TO MEET OR NOT TO MEET
2020 did something that hadn’t been done in more than 100 years and did it more comprehensively than ever before. Churches were closed for the first time in our lifetimes.
Over the past few weeks many churches have begun to re-assemble in, in-person worship services. However, this is proving not to be a clean exit out of this trial. With summer travel and increased testing we are seeing an up-tick in cases around the country. Add to this, the intensity of the political season both sides will strategically leverage this information (with billions of dollars) to get reaction from people that will promote their cause.
Fear is rising again and all facets of society are reacting to this latest “spike”. One corporate leader told me yesterday he is down 70 employees out of fear of Covid-19.
Some pastors and churches are still not meeting, others are scaling back their services and some are talking about going back on-line.
One mega-church pastor this week cancelled their services until next year. In his published remarks he stated that his church is “for his community and gathering is doing nothing for the community.”
Of course, as a leader this is a daily burden. We are constantly evaluating, researching and attempting to make the best decision, all things considered. All the while living under cultural, congregational and peer pressure.
Over the past couple of days all of this has caused me to ask the question again; “is gathering for worship essential?” Is there anything that happens when Christians gather that cannot happen via online or remote communication.
Most would answer this by saying “given the modern technology we can sing, and listen to teaching/preaching in ways like never before, so it is no different”.
I beg to disagree, and the Lord has been opening my eyes to a couple truths that are relevant to this question.
2 old arguments that need revisited
#1 Ekklesia means gathering
Throughout this pandemic I am sure you have heard many a Bible scholar define again for you the meaning of the greek word for church, ekklesia. In case you are eager for another amateur’s opinion here is mine.
When Jesus used this term for the first time in Matthew 16 He was using a word that already existed in the Greek world. Ekklesia was a group of people, called out from the ordinary population to assemble, for a specific mission and given the power and resources to do what they had been commissioned to do.
At the core of it’s definition was “gathering”. You cannot have true ekklesia without some form of legitimate coming together. There is power in the assembly beyond consuming religious activity.
If the only thing that happens at church is a large (or small) gathering of people for consumption of religious information, then we should cancel all churches until next year, or maybe forever. BUT if the gathering of believers itself produces unique and supernatural outcomes then the assembly of believers must not be forsaken.
Sadly some of Christianity’s gatherings produce nothing unique or supernatural and so people believe the only reason to go to church is to get a little “spiritual pick-me-up” for the week, which you can absolutely get online. So pastor’s and Christians conclude, “no need to gather”.
Ekklesia is far more than encouraging tweets, hot music and made for TV sermons that help me focus on the positive side of life. To fully live out the true life of the church, we need to gather!
#2 Hebrews tells us to not “forsake the assembly of ourselves together”
Again this is a verse our parents would pull out when we wanted to skip church as teenagers and so I put it in the “old argument” category. However this verse is still in Scripture and was placed there by the Holy Spirit and is of immense importance to us.
In the section leading up to this verse the Hebrew writer gives us 3 unique and powerful things that are available to the Christians under the new covenant and take place when we gather.
- We experience the presence of God in unique ways – “Let us draw near” v.22
- We gain strength to persevere in the fight as Christians – “Let us hold fast”. v23
- We are motivated to fulfill the will of God in this world – “Let us stir up one another”. v.24
None of this happens while laying on the couch alone, surfing the internet, while Christian music or a sermon plays in the background.
And verse 25 then commands us “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
This verse connects the importance of gathering as believers in times of difficulty and as we near the coming of the Lord. Actually He says, we should assemble more and more as you get nearer the “Day”, not less and less. (The “Day” of Jesus return will be preceded by difficulty for the believer) I think this is where we are.
One last thought
In Acts 27 Paul was on the ship to Rome and they were in a terrible storm. The entire group (276) were scared out of their mind and had not eaten in 14 days in fear and panic of dying. (sounds familiar)
In verse 34 Paul says “I urge you to take some food, for it will give you strength”. The shipwreck they were about to endure and the ensuing energy that would be demanded to swim to the island would require food and strength, they needed to eat.
As we move forward in this day, as followers of Jesus, we need to “eat” more and more spiritually in order to have the strength required to survive the storm of this pandemic, persecution, or unpopularity that sets just on the horizon. Now is not the time to stop doing that which provides the very sustenance we will need for the future.
Because of the pandemic and the desperate need for renewal in the church, this assembly will undoubtedly be altered, look different and may never be the same as it has been in our lifetime. But make no mistake, we cannot fulfill the mission of the Kingdom of God and our very survival is in question if we disregard a core element of the ekklesia.
BE ENCOURAGED, WE’RE CHRISTIANS!
Troy
Troy Keaton's Blog 