One of the world’s most famous churches re-opened a few days ago after being gutted by fire 5 years ago. The iconic Notre Dame Cathedral finally threw open its main doors with great fanfare when the Archbishop of Paris struck them with his staff. He entered in & proceeded up the aisle where many attendees including dignitaries & heads of state were already in attendance.
But I wonder how many of those people will still gather for church services in the weeks ahead? Even the Pope didn’t show up. Showing up at church for special events & sacred holidays was never intended to be a display of pomp or ritualistic obligation. Jesus gifted us with His Church not to be a fantastic building, but a spiritual family devoted to gathering regularly to express unity & belonging while encouraging spiritual growth, renewal, & support.
People have always offered plenty of reasons for not attending for church services. Some may be valid, others come off as excuses & rationalizations. But in these times, isn’t it enough to experience church on a screen & virtual experiences of inspiration & encouragement? After all, even our church streams worship live on 3 platforms & posts message archives on the website.
Yet, in-person gatherings are still crucial, especially in a fractured & hyper-customized world. We still need biblical community. We continue this nearly 2,000-year-old practice not only because God commands it (Heb. 10:25), but also because special & even supernatural things happen:
- Showing up makes a radical statement about our commitment to Jesus being first. We remember together & demonstrate who we are & what our lives are about.
- In an age of increasing loneliness & isolation, I still get handshakes, hugs & hands on the shoulder from brothers & sisters who share my love for God (though I may not even know their names). I may not share much else in common with them, but we share a loving bond that transcends superficial social, ethnic, & generational boundaries.
- Instead of posting & sending emoticons & avatars, we see the actual facial expressions & hear the tones of voice as we ask how one another is doing. Even if it’s just small talk in the lobby, it paves the way for later heart talks & prayers.
- Our kids are transported away from the world’s negativity & nastiness for a while to an oasis of encouragement & positive interactions where they discover God’s love, values & virtues.
- We get to express allegiant worship to our King in a small outpost of heaven, surrounded by fellow revolutionaries seeking to subvert & supplant the world order by advancing the cause of Christ & bringing His countercultural Kingdom to earth.
- We get to sing out loud in public (where else do we get to do that other than events we purchase tickets for like concerts & ball games) with folks who understand there’s more than pop culture fluff & fleeting substitutes for glory & joy. With an unexplainable dynamic synergy, I get to celebrate the victory of salvation with my tribe, & be reminded that I’m not crazy for making these commitments & sacrifices.
- We get to put aside our cares & problems for a dedicated ritual time to refortify our faith, recalibrate our hearts, & re-energize our resolve for the week ahead so we can push back against the world’s worthless & empty pursuits. As we pray & share in the Lord’s Supper together—handling, tasting & ingesting the elements which express our unity & proclaim our faith—peace & hope wash over us with reassurance we’re going to be OK.
- People experience life change as they’re exposed to Scriptural truths…sometimes a little, other times a lot. But God’s Word preached accurately never returns void—it accomplishes His purposes to renew minds & reform dysfunctional behaviors. I get to see people make the best decision of their lives as they’re united with Christ in the waters of baptism. It’s always the best!
While there may be aspects of church that disappoint me, I’m called to make a difference & make it better rather than disparage it, despise it, or drop out of it. So what will we do?
- Show up before & stay after service to meet & greet! We’re on time for events & appointments we have to pay for; doesn’t the Lord who’s paid for our redemption deserve this too? Make every effort to plan ahead so you can not only arrive on time, but get there early enough to warmly greet & welcome one another (Rom. 16:16, 1 Pet. 4:9). That fellowship continues after the service as you especially search out new faces to meet. Guests don’t return to churches when they feel like outsiders to a clique. Sit near someone you don’t know & make them feel at home.
- Be an encourager! We have a Christian duty to encourage one another (1 Thess. 4:18). If the joy of the Lord is our strength, let it show. Our campus should be the most positive place around. Spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24).
- Participate in worship! Don’t be a spectator, but engage because God inhabits the praises of His people (Ps. 22:3, Eph. 5:19). You may not like every song, but sing out anyway—it’s about the Lord, not you. If you want to, clap while you sing & shout “Amen.” Direct your applause toward heaven, not the stage.
- Bring your Bible & take notes! Whether it’s a book you carry or an app you open, doing this will help you stay engaged & enhance what you get out of the message.
- Offer to serve! We’re all called to serve the Lord & one another. So consider participating in worship at one service, but serving in kids ministry the other service. Or offer to greet at the doors, serve refreshments, run the tech, play in the band (Rom. 12:11, 1 Pet. 4:10). God has gifted you in some way to build up the Body.
- Give generously! What you offer to the Lord makes the church’s impact possible—baptisms, facilities & staffing for weekly services, teaching, outreach, Bible groups & classes, & events for children & students (Phil. 4:16-19, 2 Cor. 8:4-5).
- Bring guests! The most effective form of outreach is through simple invitation. Many folks are just waiting to be asked. It’s exciting to see new faces week after week.
Church buildings may get destroyed, but it should never give cause for Christians to forsake assembling!