If we would have known that Sunday, March 8, 2020 was our last opportunity to gather and worship corporately for months to come, what might have been different? Would we have lingered a little longer, hugged a little tighter, and savored every moment with our Grace family? During the worship service, would we have sang with more passion, listened with more intensity, and engaged more readily with God and His people?
Unfortunately, we didn’t see this coming. Some might have had a slight suspicion, but none of us really knew how this whole situation was going to pan out.
We’ve all heard someone say, “Hindsight is 2020.” Isn’t it funny that we find ourselves in the year 2020 with the opportunity to look back on how things used to be with complete clarity? Our present is a stark contrast to our past. What is our vision and experience telling us? One thing we know for sure, the world is forever marked by COVID-19. What can we, the church, learn from our past? How can we move forward during this difficult, unforeseen time? How can we redefine what it means to “be the church” when the way we gather has been completely altered?
There was a man who was no stranger to the struggles of being a believer during trials and uncertainty. Paul, the author of many books in the New Testament, was an incredible hero of the faith. He recognized the hopeless, evil man he once was (a murderer of Christians) and how Jesus had redeemed him to spread the gospel to the nations. He understood that Jesus was his only source of life, and he wanted everyone he encountered to experience the hope and love of Christ. Because of persecution and direct opposition to the spread of the gospel, he was all too familiar with the desire to gather with the body of Christ when he was physically separated by distance or difficult circumstances. Let’s look at one of his letters from Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 says, “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.”
Paul was writing this letter to the church in Thessalonica. He was forced to leave them because of persecution. It was a sudden exit that many of them did not expect, much like our drastic pause in corporate gatherings of worship today. Our circumstances are different–pandemic vs. persecution–but the abrupt loss of fellowship is the same.
Notice what Paul says in verse 17, “we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart…”
If there’s anything we’ve seen in this time, it’s that the heart of the church cannot be stopped. We are living examples of Ephesians 4:3 by eagerly maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We are all united by the blood of Jesus and there’s nothing that can hinder us from celebrating and sharing that hope with others.
Christians have taken social media by storm. We can’t scroll through stories and posts without seeing all the ways that the global church is blessing people through online worship experiences, doorstep deliveries, and so much more. This pandemic might have changed the methods of the church, but we are still finding ways to listen to the Holy Spirit, submit to His will, and bring peace to our communities. We are being the hands and feet of Jesus and bringing glory to our heavenly Father. In the same way, Paul finished this chapter by telling the Thessalonian church that they were the joy and glory of the Lord.
Let’s look at another letter from Paul in Romans 1:8-12, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you — that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”
Here, we see his letter to the church in Rome, to whom he was also commending for their proclamation of faith to the world. Once again, he was expressing a longing to be with them. Paul knew how encouraging it was to gather with other believers. He rarely took the time he spent with the church for granted because he never knew when he would be chased out of town or thrown in prison. He cherished every moment with the body of Christ because there was always a chance that it could be his last. Who else in today’s world can relate to this very same idea? The persecuted church in areas like the Middle East are all too familiar with the sense of longing that Paul described. They recognize that each gathering has the potential to be the last.
So, this begs the question that we began with – how can we redefine what it means to “be the church” when the way we gather has been altered? We’re off to a great start by loving and blessing others from a distance and carrying the mission of Christ to our communities. But, how will this season change us for the better? How will this fresh understanding of Paul’s words stir our hearts? Are we remembering the reasons why we gather? Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal what is most important? May this season bring new life to our gatherings. May we never see them as routine or so “normal” that they lose their significance and ultimate purpose.
Heavenly Father, may we never take for granted the privilege of meeting together as the body of Christ ever again. Help us to remember our brothers and sisters of the persecuted church who are rarely able to gather together. Let this sense of longing stir us to pray for one another and encourage each other however we can.
