Ask the Pastor 126

Why bother to go to church?

When Covid-19 hit, churches around the nation closed but sent recorded services to homes via the internet. Since then, churches have reopened despite Covid, but still send their recorded services out over the internet, with the result that some have not returned to church but watch on TV instead, like why bother? This is the problem with this electronic age in the first place, it has disconnected people from people. There is no longer a sense of community where people interact face to face, all interaction is done on what is known as social media. Without physical interaction, it is not possible to see body language or hear the tone in the speech, were they kidding, smiling when they said that or dead serious? There can be no gentle hand on the shoulder or even a hug. The Bible even speaks of a holy kiss, hard to do at home while watching TV etc. In the New Testament the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is described in terms of community, it is the body of Christ in I Corinthians 12, a body with interworking parts, where one part depends on the other. In the book of Acts, we see that they came together for “doctrine, fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42). Again, we read of a great multitude being together and they “were of one heart and one soul;” (4:31-32). We also have the direct instruction, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Again, it is not possible to stir up one another in love and good works unless we are actually together. We do not come together to become Christians, we come together because we are Christians. We come together to worship the Lord and to serve one another in love preferring one another’s company.

Have questions about the Bible? Send them to Dr. Greg Koehn at gak4850@gmail.com and read the answer here in this article.