Not-So-Random Thoughts on Gathering
I’ve had this post in my head and in “rough” form for quite awhile, but finalized and scheduled it in the week leading up to a special day at Central. But this is not a “commercial” post (although, it would mean a lot if you’d be with us this coming Sunday for our special day!).
We are having a special day Sunday that we have nicknamed “Gather” Sunday. Our flyers use the phrase “When We All Get Together,” and that also will serve as the title of my sermon for the morning assembly. Knowing this day has been coming for a long time has caused me to do a lot of thinking and reflecting on the concept of being together as God’s people.
Two years ago, “assembly” quickly became not so much a foreign concept, but a nerve-wracking one. Buildings were empty–or only had a skeleton crew in them to livestream a worship service. I preached for several weeks from my house, even learning a new computer program just to be able to preach with PowerPoint from my laptop. Then, for several more, I preached to a nearly-empty room (something like 6-12 people who were helping with the service were there).
Slowly, things started to, as we all said, “reopen,” and buildings slowly had more people in them, though with taped-off sections, divided groups, or other methods of keeping people apart. We accepted it for what it was, and felt as if we were doing what we could to keep people safe while still striving to worship in assembly.
I fully realize that what I am getting ready to say will make some people mad or upset, but it needs to be said: if we are still in that mindset, we have to stop it.
I’m not saying don’t wear a mask if you wish to and feel it is helpful. I am not saying come to worship if you are sick.
I am saying that God’s people assemble, and it’s time that wasn’t weird anymore. In fact, it is long past that time. The Greek word translated as “church” implies assembly. God’s people have assembled in homes, under trees, in rented buildings, and in large edifices for centuries.
Our assembling is a symbol to the world that we are here and that we are together and unified.
Our assembling together is a command to be followed (Hebrews 10:25), not something to be continually excused away for months and years on end.
Our assembling gives us hope because, after a week of being beaten down by the world, we look around and realize we are in this together.
Our assembling puts a face and a handshake and a voice and a hug on the helpful-but-not-all-there digital interactions we have during the week.
Our assembling allows us to blend our voices and our hearts in song.
Our assembling is a family coming together.
Our assembling allows us to work through problems and celebrate joys all together.
…and it is way past time (and has been for a long, long, long time) that we stopped treating it as weird or scary that we would desire a full building and a packed house! The reason is simple: the more who are “in the house,” the more who are together, or who are moving closer to being part of the family, and that should be what we always desire.
We can’t control the virus. It may surge again in our area. We may have to take measures again to do things differently. If you are thinking that while reading this, I get that. After two years, we ALL get that!
But what we all need to get in our minds is that God’s people assemble, and they don’t sit around thinking of reasons not to do so!
This is not a rant. This is serious. This is what God demands and what His people do. And it is far past time we got the mindset that says, “We will all get together.” Will you gather?
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
