Behold how Good and how Pleasant it is for Brethren to Dwell Together in Unity!
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity!’, Psalms 133 tells us;
this
commands a blessing for those brethren that meet together in unity.
Men throughout the entire New Testament, the men of the early Church met
together, were taught together and worshiped the Lord together.
I would like to emphasize, with the strongest encouragement I can
muster, the importance of the brethren meeting together regularly,
verses what is traditionally practiced on Sunday morning. In Hebrews,
10:19-25, we have been ordered to meet together as men. This portion of
Scripture has been incorrectly interpreted as men, women and children
meeting at a certain day and time, that the Scriptures somehow command
this as the authority and representation of The Church.
But, that is not the context of this passage; the context is men
specifically meeting together being the authority of HIS Body, to
encourage their fellow brothers; in pattern with other Scriptures wives
were to go ask their husbands at home if they wanted to learn, it was
the husbands’ responsibility to wash his wife in the Scriptures, not the
pastor’s. It was the responsibility of the pastor to discharge the
duties of ministry among the brethren. This is contrary to the way we
traditionally assemble as the church, today, in America: pastors have
overstepped their Biblical boundaries and as a result they find
themselves overburdened and burnt-out; the men in the church do not take
up their headship responsibilities to wash their wives and children in
the Word because their pastor is doing it for them every Sunday.
In verse 19, Hebrews 10, the author sets the context and pronoun
precedent for the following verses by saying, ‘brethren’, Greek
‘adelphos’ meaning literally (from the womb) and figuratively, brothers
in Christ, masculine:
"19. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by
the blood of Jesus, 20. By a new and living way, which he hath
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21. And
having an high priest over the house of God; 22. Let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from
an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23. Let us
hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is
faithful that promised;) 24. And let us consider one another to provoke
unto love (agape - specially (plural) a love-feast: KJV--(feast of)
charity) and to good works. (Kalos - valuable or virtuous (for
appearance or use); ERGON - toil (as an effort or occupation); by
implication, an act, labor)
25. Not forsaking (egkataleipo in the Greek: to leave behind in some
place, i.e. let remain over, or (in a bad sense) to desert:) the
assembling (episunagoge - a complete collection) of ourselves (heautou:
him [in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons ie.
‘Brothers’ up above in verse 19 ) together, as the manner (ethos - a
usage (prescribed by habit or law) *{there are those who will not meet
as they have not made a habit of such, and then there are those who’s
traditions will not allow them to meet with other brothers on a regular
basis.}* of some (tis: man, any man) is; but exhorting one another: and
so much the more, as ye see the Day approaching." Heb. 10:19-25
According to this passage of Scripture, there was a specific command for
the men to show up collectively, all of them, and that there was no
excuse for not assembling with the other brothers on a regular basis. If
anything should provoke a phone call from an elder on ’regular
attendance’, this should be it; the people whom call themselves brothers
in Christ must meet together as brothers, regularly. The pattern of the
New testament church was that the men met often, in some cases every
day.
This is commanded and should have more weight than the American
traditional gatherings on Sunday morning, and to overlook this shows
disobedience by neglecting the brethren. Throughout the Scriptures this
command exists, not that there were not men, women and children around
or that they did not sometimes gather all together, but it was the men
whom Jesus set up as the authority of His Body, to whom he revealed
doctrine and whom he entrusted with ministry. From the 12 disciples, to
the men in Paul’s ministry, to the very order of the old testament
temple, there is a consistent pattern of the men meeting together and a
pattern of the Scriptures addressing the brethren, speaking directly to
the brethren, whom often received the revelation from Paul and the
disciples corporately. The Greek term adelphos, or brother/ brethren, is
mentioned approximately 275 times in the New Testament, in all 27 books
save 2 John, as opposed to the word sister/ sisters/ sister’s which is
mentioned 27 times.
You do not find these verses being addressed to the women or sisters,
instead the teaching and doctrines were directed to the men, the
brethren (adelphos). The men were to go home and teach their wives and
in turn their children.
Let me officially state that the Church, the body of Christ is made up
of all those whom have professed Christ as Lord and obey His commands,
men, women and children. I am not against men, women and children
meeting together in Christ, but the emphasis cannot be placed upon this
as the official meeting spoken of in Hebrews 10:19-25, lest we move away
from the pattern of the Scriptures into sectarian traditions and modern
feminism.
Even the women, led by the spirit of feminism, understand the power of
this regular meeting, and they make sure that they meet once a week,
encouraging this over the pulpit; they are serious about attending for
at least 2 or 3 hours at a time so they can teach the husband’s wives
doctrine.
What is the root of the problem here? The love for the brethren has
grown cold, as Jesus said: "Because of the increase of wickedness, the
love of most will grow cold..." (Matt. 24:12)
We love our wives and children, but does not the Scriptures say: "If you
love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax
collectors doing that? 47. And if you greet only your brothers, what are
you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?" Matt. 5:46-48
To simply greet or welcome our brothers on Sunday morning is not good
enough; the Scriptures command us to love the brethren; those who merely
give greeting but show no love for the brethren are in darkness:
"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in
darkness even until now. 10. He that loveth his brother abideth in the
light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11. But he that
hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth
not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes." 1
John 2:9-11
If one loves his brother (vs. 10 above) he does not stumble his brother,
but he that says he loves the brethren and yet does not show love,
ensnares his brother into sin through blinded ministries and doctrines;
he detests his brother, especially to persecute.
"10. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the
devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that
loveth not his brother.
11. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we
should love one another.
12. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And
wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his
brother's righteous. (Cain’s response to the Lord asking him where his
brother was, ‘am I my brothers keeper?’)
13. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love
the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no
murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life
for us: and we ought to lay down (an action: commit, ordain, set forth,
make) our lives for the brethren (adelphos).
17. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need,
and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love
of God in him?
18. My little children, let us not love in word (greek: communication,
speeches), neither in tongue (language); but in deed (greek: toil,
labor) and in truth.
19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our
hearts before him." 1 John 3:10-19
There are many words preached and a lot of word ministries, but very
little evidence of action and love for the brethren to back up those
words.
" Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together
in unity! 2. It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran
down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of
his garments;
3. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the
mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life
for evermore." Psalms 133
I sincerely hope this has been helpful for it is my goal to see the
brethren united and The Church restored to proper order.
- Steven
We encourage you to email the author to prove or disprove, from the Scriptures, the intent, meaning, purpose or doctrine of this piece. email Steven