Gathered to the Lord's Name

From: Doctrinal Definitions: A Handbook of Doctrinal Terms & Expressions in the New Testament

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Duration: 14min

• 11 min. read • grade level: 10

This expression is based on Matthew 18:20²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) and 1 Corinthians 5:4⁴In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 5:4). It refers to the Spirit’s work of gathering Christians together on earth around the Lord Jesus Christ on the true ground of the Church of God. The Lord’s presence in their midst sanctions that ground upon which they are gathered as being the place of His appointment where Christians are to meet together for worship and ministry. His presence also authorizes their administrative actions of binding and loosing, which they may take in matters of discipline, etc. However, the Lord’s presence in the midst of those thus gathered does not sanction their state, for at times it may be low.

Many Christians think that Matthew 18:20²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) is simply stating the fact that whenever and wherever Christians get together for any reason or purpose, social or religious, that they have the Lord’s presence with them. While it is true that the Lord is “with” Christians wherever they may be and for whatever purpose they gather together (Matt. 28:20²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20); Heb. 13:5⁵Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)), that is not what the Lord was teaching in Matthew 18:20²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) when He said that He would be “in the midst.” It is confusing the Lord’s being “with” believers and His being “in the midst” of believers gathered to His name. These are two different things.

The following three points will help us to understand what it means to be gathered to the Lord’s name:

Firstly, God’s PURPOSE in gathering Christians together unto the Lord’s name is that there would be a living demonstration of the unity of the body of Christ on earth (Rom. 12:4-5⁴For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: ⁵So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:4‑5); 1 Cor. 10:17; 12:12¹⁷For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:17)
¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12); Eph. 1:22-23; 5:30²²And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, ²³Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23)
³⁰For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30)). He desires that there would be a visible expression of the oneness of the body resulting from believers walking together ecclesiologically—that is, in Church doctrine and practise (Eph. 4:1-4¹I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ²With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; ³Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:1‑4)). God has called all Christians into one universal (world-wide) fellowship wherein He would have them function together practically in this way (1 Cor. 1:9⁹God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)), where uniformity and unity would be seen among those thus gathered in several ways:

• In assembly function and order (1 Cor. 1:2; 4:17; 7:17; 11:16; 14:33-34; 16:1²Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2)
¹⁷For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. (1 Corinthians 4:17)
¹⁷But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. (1 Corinthians 7:17)
¹⁶But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. (1 Corinthians 11:16)
³³For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. ³⁴Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (1 Corinthians 14:33‑34)
¹Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. (1 Corinthians 16:1)).

• In the act of breaking of bread (1 Cor. 10:17¹⁷For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:17)).

• In matters of inter-assembly fellowship, letters of commendation, etc. (Acts 18:24-28²⁴And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. ²⁵This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. ²⁶And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. ²⁷And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: ²⁸For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:24‑28); Rom. 16:1¹I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: (Romans 16:1); 2 Cor. 3:1-3¹Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? ²Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: ³Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (2 Corinthians 3:1‑3)).

• In matters of assembly discipline (1 Cor. 5:12-13¹²For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? ¹³But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:12‑13); 2 Cor. 2:6-11⁶Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. ⁷So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. ⁸Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. ⁹For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. ¹⁰To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; ¹¹Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:6‑11)).

• In the formation of gatherings in new areas (1 Thess. 2:14¹⁴For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: (1 Thessalonians 2:14); Acts 8:4-24⁴Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. ⁵Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. ⁶And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. ⁸And there was great joy in that city. ⁹But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: ¹⁰To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. ¹¹And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. ¹²But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. ¹⁴Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: ¹⁵Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: ¹⁶(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) ¹⁷Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. ²⁰But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. ²¹Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. ²²Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. ²³For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. ²⁴Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. (Acts 8:4‑24)).

The practical oneness of the body of Christ is alluded to in Matthew 18:20²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) in the words “gathered together.” (Practical oneness among Christians is also mentioned in John 10:16; 11:51-52; 17:11, 21¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16)
⁵¹And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; ⁵²And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (John 11:51‑52)
¹¹And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (John 17:11)
²¹That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21), but in the context of the oneness of the family of God.) The Lord did not disclose the truth of the one body in His earthly ministry because the disciples did not have the Spirit yet and wouldn’t have been able to take in the truth of it (John 14:25-26; 16:12²⁵These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. ²⁶But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:25‑26)
¹²I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (John 16:12)). But He did indicate that there would be a new kind of oneness coming when the Church was formed. Thus, the Lord gave the seed of that truth in His ministry, but left it to be taught by the apostles when they received the Spirit.

Sad to say, the Church has largely not understood God’s purpose in gathering. Either through good intentions or through self-will, it has become divided in practical function, and is now fragmented in over a thousand sects and independent fellowships (denominational and non-denominational). Thus, the Church today renders a testimony to the world of being divided—both in doctrine and in practise. It hardly needs to be said that it is not what the Lord intends.

Secondly, to accomplish this objective in Christian testimony, God has an appointed PLACE where He would gather Christians together to express the truth of the one body. It is not a literal, geographical location on earth as in Judaism (Jerusalem), but a spiritual ground of Scriptural principles upon which He would have Christians to meet together to manifest this unity. This is indicated by the words “where” and “there” in Matthew 18:20²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).

Hebrews 13:13¹³Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13) tells us that this place of meeting is “outside the camp.” The “camp” is a word that the Spirit of God uses to denote Judaism and all of its related principles and practises. Thus, this fellowship to which Christians are called is free of that Judaic order of things. Christians have generally (for hundreds of years) missed this point too, and have brought many things connected with Judaic worship into their places of worship. They have ignored the plain teaching of Scripture which says that the tabernacle is a figure of the true sanctuary into which we now have access by the Spirit (Heb. 9:8-9, 23-24; 10:19-22⁸The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: ⁹Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; (Hebrews 9:8‑9)
²³It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:23‑24)
¹⁹Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; ²¹And having an high priest over the house of God; ²²Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19‑22)). Instead, they have used it as a pattern for their church organizations, and have incorporated many things from Old Testament worship in a literal sense. This would be things such as: the use of literal temples (cathedrals), having a caste of ordained men to officiate on behalf of the rest of the congregation, having an orchestra, having a choir, the wearing of robes, the practise of tithing, Law-keeping, etc. The Christian world today has a proliferation of Christian fellowships which are rife with things borrowed from the Judaic order. Anyone looking for the place of the Lord’s appointment (and desiring to be truly gathered to His name) would have to look away from all such places in Christendom, because those places have the trappings of Judaism in their worship services, and the fellowship to which the Spirit is leading Christians is outside of all that. (See The Camp.)

God’s objective is to have Christians meet on one ground of gathering at one divinely owned Center (Christ in the midst), even though they may live in many different locations on earth. This unifies Christians practically and renders a singular testimony before the world that they are “one body.” In fact, this is the first collective responsibility that Christians have in walking worthy of their calling (Eph. 4:1-4¹I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ²With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; ³Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:1‑4)). Hence, the Lord’s presence in the midst (in this collective assembly sense) could only be where God gathers Christians unto the Lord’s name. If the Lord owned with His presence in the midst, every group of believers who gather for worship and ministry in their different places, then He would be sanctioning the many divisions in the Church’s testimony. It would be sanctioning the very thing that He decries! Hence, the Lord couldn’t be (in this sense) in every place where Christians gather. W. Potter said, “Suppose the Lord gave His presence now to the different denominations, what would He be doing? He would be sanctioning what is contrary to Him. He can’t do that” (Gathering Up the Fragments, p. 87). He also said, “You don’t mean to imply that the Lord is not in the midst of any others in the same sense? Decidedly He is not” (Gathering Up the Fragments, p. 90).

This may sound narrow and exclusive, but it really shouldn’t be surprising because the very nature of Christianity is exclusive. There is only one way to be to be saved (Acts 4:12¹²Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)), and only one way to the Father (John 14:6⁶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)), etc.—and there is only one way in which God would have Christians meet together for worship and ministry. The whole Christian revelation of truth is exclusive, and we cannot apologize for the truth; it is what it is.

Thirdly, even though Christians are spread all over the world, God has the POWER to gather them together in this way. He does this through the work of the divine Gatherer, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God leads exercised believers to the place of His appointment. Who else could the Lord entrust with the gathering of His people together unto His name, but the Spirit of God? The best-intentioned men have sought to gather the Lord’s people together, but being unaware of the truth of gathering, they have formed Christian fellowships of their own devising. Having made these various Christian fellowships, they encourage believers to “go to the church of their choice,” as if it were a matter of their personal preference. The result is that Christians have been absorbed into various man-made Christian fellowships that are independent of one another, rather than being united in one universal fellowship. This cannot be the work of the Holy Spirit for He never leads contrary to the Word of God.

If the Holy Spirit has led Christians to come together for worship and ministry in their many independent fellowships, then He would be the Author of the divisions in Christendom! He then, could be to blamed for the divided state of the Christian testimony! Surely no sober Christian would charge the Spirit of God for creating the sad and divided state of the Church’s testimony. H. Smith said, “Is the Holy Spirit gathering all the variously divided and independent companies who seek to appropriate this promise [in Matt. 18:20²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)]? Such an assumption necessarily involves placing the blame for the existing deplorable and Christ-dishonouring divisions and independency upon the Holy Spirit. Are these multi-centers seen in the professing Church due to the work of ‘the Spirit of Truth’ who came to glorify Christ? Far be the thought!” (Gathered Together, p. 3).

While the Holy Spirit is not directly mentioned in Matthew 18:20²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20), it is clear that He is the divine Gatherer. This is seen in the words, “are gathered together.” The Lord did not say, “Where two or three come together” or “meet together,” as some modern translations render it. “Are gathered” is in a passive voice, and this points to the fact that there has been a gathering power outside of the people themselves that has been involved in their meeting together on that ground. This shows that the divine ground of gathering is not a voluntary association of believers. H. Smith said, “To use a simple illustration, I see a basket of fruit on the table. How did it get there? It was gathered together; it did not get there by its own efforts. The word for ‘gathered together’ in the Greek is ‘sunago’ which literally means ‘to lead together,’ and could be translated, ‘are guided together’—all of which suggests a Gatherer” (Gathered Together, p. 2). Strong’s Concordance states that the word “sunago” (#4863) means “to lead together” or “to collect.” Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the New Testament states that “sunago” means “to gather or bring together” (p. 482).