I wrote yesterday about a pastor’s observation that “the way things were” is becoming the new idol. Without getting too far into the debate of whether or not churches should gather on Sundays or should be allowed to gather on Sundays, I was disheartened to see a story in our local newspaper leading with these sentences:

[The pastor] believes it is time to open his church for worship service, and that’s what he will do at 10:16 a.m. Sunday. He expects as many as 250 worshippers in the main sanctuary. Remember, the coronavirus has contributed to more than 90,000 deaths in the United States. The doors of most congregations will be closed Sunday morning. -Dave Ramsey, writing in the Colorado Springs Gazette, May 20, 2020.

I agree with this part of the pastor’s sentiment:

We believe the most essential service needed in our society, even more than marijuana, liquor or abortion services, is our need for a relationship with God...Our city needs the local church.

I wrote something like it on May 16. However, and it’s a big HOWEVER, I do not agree with the pastor’s obvious and explicit connection of a relationship with God and attending a worship service on Sunday morning.

The pastor went on to say:

There’s this necessary part of our growth as Christians to be able to meet together and support each other, not just on a screen, but face to face.

Again, I agree although I’ve found meeting by phone or FaceTime or Zoom to be just as mutually supporting as face-to-face, and I’ve had some face-to-face meetings outside on our deck. And while there is general encouragement in being in a large room with a lot of fellow-believers, “face-to-face” doesn’t always occur in such gatherings. Usually, we’re looking at each other’s backs!

The principle is relationship with God. The Sunday gathering is one thing that can foster that but so is your daily prayer time. Another principle is mutual encouragement and fellowship. Again, the Sunday morning gathering is one type of event that can contribute to that, but it is not the only one.

Insisting that we must get back to large Sunday gatherings is, as one pastor put it (in yesterday’s blog), a form of idolatry. Tomorrow I’ll share an inspiring story from a different arena about adapting to the present reality.

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… (Hebrews 10.24, 25, ESV – Bob’s note: nothing here about the meetings needing to be large and on Sunday morning.)

But encourage one another daily… (Hebrews. 3.13, NIV)