Are Bible Classes and Worship Assemblies Optional?
There are some brethren who do not conduct Bible classes on Sundays or during the week. The majority of these members lament that Bible classes were an invention of denominational thinking back in the 19th century. Maybe so. So what? Who invented teaching through the church bulletin? Was it a member of a denomination? Who first thought of teaching via websites on the Internet? Is it required that whoever has a new idea be a member of the church before anyone can engage in the practice? A good idea is a good idea ever The main question to consider is one like this: "Is teaching authorized in the New Testament?" And the answer is yes.
Most brethren conduct classes; however, there are those who do not attend Bible classes. Occasionally, someone has difficulty, due to health conditions, and cannot arrive as early as our classes occur. In fact, some have not been able to feel good enough until the evening worship. But that is not the reason most people don't attend classes—especially on Wednesday evenings. And it would not explain why some fail to be present on Sunday evenings, either. In the current issue of The Voice of Truth International (Volume 124), there is a reprint of an article by J. A. McNutt, titled, "When I Was Absent from Worship" (56). Much of it would apply to the assembly of the church on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:25). But some of the material has a broader application.
In many cases, some will say they are adhering to Hebrews 10:25 by coming once on the first day of the week to worship. Technically, legalistically, that is true. When the church met in the first century, there is no mention of meeting twice on the Lord's day or of Bible classes on the first day of the week—or during the week. However, we do not live in the first century. We live at a time in which people must work on Sunday mornings, or they may not be healthy enough (as explained above) to attend early. So, elderships across the nation have scheduled two times of worship—one in the morning and one in the evening—so that all may at some time worship on the Lord's day. Does this seem burdensome for members to come twice? It's considerably easier than meeting on Sunday evening when Paul preached until midnight (Acts 20:7). In fact, the idea of worship lasting only an hour or so is a fairly new concept. Consider the Puritans in the 1600s. According to Google:
Puritan worship services in 17th-century New England were famously long, typically lasting two to three hours per session (emph. theirs). Residents often attended two such, long services every Sunday—one in the morning and one in the afternoon—with sermons alone lasting one to two hours.
Of course, the Bible does not specify the length of worship or of a sermon—or even what time to meet on the Lord's day. Much is left up to each congregation's discretion. "So, then," some may wonder, "does this mean I can skip Sunday evening and Bible classes?" Of course, as a person who has free will, each person may do as he wishes, but consider some of the points from Brother McNutt's ten observations.
In one of them, he talks about influence and example; he bids the reader to consider what a person's absence says. What is the message? Those who are not present for worship are, in effect, saying, "This event is not important to me," or "Other things are more important to me." If it does not communicate that message, what does it say? Does it say, "My time playing video games all Saturday evening until 4:00 in the morning (and then needing to sleep in) was more important than being with brothers and sisters in worship on the Lord's day"? Does it say, "I wanted to go on a picnic with my girlfriend on Sunday afternoon rather than be with the people of God"? Was it more important to attend an Orlando Magic game or watch the Superbowl than to pay homage and reverence to our Creator?
A person's absence may or may not say these things, but it says one thing for certain, and that is: "The Lord is not first in my life." Furthermore, it encourages other members to behave in the same manner. Peer pressure can be either positive or negative. It can cause brethren to remain aloof from the church, as others appear to be, or a group of faithful members can encourage members to be dedicated. God designed the church as a body of functioning members with which we have fellowship and interaction (1 Cor. 12).
Jesus is the Head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23), and God designed the church to have elders and deacons to serve under Him (1 Tim. 3:1-13). As overseers, they determine the hours of worship on the Lord's day. In some locales, it is expedient to meet only once, and those in this situation often meet for a longer period of time. But in urban areas, we usually have the means to meet in the morning and in the evening.
Elders have the responsibility to feed the flock (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2, KJV) and may suggest a series of messages to be presented either in the morning or the evening. But whether or not this method is practiced, it remains the case that those who attend only on Sunday morning are hearing only half of what is preached in the local congregation.
Bible Classes
The same thing is true of Bible classes. Certain books of the Bible or certain topics may have been selected in order to spiritually benefit the members. Obviously, if they are not present, then they may be missing information that is vital to their own Christian walk and their ability to communicate truths to others. It is difficult for a person without adequate knowledge to try to teach another. We each need to learn as much as we can.
Roger Wright, in the same publication mentioned previously, wrote an article titled, "A Desire to Learn." This ought to be the philosophy of every Christian. He first points out 1 Peter 2:2: "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." There is something wrong if a baby is not curious. He learns to crawl and explores practically everything he comes in contact with. He grows a little more and wants to figure out how everything works. If he does not have the urge to grow and learn, something is wrong. And so it is with new Christians, also.
Another Scripture cited (62) is Hebrews 5:12: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food." Some have described this as the "Use it or Lose it" principle. Why were these brethren lacking? The answer is that they were not taking advantage of learning opportunities. We don't know if they were missing classes on certain topics, discussions in each other's homes or a Question and Answer session with someone who possessed a spiritual gift (an opportunity we no longer have to use). But they had not grown spiritually. Growth is a key word for Christians.
The Day of Pentecost was a significant occasion, since the gospel was then preached publicly for the first time, and 3,000 were baptized, thus entering the church (Acts 2:41, 47). What happened next is also significant (as pointed out by Wright on page 63). The new converts "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine…" (Acts 2:42). The verse names three other areas in which they continued steadfastly, but we are focusing on the one that has been the subject of this article.
They were busy learning the teaching of the apostles. What a glorious time it must have been! The complete revelation of God was now becoming available. All Scriptures would shortly be revealed—to the delight of those disposed to learn. Of course, for Gentiles, they needed to study the Old Testament as well. One never runs out of things to learn (as a child of God). Even when the first principles are well understood, one finds more definitions, more Scriptures that supplement each other, and more applications to make to one's own life.
Jesus talked about those who would be His disciples (Luke 14:26-33). What is a disciple? The first definition that Strong gives is "a learner." No one can follow the Great Teacher unless he is a willing learner, and willing learners do not pass up learning opportunities. A serious disciple not only devotes himself to accumulating spiritual knowledge; he does so enthusiastically—and usually with a desire to teach others in some capacity.
So, is there a specific command to meet twice on Sundays and attend Bible classes as well? There does not need to be a specific command with all the passages that emphasize learning and growth. Also, elders are looking out for the spiritual needs of members, as those who must give an account (Heb. 13:17). May they be able to do so with joy!