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REFLECTION

Worship in a synagogue is the theme for our reflection. A synagogue is where a Jewish assembly or congregation meets for religious worship and instruction. What is the fundamental difference between the temple and the synagogue? The temple in Jewish life refers to the temple built in Jerusalem, the central place of worship where sacrifices are made, but the synagogue, historically and today, has served as a gathering place for prayer, instruction, and community. It continues to be central to Jewish life today, as it was in the time of Jesus. https://firmisrael.org/learn/tabernacle-temple-synagogue-whats-the-difference/. In other words, there was one temple with its Chief priest and other priests but there were several synagogues both in Israel and outside Israel with their respective leaders and teachers. Luke reports in the Acts of the Apostles that “When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days, he reasoned with them from the Scriptures…” (Acts 17:1-3)

Beloved in the Lord, among Christians, our temples are the same as our synagogues. In other words, where we meet for formal worship services is usually the same place we meet for other church-related activities such as choir rehearsals, weddings, outdooring ceremonies and burial services among others. We may loosely say that we regard the church building on Sundays as a temple and on other days, we regard it as a synagogue. Key among the activities that Christians observe in their temple/synagogue is Bible studies which are usually organised by most churches during their midweek services or a day which is convenient for the Church apart from Sundays. We would say that Paul engaged the other people in the synagogue in the study of the scriptures and consequently, they gained a new and deeper understanding of Jesus’ sacrifice and what it meant for their salvation. One of the ways, people gained spiritual knowledge and a deeper understanding of the Scripture is to attend meetings held at the Synagogue. In the twenty-first century, how many Christians attend midweek worship services which are mainly focused on Bible study. Most Christians have become so busy that they hardly make time for fellowship meetings to study the Scripture and to grow in the Lord. There are other meetings where Bible study is done for our spiritual growth and these are Children, Youth, Women and Men ministry meetings. The question, is posed again? Apart from Sunday’s congregational worship service, do you attend other gatherings or fellowship meetings of the Church to join other believers to study the Scripture and to strengthen your faith? Are you like many others who are merely Sunday worshippers who fill the pews only on Sundays but during the week their places are empty during Bible Study? Remember the people became enlightened and saved when Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. (Acts 17:2-4). Listening to the sermon and actively participating in Bible study programmes lead us to a faith-seeking understanding of the Bible. Let it be our custom or habit to always avail ourselves in the gathering of believers to read and study the Word of God. It is for this reason, the writer of Hebrews makes a passionate appeal to us that “…let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25). If we can visit other places regularly in the evenings then we can make time for Bible Study gatherings or fellowship meetings in the evenings. If we can attend the nightclubs, salons and entertainment programmes during the weekdays and weekends then we can certainly make time for our Bible study meeting in the synagogue (Church buildings). It is all about our priorities and choices in life, some of us have no reason to develop the habit of avoiding fellowship meetings to equip ourselves with the Word of God. Jesus admonishes us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33). Making time to attend worship services, Bible studies and fellowship meetings is part of “seeking first His kingdom and his righteousness”

The church must also be innovative by leveraging information technology to make Bible study accessible to church members who are far from the church building. Some people may have genuine reasons for not attending the synagogue to physically worship and study the Bible but with the help of technology, we can create a cyber synagogue to enable them to participate. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen me to set my priorities right in life and be a good steward of the time God has given me on earth. Help me to avail myself to worship and fellowship with other believers in the synagogue (church building) and to study the Scriptures to have a closer relationship with God. Amen.