Baa...Is this twisted Scripture????

[Sheep]

"Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching." Heb 10: 25

People in churches I've attended have applied this Scripture to not attending church. Naturally having not attended church for most of the summer and not having a desire to attend in the near future, I am feeling shame. It turns out that I was reminded from one of my Bible studies last night that shame is one of the Enemy's tactics! Voyager has posted some excellent information on toxic shame. So...is it shame I'm feeling for not attending church or am I being convicted to attend church???? This seems puzzling to me. After all, Hebrews in one of the "faith" books of the Bible isn't it?! I know that I am complete in Christ without having to attend church, so could some of you shed some light on the context around this verse?

Shamed Sheep

[LadyLavender]

"Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching." Heb 10: 25


To me this is an indication of what church SHOULD BE. A place where we find encouragement, exhortation, sometimes tough love YES. And even more so as we see the day(Day of the Lord?) approaching.
I think you should not feel shame. Do you have Christian friends who maybe go to another fellowship than you? Don't you gather together with them sometimes, maybe over a coffee and find encouragement there? I think as we are in the interim, the transitional part of our recovery for right now its not always a good thing to go to church.. However sometimes we may go and there might be a good word for us that encourages us to stay on the narrow path of recovery. Because recovery IS a narrow path you know. And its important for us to find encouragement to go on when the going gets rough.
If you are here on this board and you find encouragement to stay on the path in your walk with the Lord then to me that is gathering together with like minded people and finding strength. The church was always supposed to be a place where healing was found, restoration, teaching, encouragement, exhortation, discipline(yes even discipline. I think we will learn the difference between when the word is disciplining us with the love of the Lord, and when it is abuse.)
Don't feel bad. You will go back to church when the time is right. Don't sweat it. Dig into the word yourself, commune with the Lord, encourage people here. Encourage people in your neighborhood, wherever you are with the measure of Grace the Lord has given you.
I think when the time is right you will feel a desire to go to church. And you know what? you will be sufficiently recovered enough to where hopefully if something is said that doesn't agree with you you won't trigger but rather you will have matured to a place in the Lord where it rolls off your back. Our world is full of many offenses..God's purpose of course is to heal us. And as long as you have not lost your faith in HIM you are well on your way.
I dunno if that helped or not...?

When I was in Europe I went into several churches and they were dead. They were in a language I couldn't understand, there was no christian television, there were no christian bookstores. It was one of the scariest things i've ever experienced. And you know what I learned? I have to be anchored in Christ. If I wanna take communion in my closet in the mornings i'll do it. If I wanna sing praises to God in my bedroom I do it. Because we'll not always be guaranteed a church building or a church family. BUT as we meet real believers, we can gather together, encourage each other, love one another, forgive one another, and share in experiencing the presence of the Lord.
Be blessed...
And be gentle with yourself.
In Him
LadyLavender :)

[Emerging]

(((Sheep))), what a good question! And *imho* based on my experiences, ... if it doesn't bring peace to my heart like how my job's no fun, but I have peace despite the no-fun-ness... well, for me at least PEACE tells me I'm on track. Stressing and guilting tell me something's really wrong! :( So, when I figure out what it is and just think the truth in my head (cuz I was taught the dark side can't read our minds, only God can) sooo keeping stuff in my head and thinking "Ok, I feel that the right answer is ___" ... if it's right, peace. I can feel the tension palpably release!

LadyL, what a PERFECT answer!! I'm SO GREATEFUL you posted this!!! :)

FWIW and PRAYING for you cuz that always works!!! :)

[Jerry]

Dear Sheep,,,,
Pauls main thrust here is loyality to one another in faith.....He couples together the idea of assembling and exhorting,,,,,,,,"as the DAY approaches"....So should we attend Church????? Of course!!!! Does God keep a detailed attendance record??????,,,,,,,Absolutely NOT!!!!!!!,,,,God is not anal rententive :rolleyes:
Anyone who represents to you "Church Attendance" effects the status of your salvation,,,,,,is attempting to forge chains to restrict your access to the Creator...Our Father provided His own to break the "Chains of Bondage",,,,,NOT to change the "Locks!!!!" .....Attending Christian assembly honors His love....Spending the weekend with those you love ,,camping lets say,,,,,,visiting friends,,,,,,,,,,Working to provide a good living,,,,,,,,Healing ones self to better serve,,,,,,,,Going up a mountain to rest and be alone for a time,,,,,,,all of these things honor that Love...............So attend Church when you can,,,,,,But don't keep score,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,God isn't
Love Jerry

[Emerging]

Anyone who represents to you "Church Attendance" effects the status of your salvation,,,,,,is attempting to forge chains to restrict your access to the Creator..

Amen!! *and* I think they are trying to "control" every bit of you and your life that they can. imho they will start by shaming you into attending church, then they may go for your participation at church, based of course on how you look and act and speak and etc at church ....

I'd stay "far far away" from anyone who did this. If I had a good enough relationship with them I'd tell them that I felt uncomfortable with this. If they persisted I just might say that I felt I was being shamed into attending church vs being *invited* to attend of my own free will and choice.

But I probably wouldn't really say that .... unless I felt an angel nudge me in the ribs from their side of the veil. ;) Seriously, I would be very careful about attending - if you really feel God wants you there, just go in with your eyes wide open (which is how we should approach any new relatioinship but as survivors we dared not ... til now!)

[Voyager]

"Let us not give up meeting together here on the Spiritual Abuse Forum as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching." Heb 10: 25 (Voyager Version)

I think that should cover it.

:cool:

[MCM (Mary)]

Yes. Remember that the Bible also talks about the supposedly sacred synagogues that were in reality "Synagogues of satan."

Churches need to get it. Just calling on the Lord's name doesn't cut it. You have to walk in love & truth, kindness, compassion, mercy, gentleness, etc. "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me." God knows what it's like.

[Emerging]

Yes. Remember that the Bible also talks about the supposedly sacred synagogues that were in reality "Synagogues of satan." Churches need to get it. Just calling on the Lord's name doesn't cut it. You have to walk in love & truth, kindness, compassion, mercy, gentleness, etc. "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me." God knows what it's like.


AMEN, mcmMary!!! :)