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.
Hebrews 10: 24-25
When I’m away from home and cannot worship with my own church family, I feel as though my spiritual support is on hold. Yes, I do enjoy visiting another congregation of like faith; yes, I can access our worship service virtually on the Internet; yes, I can communicate with my church family by texts, e-mails, or Facebook connections. Cyber church isn’t the same as sitting with my church family in the brick and mortar building, joining in prayer and psalm, singing in harmony, hearing the Word of God together, being served holy communion, and fellowshipping with others as sisters and brothers.
Go back to 2020 when our world panicked in a pandemic. Our churches were advised to close their doors and offer services via Internet or radio. At our house, church meant attempting to worship via the radio. I did dress as I would have for going to church; I got my Bible and Hymnal to follow along; but radio is not the same as “church.”
There is a good reason why meeting together is important. We are a family—the family of God. As I mentioned above, we sit at the table together as we are fed from the Word of God, as we partake of the Lord’s Table, as we pray together, as we harmonize in hymns and psalms, as we fellowship with one another. We are together as a family in the very presence of our Lord. Church is where we are groomed, as a family, to represent our family—our Father—in the world about us when we venture beyond our church home. Although we long for our eternal home—yes, homesick for heaven—we are here to show the world what heaven will be like as we share His love, express our joy of salvation, demonstrate the peace that passes understanding, and our many spiritual graces taught at our church family table.
Putting aside my own feelings regarding church, what are the advantages and disadvantages:
In-person advantages:
- Developing deep trust and rapport with the church family, whether in the pew, in settings such as classes, or one-on-one, is spiritual strength building.
- Better communication through classes, Bible Studies, or small groups, as well as in the pew. Peer pressure helps to stay engaged.
- Creatively, studies show in-person involvement yields 5-20% greater success in developing ideas for church growth, missions, and spiritual growth.
In-person disadvantages:
- Inconvenienced by travel, time schedules, venues, and illnesses.
Virtual advantages and disadvantages:
- Instant access: Although far more convenient and cost effective than in-person attendance, communication loses, according to studies, 70-93% of non-verbal signals.
- Leads to a narrower thinking through spiritual or theological concepts
- High risk of “zoom fatigue” and distractions/multitasking
Currently, I am in a position where I need to either worship virtually or visit other fellowships for a time, but I do long for when I can return to my church family. Deeper than brick and mortar church attendance, I long for the Day to soon approach. I long for the Day when we will be together as a mega-multitude before the Father’s throne all because of what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us in His death and resurrection.
What about those around the world who are unable to meet for worship legally? My heart aches for them as they hide, crowded into tiny apartments, in basements, or in the forests, have to use the bathtub for baptisms, while they fear for their lives. How dare I neglect worship!
Watching church services virtually is not wrong; listening to your preacher on the radio is never wrong. Internet or radio are beautiful resources to staying connected when traveling, ill, or otherwise unavailable. These means are just not enough. To purposely remain home to “go to church virtually” for convenience’s sake, does little for Family connection.
Here’s a thought: Would one who finds corporate worship, community, and fellowship of a local church as tedious, uncomfortable, or inconvenient on earth, feel out of place in the eternal, communal gathering of heaven?
Challenge: If you haven’t been to in-person worship lately, assess your reasons for staying away. Do they hold water? If your cup of reasoning leaks … well, you know what to do. Consider what you do like about worshipping with your church family. Compare and contrast these with what you like about virtual church. Who knows, maybe your spiritual gifts are exactly what your congregation needs. I hope to see you in church!
Prayer: Father in heaven, I know the Day is drawing near, and as we long for—are homesick for heaven. Until then, may we be faithful to our local church families. Because of Jesus. Amen
[i] Oil painting “Davidson Memorial Chapel, Hazard, Ky; by Ruth E. Sterner, ca. 1958
