Consider One Another

I recently saw a church website that emphasised the importance and meaning of receiving communion.  More than half of the blog posts I read were on this subject and explained how it was the responsibility of believers to remember and proclaim the LORD's death until He comes.  Partaking of the broken bread and cup is a symbolic act which indicates the reality of faith in Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God crucified for us.  These points were all well made and ought to be taken to heart by all Christ's disciples.

What was inferred in the blog posts was the need for believers to join an assembly of believers to do this together as one.  The receiving of communion is an important observation, not to earn or guarantee salvation, but because we are saved and are being saved by faith in Jesus demonstrated by obedience.  If such emphasis on the Last Supper is warranted, then it is also fitting to emphasise the unity of believers in Christ as one Body, the church.  Unless we are personally connected with a local fellowship of Christians it could be compared to a believer who never receives communion.  Communion is an act of obedience to Christ, even as gathering in one accord to praise and worship the LORD together.

Baptism is another symbolic act followers of Christ are called to submit to that illustrates how our sins have been washed clean, that as Jesus died and rose again we have been born again by faith in Him and raised to new life.  To be baptised without first being born again and forgiven of sins is not congruent, and partaking of communion without being spiritually regenerated is a total contradiction:  a believer who does not meet regularly together with Christians is just as contrary as it relates to the reality of our new life in Christ.  Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "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."

A lot of people focus on the "assembling of ourselves together" as if this is the primary aim, but it is infinitely more than church attendance.  If the prime reason we attend church is out of obligation, we miss the reason behind it:  "consider one another in order to stir up love and good works...exhorting one another."  Going to church ought not to be only to receive communion or be baptised but out of consideration for one another in order to stir up love according to God's word.  This is a good description of what fellowship looks like, contributing to the strength, health and fitness of the church by walking in love, stirring up good works and exhorting one another to walk with Jesus faithfully.  We can only follow the "one another" commands of scripture when we consider and assemble with one another.  It is a blessing beyond words to walk together with brothers and sisters united in the love of God with Jesus Christ as our Head.