A key teaching used to enforce strict church attendance in The Potter’s House is the interpretation of Hebrews 10:25. Leaders manipulate this verse to make members feel compelled to attend every service, instilling fear that missing even one could lead to spiritual downfall. This doctrine is central to how The Potter’s House maintains control, ensuring members’ continuous involvement and loyalty.
The Potter’s House Interpretation of Hebrews 10:25
The Potter’s House teaches that Hebrews 10:25 requires members to attend every service “whenever the doors are open.” This expectation was preached so frequently that missing a service, unless due to work, hospitalization, or extreme circumstances, was deemed sinful. Members were urged to change jobs if their work conflicted with church attendance, even if it meant taking a lower-paying position. This pressure led many to make significant sacrifices to maintain their status within the church.
This doctrine created a culture where members had to attend multiple weekly services and week-long “revival” meetings. The message was clear: missing church meant disobeying what leaders taught as the “command of the Lord.” The scripture was twisted to suggest that failure to attend was like forsaking the assembly of believers, making one vulnerable to the Devil. Leaders even compared staying away from church to King David’s sin with Bathsheba, implying that absence could lead to moral failure.
The Impact on New Converts: Isolation and Indoctrination
This strict attendance doctrine quickly indoctrinated new converts. By keeping them constantly involved in church activities, pastors accelerated their indoctrination. New members, too busy and tired to study the Bible on their own, relied on the pastor’s sermons for understanding Scripture. This constant engagement isolated them from non-church influences, including family and friends, reinforcing the church’s teachings through social interactions within the congregation.
The emphasis on exclusive church attendance created an environment where new converts’ social circles consisted almost entirely of church members. This insular community reinforced the church’s doctrines, making it difficult for new members to question or escape the church’s influence.
The True Meaning of Hebrews 10:25: A Call for Balanced Fellowship
Hebrews 10:25, in its proper context, does not mandate multiple weekly services or frequent “revival” meetings. Instead, it advises believers to avoid isolation and continue gathering with others of like faith. The verse emphasizes the importance of community and mutual encouragement, especially when believers feel discouraged. This gathering could take place in homes or informal settings, not necessarily in a formal church building.
The writer of Hebrews acknowledged that some might become disillusioned with gatherings, but still emphasized the benefits of fellowship. However, this verse never intended to impose a legalistic obligation to attend every service. Unfortunately, The Potter’s House interpretation turned this passage into a tool for control, pressuring members to attend relentlessly as a measure of their faithfulness.
Does God Require Christians to Go to Church?
God does not require Christians to attend formal church services. The Bible teaches that the church is the body of Christ, and all believers are part of that body, united in faith (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). Gathering with other Christians is essential, but it doesn’t have to happen within a traditional church building. The early church often met in homes, sharing meals, praying, and studying the Scriptures together (Acts 2:46; Romans 16:5). These small, intimate gatherings were as much “church” as any large assembly. The key is the community and fellowship among believers, where they can encourage, support, and hold each other accountable (Hebrews 10:24-25). Whether in a church building, a home Bible study, or another setting, what matters is genuine connection among believers as they come together to worship God and grow in their faith. Therefore, attending a church building is not necessary as long as you are part of the Church and regularly connect with other Christians.
A Call for Reevaluation and Renunciation
The misuse of Hebrews 10:25 in The Potter’s House is an example of how Scripture can be distorted to serve those in power. This destructive doctrine manipulates believers and distorts the true purpose of Christian fellowship. Former leaders of The Potter’s House should publicly renounce this teaching, as it continues to cause harm and spiritual confusion among its followers.
True Christian fellowship is about building each other up, not enforcing rigid attendance to maintain control. It’s time to reevaluate these teachings and return to the original, liberating intent of the Scriptures.
This article examines The Potter’s House, a Christian fellowship founded by the late Wayman Mitchell, now a global network of churches. Often known as The Door or Victory Chapel in some locations, The Potter’s House has faced numerous complaints from former members about its controlling practices and intense pressure on members. Having once been part of this fellowship, I now assess the teachings and doctrines used to control congregants, leading to spiritual and psychological harm. I have also written a book titled Escaping the Potter’s House, which includes the testimonies of ten former members who share their experiences of breaking free from this organization.