“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not 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.” Hebrews 10:23-25

There is a tendency to view “going to church” as a spectator event. It is easy to fall into the trap of going to church on Sunday with the same mentality as a consumer. If we only go to church to receive, then it doesn’t matter much if we attend in person or watch from the comfort of our bed or living room. On any given Sunday I can watch any numbers of Bible teachers on YouTube with teaching and rhetorical skills that far surpass my own. I can listen to worship music led by professional singers and instrumentalists and I can do all this while having to give nothing of myself.

Of course this mentality has nothing to do with Biblical Christianity. The word translated into English as “church” literally means “the assembly.” The church then is the assembly of believers and implies that God’s people actually, well, assemble. The recipients of the Epistle to the Hebrews were already feeling the temptation to not meet. This is a human problem not a specifically 21st century one. There are always reasons not to get together, but when we gather, something goes on that can’t be replicated by even the best technology. We can encourage each other, bless each other, serve each other, and provoke each other in discipleship. I think we understand this concept as it relates to our other relationships. For instance, I love talking to my granddaughter Mary on FaceTime, but it is no replacement for being with her in person. Each time I see her online just makes me long to be with her in person.

Being with each other in gathered worship allows us to encourage each other to be faithful in the love and good works that Christ has called us to do. You see we need encouragement. We were made to need each other in our pursuit of Christ. I am not the Body of Christ, you are not the Body of Christ, but together within the local church we become the Body of Christ. Each of us has gifts that the other one needs. No part is insignificant.

So let us heed the words of Scripture and endeavor to pursue Christ together. The Day of the Lord is approaching. Lean into our time together while we can. I need it. You need it. We need it.