[SERay]

Sure… a person can be a believer and not worship God in body of believers, albeit backslidden by the testimony of their life. I had a neighbor who said he was Presbyterian, but lived a riotous lifestyle of drugs and violence. Like a cheap name tag, he was trusting his families religious affiliation as a covering for his soul.

Worship is a heart matter, meaning, if I want to worship God, it is because I have a deep sense of adoration for Him as ’Abba’ Father. If someone doesn’t take time for communion with God within the collective of His people, they are only deceiving themselves to think they are abiding in Him. Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to forsake the assembling together as the manner of some. All this for good reason. Without a community of believers as support, we will cave into the world quickly and fail in the walk. No possible way to succeed the path alone. Even Christ had gathered around him his twelve, even though Judas did not have His heart. Christ, the Son of God, required a support system to survive the walk in human form. If Christ needed the support of others, how much more we?

It is quite one thing to have a physical limitation and wish with all your heart to worship with the body, but be bed ridden. It is quite another to be able to attend God’s house, but choose rather to skirt the spiritual aspects of life. The former will be pardoned by God, the later will be without excuse. In summation, those who claim to be in Christ, but forsake the assembling together are back-slidden or apostate and potentially speeding along toward eternal demise. Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 13:5 for us to “examine ourselves” to see if we are EVEN in the faith. To prove it to ourselves daily that we were indeed traveling the path of salvation. Similar to us checking our vehicle’s gas gauge constantly, we should be even more concerned about our spiritual content level. Paul was one of the most revered apostle of the original church, however he still feared that somehow he might be disqualified at the last minute and forfeit his crown in glory. Wise counsel that none should revere his station as a success prematurely. Whereas, Lucifer was the covering Cherub, the morning star, the most elite created being in heaven. Privileged to have unique access to the presence of God. Yet, in an instant, lost his position due to narcissism, the deadliest of prides.

We need to remember that the danger of drifting is ever present. Hebrews 2:1-2 states that it is possible to drift away if we neglect our Christian walk, and goes on it chapter 3 to say that it is possible to develop an evil heart of unbelief as a result of neglect. It is a given that Christ's Spirit resides in Christians, unless they have become "disqualified". The King James says "ye be reprobates" or given back to the old nature, and following the deceitfulness of its desires. Such is the path away from Christ, moving toward the precipice of falling away, even unto forsaking eternal life.

"You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked." 2 Peter 3:17

I encourage people to meditate on Ezekiel 18:24-26 also Ezekiel 33:18 to comprehend this hard teaching. 1 Chronicles 28:9 is stern and to the point. We are certainly under Grace, not law, however, the precepts of God do not change. Paul understood this and tried with much effort to relay to all his readers how eternally critical it is to make sure our calling according to what Christ and the prophets taught.