I remind the folks in my congregation that on any given Sunday, they could stay home and hear better preaching and more professional music on the television or through the Internet. The thing they would miss, of course, is spiritual interaction with other people—fellowship, encouragement, friendship, prayer.

They would also miss critical motivators for their spiritual growth. And without a chance to practice the "one another" commands of Scripture, they would seriously jeopardize their spiritual health.

The purpose of assembling together is not just to hear from the Word or enter into worship; it is to encourage each other. Hebrews 10:24-25 states, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 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." To obey this command, you have to take the step of intentionally interacting with other Christians regularly.

Of course, it is possible to attend church and never have to interact with other believers. Some Christians treat church as nothing more than a Sunday show. Others flee their own fellowship to "hide out" in the anonymity of a different congregation, or to sample the smorgasbord of programs that area churches have to offer. But by their mobility and irregularity, these believers really rob themselves of the primary context for developing deep, committed relationships with other Christians.

What a dangerous course of action! Hebrews 3:12-13 warns of the dire consequences associated with those who neglect personal encouragement and spiritual friendship. "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

This text clearly teaches that if we neglect either giving or receiving encouragement from one another daily, we risk our hearts being hardened by sin. There are no "Lone Ranger" Christians. The macho image of the gun-slinging cowboy winning the duel and then riding off into the sunset by himself may capture our fantasies of self-sufficiency, but it's a disastrous strategy when it comes to defeating real-life temptations and the wiles of the devil. No one wins the battle against sin and deception alone.

My guess is that you probably agree with me that such encouragement is needed. Why, then, is biblical encouragement so neglected, to the point that many of us aren't even sure how to practice it?

1. We're afraid of getting burned. Maybe we've been transparent with a friend or pastor before, and they betrayed our trust. Or maybe we are just unwilling to take the risk of exposing our real selves—our hurts, weaknesses, sins, and failures. Pride and fear cause us to withdraw from real relationships.

2. Technology has replaced personal contact. E-mailing, texting, and social networking are wonderful ways to keep in touch. But I think they have created a barrier to deeper communication, causing us to become uncomfortable with face-to-face encounters. We deceive ourselves if we believe we can maintain vital relationships through a screen! We lose the personal touch and eye contact that Jesus modeled in His earthly relationships. Our encouragement of one another becomes sterile, if we attempt it at all. Truly personal moments feel awkward.

3. Busyness has crowded out intimacy. For many of us, honest relationships take too much work and too much time. Perhaps we don't recognize or value the benefits we will reap as we invest in spiritual friendships. Hurry is one of the biggest obstacles to intimacy. Close relationships won't just happen—they must be prioritized.

4. We feel unqualified. I happen to have the gift of spiritual exhortation. For me, this sort of thing comes naturally. But there is also a gift of evangelism, and though I don't have that gift, I am still called to witness. In the same sense, you may be out of your comfort zone to offer words of affirmation or to hold someone accountable. But you're still responsible to encourage others. You can't fulfill the spirit of Hebrews 10 or the "one another" commands without taking the initiative to pursue real, honest, personal relationships.

We need a clear understanding of why encouragement is fundamental to the Christian life. Without it, I fear that more and more Christians will succumb to the cultural trends pushing millions to withdraw from regular participation in a body of believers.

It takes energy and perseverance to commit to a body of believers and then keep on gathering with them through the tough times. It requires humility to risk sharing our real needs in order to ask for prayer and accountability. But biblical encouragement is not just a nice idea—it's an absolute necessity.

The writer of Hebrews leaves us with a major motivation to take this exhortation to heart: "the Day" of Christ's return is approaching. Eternity is real, time is short, and the spiritual battle is fierce. To win, we need each other. Every day.

 

Gregg Simmons is the senior pastor of Church at the Cross in Grapevine, Texas.

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