Even before the COVID pandemic hit, the idea of attending church on a regular basis was losing some of its lustre. Increasingly, people were falling into the categories of the ‘Nones’ – never go, and the ‘Dones’ – have quit going. Then came 2020, and the doors of the churches closed. People became accustomed to alternate modes of worship. Now that the pandemic pestilence is behind us, the call has gone out for believers to return. We are grateful that there is a strong indication that re-gathering is gaining significant momentum as this autumn season advances. To God be the glory.
As pastors and leaders, we must regularly encourage people within our sphere of influence to return to the regular church gathering. We should repeatedly emphasize the value and importance of meeting together. The idea that we do not need the ‘corporate’ church for faith to be strong and robust is a heretical fallacy. If allowed to germinate, it will produce calamitous results. The derivative benefits of regular involvement in a strong faith community far outweigh any drawbacks. This is, and always will be, a foundational principle of maturation in Christian practice.
If you are wondering, as a leader, how to answer the question, ‘Why go to Church?’ here are a few suggestions that may help as you deal with the dissenter.
“If you go into the woods today, beware of a great surprise.” I was looking into some recommendations for hiking in Rocky Mountain ‘bear’ country. Those in the know strongly suggest much greater safety when hiking in a group. Going alone is extremely dangerous. The spiritual journey is similar, fraught with dangers. This is not a good time to try to walk it alone. These are perilous days for solo Christians. There is safety in numbers. We do need each other to ensure our individual protection. There are aggressive and merciless attacks being launched against Christianity and Christians. The ‘lone ranger Christian’ is the most vulnerable target. It is in the company of others that we best defend ourselves.
Your story is my strength. The Book of Revelation indicates three essential components ensuring spiritual victory. They are the blood of the Lamb, the Word of our testimony and a complete surrender to the will and plan of God. (Revelation 12:11) Each component is necessary if one wishes to be a spiritual overcomer. We need to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus, but we also need to be strengthened by the Word of our testimony: me by yours and you by mine. As believers, we build our lives and grow in grace against the backdrop of our common, shared faith. This ‘koinonia’ or communion is essential to the secured victory. God places us in a faith community for that very reason. We spur one another on to good works and godly conduct. Isolation from the faith community will pay dividends in an insipid faith.
Whose idea was it anyway? It was Jesus Who ‘thought up’ this Church concept. It was our Lord who declared that He would build His Church and that it would play an essential part in His Kingdom plan. Despite being populated by the weak, the sinful, the fallible and the fickle, it is still His first and only choice. By divine declaration, He has made it the primary instrument for disseminating the Gospel in our world, starting in our neighbourhood. If we remove ourselves from the orbit of His Church, we are effectively removing ourselves from the influence of His kingdom and shunning the very thing that He has pronounced paramount to His mission on earth.
So, you have a gift! Each of us has God-given abilities which are individually unique and special. Those gifts are best recognized, best developed and best utilized when mixed, mingled and meshed with the abilities of others. One instrument alone can make music, but the beauty of that instrument is realized in its completeness when it is played in a symphony with others. Likewise, our spiritual gifts are of greatest value and shine the brightest when they are added to the spiritual gifts of others.
The Word is clear! When King Saul sinned by impatiently offering a sacrifice in the place of the prophet Samuel, the rebuke was sharp. “Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to listen to God is better than offering the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22). The earmark of maturity in the Christian faith is not adherence to a static set of man-made requirements. Rather, it is submissive obedience to the Word of God. The writer of the Book of Hebrews makes it abundantly clear that God intends that we not neglect meeting together for worship and mutual encouragement. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And 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 10:23-25). The instruction could not be clearer. Deviation from God’s intended pattern equals disobedience.
Pastor, be gentle but firm in your exhortation to believers to attend the gathering of the Saints regularly. Show them that they are best protected in the company of others who share a common faith. We in church leadership are guardians over the souls of those we lead. We are to protect them in every way possible. We will one day give an account for the instruction we offered. Perseverance in this matter of ‘fellowship of the saints’ will ultimately preserve the faith of many and best serve the promulgation of the Gospel in our respective communities.
Al is an experienced pastor and counselor who works out of our ABNWT District Resource Centre in Edmonton as the Pastoral Care Coordinator. A pastor to the pastors, Al is a friend, mentor, and confidante to all.