Attending Multiple Churches Biblically
The concept of "church" in the New Testament, translated from the Greek word ecclesia, refers to an assembly or gathering [1, 2]. This term is synonymous with the Hebrew kahal of the Old Testament, which designated the collective Hebrew people as a holy community [1, 7]. While post-apostolic times saw ecclesia used for a physical place of worship, its primary New Testament meaning is an assembly of believers [1].
The New Testament emphasizes the gathering of believers. Jesus stated, "For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20) [3]. This highlights the spiritual presence of Christ within the assembled community. The Apostle Paul also refers to the "church" in the context of local gatherings, such as when he speaks of speaking "in the church" to instruct others (1 Corinthians 14:19) or the church's role in assisting widows (1 Timothy 5:16) [5, 6].
The early Christian understanding of the church involved a commitment to a specific community. John Calvin, a prominent Reformed theologian, taught that where the Word of God is preached and the sacraments are administered according to Christ's institution, "there we cannot have any doubt that the Church of God has some existence" [10]. He further emphasized that every pastor is appointed to a specific flock [8]. The practice of "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" is encouraged in Hebrews 10:25, which John Gill interprets as a warning against infrequent attendance, "rambling from place to place," or complete apostasy from the saints' gatherings [9].
The church is also described metaphorically as a building, "fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:21) [4]. This imagery suggests an organic unity and growth within a single structure. Charles Hodge, an Old Princeton theologian, described church members as those who "solemnly own the covenant before the Church, wherein they give up themselves and their children to the Lord, and subject themselves to the government of Christ in the Church" [11]. This implies a formal commitment and submission to the authority and structure of a particular church body. While the universal church encompasses believers across all nations, the practical expression of faith involves participation in local, visible congregations [10].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Church — Derived probably from the Greek kuriakon (i.e., "the Lord's house"), which was used by ancient authors for the place of worship. In the New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word ecclesia, which is synonymous with the Hebrew kahal of the Old Testament, both words meaning simply an assembly, the character of which can only be known from the connection in which the word is found. There is no clear instance of its being used for a place of meeting or of worship, although in post-apostolic times it early received this meaning. Nor is this word ever us”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Church — + The derivation of the word is generally said to be from the Greek kuriakon (kuriakon) "belonging to the Lord." But the derivation has been too hastily assumed. It is probably connected with kirk, the Latin circus, circulus, the Greek kuklos (kuklos) because the congregations were gathered in circles. + Ecclesia (ekklesia) the Greek word for church, originally meant an assembly called out by the magistrate, or by legitimate authority. It was in this last sense that the word was adapted and applied by the writers of the New Testament to the Christian congrega”
- Matthew “Matthew 18:20 (BSB) — For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.””
- Ephesians “Ephesians 2:21 (ASV) — in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord;”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 5:16 (BSB) — If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 14:19 (BSB) — But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Congregation — (Heb. kahal), the Hebrew people collectively as a holy community (Num. 15:15). Every circumcised Hebrew from twenty years old and upward was a member of the congregation. Strangers resident in the land, if circumcised, were, with certain exceptions (Ex. 12:19; Num. 9:14; Deut. 23:1-3), admitted to the privileges of citizenship, and spoken of as members of the congregation (Ex. 12:19; Num. 9:14; 15:15). The congregation were summonded together by the sound of two silver trumpets, and they met at the door of the tabernacle (Num. 10:3). These assemblies w”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 85: speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand” ( Ezek. 3:18 ). What Paul says of himself is applicable to all pastors: “For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel” ( 1 Cor. 4:16 ). In short, what the apostles did to the whole world, every pastor should do to the flock over which he is appointed. 7. While we assign a church to eac”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 10:23: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,.... Or the episynagogue of one another; which word is used to distinguish Christian assemblies from Jewish synagogues, and to denote the coalition of Jews and Gentiles in one church state, and to express the saints' gathering together to Christ; see Th2 2:1 and their act of meeting together in some one place to attend his worship, word, and ordinances. Now to "forsake" such assembling, signifies a great infrequency in attending with the saints, a rambling from place to place, and takes in an entire apostasy. It is ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 83: and heard, wherever we see the sacraments administered according to the institution of Christ, there we cannot have any doubt that the Church of God has some existence, since his promise cannot fail, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” ( Mt. 18:20 ). But that we may have a clear summary of this subject, we must proceed by the following steps:—The Church universal is the multitude collected out of all nations, who, though dispersed and far distant from each other, agree in one truth”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 64: in life, and solemnly owning the covenant before the Church, wherein they give up themselves and their children to the Lord, and subject themselves to the government of Christ in the Church, their children are to be baptized. “6. Such church-members, who either by death, or some other extraordinary providence, have been inevitably hindered from publicly acting as aforesaid, yet have given the Church cause, in judgment of charity, to look at them as so qualified, and such as, had 568 they been called thereunto, would have so acted, their c”