“We will not neglect the house of our God.”
In Chapter 10 of Nehemiah, Nehemiah and the Israelites make a covenant with God. As part of this covenant, Nehemiah, the leaders of Israel and the people agree that they “will not neglect the house of our God.” Part of that covenant included items such as not intermarrying with those who were not Jewish believers, keeping the Sabbath, following the commands of the Law and giving to the priesthood and to the Temple.
“Not neglecting the house of our God” includes our giving of our tithes and offerings for the maintenance of those who serve God full time, for the spread of the Gospel and for the simple maintenance of those places where we assemble to worship God.
In the New Testament we are commanded at Hebrews 10:25 that we are not to be “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.”
In my opinion, Satan used the past COVID-19 epidemic to try to shut down the church at least in the United States. Although, we need to use good sense, it seems to me that to allow people to gather at Wal-Mart to shop for physical items while precluding the gathering together of people to partake of spiritual food was hypocritical. That being said, in emergency situations it is not unreasonable for there to be precautions. Christian leaders, considering all of these considerations, often came to different decisions in good faith as to what to do.
Sadly, I have seen some who dropped out during the COVID-19 situation, fail to return to the church as the health risks began to subside. I suspect that some of the failure to return may have resulted from spiritual laziness. To the lazy there are always clouds in the sky so that they cannot sow seed and a lion in the streets so that they cannot go out.
God has chosen for his people to have an individual experience with Him; yet at the same time He has also chosen that we have a corporate experience with him.
My experience during the COVID-19 epidemic taught me that a “Zoom” experience is not good enough. It is better than nothing, but it is not better than being in the physical presence of one another. For instance if I am travelling overseas and call my spouse in a “Zoom” call, that is better than not calling at all or just calling on a telephone but not seeing her. However, a “Zoom” call does not replace the physical joy of being in the presence of the one I love. That being said, televised services or “Zoom” services are helpful to the incapacitated or who can otherwise not get out.
Our Faith involves loving God and loving one another. Love always has a greater opportunity to begin, increase and grow as we are close to one another in physical proximity. When I was a teenager, I could talk on the phone to my girlfriend, but it was always better when I could go out on a date. Love rejoices in closeness and proximity. When we are really in love, we are just happy being in the presence of the one whom we love.
The early church gave what they called the “right hand of fellowship” to Paul and Barnabas in Galatians 2:9. Although this may mean membership to some and fellowship to others, I believe it also contains the concept of a “covenant relationship.” We somehow become part of something larger than ourselves. In many churches, including the Moravian Church, it means shaking hands all around. By coming together, we make peace not only with God on a corporate basis but also with one another. I believe it also takes a face to face meeting to enter into covenants and to make peace. Perhaps that is why so many “peace conferences” politically involve face-to-face meetings, not just a telephone meeting or a signing of documents.
Other churches use other methods to make substantive this relationship of God’s love and love for one another. For instance in 2 Corinthians 13:12 we are instructed “to greet one another with a holy kiss.” This is another example of the physical contact that is so essential to us. Interestingly, I have travelled overseas and have been greeted “with a peck on each cheek” but thus far I have not experienced this in church.
When I first visited a Charismatic Church, the pastor who I attended with warned me that I might be hugged at the door going in or going out. It is a good thing he warned me because I was and I was prepared for the experience. As time passed I found that hugging was a wonderful experience. There are times “we just need a hug.” When we are hurt or lose a loved one, sometimes the best medicine for us is a warm, innocent and loving hug. An honest hug is healing in nature.
God intends for there to be physical involvement in our worship. We are a loving people and loving people touch. They hold hands. We see this often in our worship. People hold hands and sing “Sweet, sweet Spirit. They hold hands to pray. They shake hands to greet one another. They hug one another.
Even in formal churches we “pass the peace.” Both in the Jewish Temple, the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church we use incense. Even our nose gets involved with worship. Our prayer is individual prayer but it can also be a group corporate experience. We lay hands on one another. We anoint with oil. We sing individually but we also sing corporately. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to sing well while watching television or participating in a Zoom Conference. My ability to worship is even more limited in those circumstances.
As I write these words, I am listening to music on the computer (we used to have radios). The music is good. However, the radio or computer experience does not compare to the Concert experience. People prefer to go to a Lollapalooza Concert or a BTS Concert rather than hear it play on the radio. Likewise, some prefer to go to a football game in person for the whole experience rather than just watch it on television.
I encourage all of you, if you can, to participate in the “full” church and worship experience. Other believers can play a role in helping you to draw near to God. It is hard to confess your sins one to another if you are sitting on your couch watching television.
In conclusion, do not forsake the “house of God.” Engage in both individual worship and in corporate worship. Come together as the physical body of Christ to love God corporately, to worship God corporately and to love one another. If we don’t love our brothers and sisters who we see and know locally how can we ever really love our brothers and sisters who are far away and we who do not see.
