With the pandemic entering into view of our rear-view mirror in Singapore and other parts of the world as things subside, we’re starting to see more churches regather for corporate worship. But we’re also seeing some believers drag their feet (for a variety of reasons, some good, some bad) and we don’t presume to know people’s intentions or circumstances. But we assume here what Scripture teaches: that assembling with God’s people is how we are God’s people.
To urge more of us to attend and be the church without substitutes, here are three brief arguments for why you should leave your house and assemble with God's people for worship as a church:
First, this is how we obey God's good commands in Heb 10:24-25 - the imperative is for us to meet. Let's be clear: obedience is an essential part of the life of a disciple. We are to obey the Son (Jn 3:36) out of love for Him (Jn 14:21), which shows that we are indeed God's true children (1 Jn 5:2). And Scripture's command in Heb 10 is direct and clear. It even provides a negative command: do not "neglect to" meet. Different personal preferences and lifestyle choices are accounted for: as is the habit of some -- meaning it's not the habit of all -- but the command is given nonetheless. The tone of the command is urgent: do it "all the more as you see the Day drawing near". Taken together, the command from God's Word is without question.
Second, there is real spiritual blessing and good for us in meeting as an assembly of love. Heb 10 tells us the purpose for meeting together: meet to stir one another for love and good works, and for mutual encouragement. Put positively, meet for the good of your faith and the good of the faith of others! Examples of this are all over the New Testament: Paul says "I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you - that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine" (Rom 1:11-12). Or again in 1 Thess, Paul displays that same eagerness after being "torn away from you... we endeavoured the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you..." (1 Thess 2:17-18). He elaborates that seeing them "face to face [is how he will] supply what is lacking in your faith" (1 Thess 3:10).
Third, we will not be satisfied with substitutes less than the real thing God has prepared for us. It's tempting to think that consuming content = worship, or that watching livestream = performing spiritual duty. This is false. Consider the apostle John's argument: "Thought I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete." (2 Jn 12). Put simply, there is no intimacy, relationship or embodied personhood in disembodied content consumed. Our joy is complete when God's Spirit is on our midst working through us as whole persons -- because we are present we breathe the same air, listen to the same voice, sing the same song, see the same forms. We are together in one place as the disciples were when Jesus told them to stay in one place and wait for the Holy Spirit in Acts. An embodied experience of worship is a full, human experience.
This fleshes out the argument of Hebrews 10:24-25: to neglect meeting is to avoid and weaken the one-another ministry of the body of Christ. To neglect meeting weakens the body's ability to build itself up, to strengthen itself, and to lend strength and life to your brother and sister. At the same time, you close off one of the means for God to strengthen you through others. The Bible is clear: being alone and apart from others in faith short circuits one of the God-designed ways to sustain your faith. Proverbs 18:1 says it this way: "whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire, he breaks out against all sound judgment".
And so with these arguments we urge you to worship in person in your churches. Your Lord is holy and enthroned on the praises of His people as you pay your vows of worship in the great assembly (Ps 22:3, 5). In the congregation of the godly ones, God is to be praised (Ps 149:1). Each one comes to proclaim glad tidings of righteousness in the congregation without private concealing or veiled expression (Ps 40:9-10). Go as God's faithful ones, who keep faith with Him and one another by covenant and sacrifice, gathered to the Lord for His own possession (Ps 50:5). He delights in you being at church.
Go to church and experience the blessing of being God’s people with others. It is our prayer that you will remember how good it is to be in, with, amid and surrounded by God's people. Blessings to you all!