This matter of "forsaking the assemblies" has really run the gamut! That being so, what more could I add? Perhaps nothing totally new or terribly wise, but perhaps a new way of wording some things that have been called to our attention will be of some benefit. I pray this will be the case.
While poor judgment may become sinful, (if it disagrees with some biblical principle), poor judgment usually isn't sinful. Aren't we thankful that this is true?! Still most of what has been said except that we are commanded "not to forsake the assembling of ourselves (our own assembling) together" (Hebrews 10:23-25) has fallen into the category of human judgment. We all know that each Christian has an appointment to meet the Lord in communion around His table on His day as per (Acts 20:6-7; Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:16-19). This we each must do for Christ commanded "this do" in remembrance of Me (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24). The exact time on the Lord's day isn't specified of course. Each congregation therefore is allowed to use their best judgment as to what suits their situation. From an approved apostolic example and from a necessary inference, we learn this to be a weekly observance on the Lord's day. Surely this needs no proof to the readers of these list! (See above passages).
Like the subject of "drinking wine," is difficult to teach what the Scriptures say without leaving the door open for unscriptural imbibing of alcoholic beverages, so it is with the subject of whether or not one must attend every service set by human judgment and not by divine command in the local congregation! This should not scare one off from teaching what the New Testament teaches on this or any other matter as one understands it however. I know some brethren who would say that I have sinned if I do not look up a faithful congregation when I am on a trip and attend their "midweek" service. While I usually do exactly that, I am willing for Christ (who is my judge) to determine whether or not such is a sin when on occasion I have failed to so meet either on the Lord's day evening or the midweek service.
When I was a lad in Kentucky, we had no electric lights in the meeting house. Most members lived many miles away (especially with the kind of transportation available then) some still came in horse and wagon, some in model "T's"& some in Model "A" Fords. The point being, it was not so easy to get to a Lord's day evening or Wednesday evening service even if they should have scheduled such, which they did not. We met once on the Lord's day. Were those folks faithful to Christ who attended those services and met around the Lord's table and engaged in all of the other activities authorized as commanded on the Lord's day? Who would deny it? Surely no one!
I remember those more rare assemblies than we now have as a time of joy and happiness. It became not only a time to worship and adore the Lord in the way He prescribed, but also a social time in that I was privileged to see my uncles, grandparents and others whom I only was able to see at such assembles. I lost my dad when I was eleven months old and his mother who took me to take care of while he was gravely ill subsequent to his death and I "bonded" in a special way, as well as with his brothers, my uncles. I would switch for one lap to the other just to be near them. They weren't even always able to make it each Lord's day due to travel distance and a father (My dad's father) who was not at all in favor of said meetings to begin with, since he never did obey the gospel. My grandfather Thomas being a share cropper, money was hard to come by. My grandmother took care of her mother in law in her old age, who so dominated the family that Mammy had to beg her for some of the egg money (a nickel or a dime) to put into the collection plate on the Lord's day. I have known my grandmother Thomas to walk to services in winter weather all alone (after her sons were grown and gone from home), until she reached our house where my mother and I would join her for the remainder of the trip to worship services near the edge of town in Whitney woods, just south of Cave City, Ky. She would have already walked about two miles before meeting us for the other mile and one half. I remember being so cold that when we got inside the meeting house and I began to thaw, I would have extremities that ached. Even so, this was a great event in my life to be in services with my mother and grandmother worshipping the Lord together! No, I wasn't a Christian as yet, but children are able to approach the God of heaven because they are safe and sinless "God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions" (Eccl. 7:29; Matthew 18:1-3; 19:14; James 1:13-15).
I say some of the above personal things to set the stage for how important assemblies should be to Christians. Folks who haven't experienced some of the things of which I speak have a difficult time identifying with what I have related here, but my point is, every assembly should be considered important to the child of God. Perhaps we have emphasized being in the assemblies so much that we have not come to appreciate what takes place in said assemblies. Isn't that what is also very important? Certainly it is (John 4:23-24; Acts 20:6-7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; Colossians 3:17; 2 John 9-10).
If like David, we had the attitude, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord" Psalm 122:1, the discussions taking place on this probably would not even be transpiring! Let me "cut some off at the pass" who may be thinking and ready to tell me that David is speaking of the temple and that the church building isn't the "house of God." I am well aware of the fact that the people who assemble there from time to time are the house of God. They still are, even when not assembled. (1 Timothy 3:14-15; Acts 8:1-3). My point being, those who have been truly converted to Christ do not look for ways to "justify" not assembling, no, they are happy for the opportunities to assemble. Like the early saints, they would if jobs and other things did not restrict them from so doing, meet daily in the "temple" and from house to house enjoying both the social and spiritual fellowship that such affords. Someone has already aptly hit the proverbial "nail on the head" when they wrote that such as are not happy to attend every possible assembly have an attitude problem. Their problem doesn't spring from disobeying Hebrews 10:23-25 nearly so much as disobeying Matthew 22:37 and John 14:15, 21.
It my estimation being at every possible assembly can better be stressed when we notice the fact that we each are to be a "team worker" in the kingdom of Christ. The figures used describing the church as a body with its many members each working together to the proper functioning of the body and being a part of the edification that comes about in said assemblies, it seems to me are strong incentives to be there if at all possible (1 Thessalonians 5:11-21; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
Elders aren't law givers or legislators. With this we all surely must agree. Still, they have been assigned a task for which they must give an accounting to the "Chief Shepherd" as to how well they have carried out said responsibilities. Too, the membership who are responsible to "submit to them for they watch for your souls..." have some responsibility to be an active part of the edification program that each congregation under the oversight of bishops is responsible to engage in (Hebrews 13:17; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-6). Since the local congregation is the only working collective for church work, and edification is a responsibility in each local church under the oversight of her bishops, can one stand innocent before Christ who flaunts this system? I think not! It therefore becomes a "public sin" for which the Christian may, if they do not repent, be disciplined in keeping with the will of Christ so that precious soul may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Remember, this isn't because they simply missed some of the assemblies which human judgment has set in place, no, it is more than that, it is a problem of rebellion to Christ's system of local church responsibilities being carried out under godly bishops who care for each member's spiritual well being. This rebellion manifest itself usually in missing these times of worship and edification.
We also all recognize that we fellowship folks who only make one assembly each week and that on the Lord's day in some cases. We take into account their abilities, their health , their age as well as on occasion the distance they must travel to be present. We consider whether or not they have transportation and if so, are they financially able to drive that distance twice on the Lord's day and once on Wednesday? I could set up many other factors that involve this matter that we leave to the judgment of the person. We take their word that they have a "justifiable absence" as Christ would view their situation. So, we aren't in the business of making laws regarding this, or any other matter. We must from time to time however, be fruit inspectors and make some judgments about such matters. One who is always too sick to attend on the Lord's day but never misses work on Monday. We become suspicious that this is wilful forsaking. One who consistently missed other appointed assemblies but is always able to make the school board, little league, Kawanis club meetings, etc. We begin to suspect their faithfulness and commitment to Christ and properly admonish them to consider their lives (Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20).
Generally speaking, we do what we want to do badly enough. We make provisions for doing that which is of great interest to us. Think about it! There are 168 hours in each week. Everyone has the same amount of time. How is it that some never miss a service unless flat of their back and unable through no fault of their own, and others can't seem to make all services consistently for even a month at a time? Think about it! If one attends every scheduled service of the local church how many hours a week is spent in said assemblies? Usually only four hours each week out of that 168. May I throw in Matthew 6:33 which says we are to "seek first the kingdom..."? We need to consider our priorities. King Jesus who gave His all for us desires that we prove the sincerity of our reciprocal love for Him by our obedience and at whatever the cost may be to us (Matthew 10:34-39; Luke 14:26-35). Yes, we need to "consider the cost" for true discipleship as well as remember the price that was paid for our redemption (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:22-33). If and when we do, we will never be guilty of asking the question, "must I attend every assembly of the local church?" No, we will look forward to each assembly.