Gathering in Person is Essential to Church

Beloved Kinney,

We cancelled service this past Sunday due to hazardous road conditions. It was a tough
decision! I never want church to be cancelled unless it’s absolutely necessary. Well, it
seems it was because, when I looked outside Sunday morning, the roads were caked in
ice. I couldn’t have driven to church if I wanted to!

As you know, I encouraged you to rewatch a sermon called “The Glory of Gathering” on
the importance of our Sunday worship meetings. The sermon was based on Hebrews
10:24-25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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.”

I appreciate Paul’s qualification in verse 25. He’s warning against a habit—getting
comfortable not gathering with God’s people. We know he’s talking about the Sunday
worship gathering because he’s talking to a church—not a Bible study, not some
students on their dorm floor—this is a church. Don’t neglect gathering with your church
for worship. How else are you going to stir others up if we don’t see one another?
Can you see why “online/virtual church” is an oxymoron. The word “church” itself means
“assembly.” You can’t be a church if you don’t assemble together. And if the sum of
“church” for us is just getting things that we can get from watching a screen, we’re
missing the whole point of church!

Do you know why some members of this church—to whom the writer of Hebrews is
addressing—were tempted NOT to gather? New Testament scholar Tom Schreiner said,
“The fear of discrimination and persecution explains…why some believers were inclined
to abandon their meetings.” (Schreiner, 321) In other words, they were tempted NOT to
come to church because they didn’t want to go to jail or possibly get killed.

Oh how different many Christians are in 21st century America. “But my kids have soccer
on Sunday mornings. But Sundays are one of my only days off. And what about
football? My NFL team! Gotta keep up with my fantasy football!”

The original audience of this letter was tempted to neglect church for what we might
think would be legitimate reasons—like, “I don’t wanna die!” And yet, the writer of
Hebrews still says, “Don’t miss out on church!” WHY? Again, Schreiner: “Refusing to
meet with other believers in [that] context signifie[d] apostasy, the renunciation of the
Christian faith. If believers renounce meeting with other Christians, especially because
they fear discrimination and mistreatment, they are in effect turning against Christ.”
(Schreiner, 321)

Do you get that? If they’re seeking to avoid persecution for their faith in Christ by not
gathering for worship, then that was a sign of possible apostasy—that they’re walking
away from Christ!

Of course, we don’t wanna be legalistic here. There are, no doubt, circumstances that
prevent some of us from gathering. Our homebound members WANT to be here, but
they can’t because health prevents them. That’s not who the writer of Hebrews is
addressing. But don’t let exceptions keep us from feeling the weightiness of this
exhortation.

I hope you felt something was missing this past Sunday when you were prevented from
gathering with God’s people. That’s a sign of spiritual health!

Let us keep gathering together, Kinney, doing the same things we do every Sunday:
singing, praying, reading, preaching, baptizing, and Lords Supper-ing. These ordinary
means of grace are essential for our growth together in Christ.

I love you all and look forward to seeing you this coming Sunday, LORD WILLING!

Love,
Pastor Josh