

I can understand how you feel-I know when I first began to miss meeting - You start thinking "am I wrong?"But I know NOW-I dont have to go anywhere to have a PERSONAL relationship with MY GOD.Into my bedroom. !!the car!! ANYWHERE he is there.!!!! Once you start meeting folks -workplace- groups- anywhere- & the conversation come up about each others beliefs ---I find HE is there-If it is conducted lovingly... ( that is fellowship....Many dont agree with me. But that is my two cents!!! 

 

Codeblue:
I suspect the reason you've had few ex-elders replying is because they are either at work (like me)or asleep

It applies to Christians and is a warning not to "isolate" yourself.
Human's are gregarious, and need fellow, like-minded company.
In other words "keep in touch", and encourage one another.
The verses that you quote explain what it's supposed to be about, and it isn't for regular indoctrination sessions!!!

 

"As you see the day drawing near" eh? What day was he talking about? The end of times day? If he was talking about the end of the world......why were they to encourage one another when they at that time weren't even close to that day? Did somebody write a boo boo?

Also, how were people who lived in rural areas to understand this? Maybe they sold all their possesions and moved in close to town so they could heed this admonition......or live alone and stay where they are at and be considered a rebellious one.

Nathan......I think you also.......are of the devil

Gumby

Seriously, you are getting some good responses codeblue. Nathan makes a good point - why does it have to mean 5 meetings/week? And one could easily take it to the Nth Degree and make it 10, 15, 20 meetings. After all, didn't Paul write "all the more so"? So shouldn't jws be constantly increasing the number of meetings? Well, one only need apply some common sense to understand that Paul was not quantifying meeting together. And it was not restricted to formal worship sessions - Christians had 'love feasts' and they socialized too.

Ozzie:
Here here!

 

where's caleb

Wow!!  That says a mouthful right there!

What we don't know about the early Christians is how many times a week they met or even how many times a month.  But I really don't think they had 5 meetings a week in 3 days.  Maybe we should have classes on reading and studying scriptures in CONTEXT and skip the rest except for the ministry school and public talk.

I also agree with Ozziepost.  Last month I visited an old school chum from years ago.  I stayed at her house for a week.   She was born and raised Catholic but is now a Baptist.  While I was there, we shared spiritually---not religiously and it was a wonderful experience.  We went beyond talking about "world conditions" and why they are like that, and blah, blah, blah.  We were on a different spiritual plane and she felt she could share with me something that not many of her friends knew about.  It ended up in a crying and hugging session, but she needed the hug and someone to empathize with her.  I really feel that brought us closer as "sisters" and I'm not going to let a lot of years go by before I visit her again.