Why Meeting For Church is Important

When the country basically shut down to prevent the spread of coronavirus, it was such a blessing to be in a time where the technology was in place to stay connected to friends and family. Many churches that didn’t have a virtual service previously quickly found ways to stay in touch with their congregation during those weeks and months. Now that we’re about a year past the first lockdown, it’s becoming clear that some people aren’t coming back to church; either they plan to continue watching services online, or they’re walking away from the church altogether.

It’s a great time to ask ourselves some important questions: is there a need to be in community with other believers? Is virtual church just as good as in-person church? Is there any reason to be physically together for worship? Here are a few Scriptures that can help us sort out the answers.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10.24-25

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s supper) and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
Acts 2.42-44

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4.14-16

There are several important points we can see in these verses. The first and most simple, is that in Hebrews God told us not to neglect meeting together. It’s an issue of obedience… for our own benefit. He knows the enemy would like nothing more than to keep us isolated, and therefore weak.

In Acts, we can see the believers doing life together; learning, eating, praying, hanging out, ministering…and the result is power. Verse 43 tells us they performed many signs and wonders. We also see awareness. Because they were together, they could see the needs of the people around them and help. One of the risks of not meeting with other believers is that the distance will just continue to grow. It’s hard to reach out to people you’ve lost contact with, and then you feel even more alone.

In Ephesians, we see the accountability and the synergy that comes from being part of a community of believers. Other followers of Jesus can point out beliefs we’re allowing to grow that don’t line up with God’s Word and can help us grow into spiritual maturity.

As part of the body of Christ, we all have callings and specific work to do. We’ve been designed with gifts and strengths that complement and complete the gifts and strengths of those around us. We can’t fulfill our part if we stay separated from the body.

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