Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
To gather or not to gather that is the question

To gather or not to gather that is the question

Last updated on: May 26, 2020 at 10:12 am by Rob Dalrymple

To gather or not to gather that is the question 2020-05-26T10:12:44-08:00 Rob Dalrymple

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Christians are notorious for pulling out a random Bible verse that “fits” their needs—even though that verse might be contradicted by another.

One may cite “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29)

While another will cite, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1).

How do we know which Bible verse applies in a given situation?

Too often, the answer is, “the one I prefer.”

In order to discern which applies it is essential to distinguish between what relays a matter of principle and what reflects a deeper fundamental purpose.

Let me apply this to the matter of reopening our churches.

I would contend, and I will keep this as brief as a blog post will allow, that the purpose of the Christian life is to make God known.

That is, the church, both the individual life of each Christian and, more specifically, the corporate life of God’s people, are called in order to be God’s witnesses.

That we are created to be God’s witnesses, or to make Him known, is inherent in what it means to be God’s “image bearers” (Gen 1).

It is affirmed in the covenant call to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3: which I would summarize as “Go and be a blessing.”

It is iterated in the covenant call of Israel given to Moses at Sinai: “you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exod 19:6).

It is reiterated throughout the prophets: “And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations” (Isa 42:6).

“I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isa 49:6).

The call to be his witnesses reaches a climax in the Great Commission: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:18-20).

This call is stated emphatically by Peter: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9).

All of which climaxes in the book of Revelation in which the Two Witnesses are key to the narrative. They are the solution as to how God will redeem the nations. The nations are redeemed through the faithful, loving, sacrificial, witness of God’s people.

This means that we are to place equipping the saints (Individually and corporately) for the role of our prophetic witness to the world as an essential purpose of what it means to be a Christian.

This does not mean that there are not other essential priorities (remember this is a blog and not a book). Nor, does it means that we all accomplish this task the same way. I am not suggesting that we are all called to the foreign mission field—at least not as “foreign missionaries” as one commonly thinks of this designation.

Certainly, we need to recognize that we all have different gifts within the body of Christ. Consequently, we all work together, as one, to accomplish this goal of making Christ know to the nations.

We might also include worship as an essential purpose alongside our role as God’s witnesses.

This creates some interesting sidebars, many of which I will need to refrain from delving into at this time—after all this is a blog and not a book!

What happens then if someone says:

“we need to reopen our churches immediately so we can worship.”

But another says:

“it is in the best interest of public health that we stay closed”?

Do we not have two competing claims? Each one can easily have Scriptural support.

Those who contend that we must be worshiping will cite,

“not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some” (Heb 10:25).

Those who suggest public health is more concerning will cite the plethora of verses I have already noted about the chief concern of the Church is our witness to the world. Or they may even add,

“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile” (Jer 29:7).

We could then add to the debate as to whether or not one can worship in private. One can ask is we must gather weekly? Does the citation in Hebrews 10 constitute a principle that must be obeyed or are that permitted exceptions?

Does zoom or YouTube constitute “assembling” in accord with Hebrews 10? (that’s right, this is a blog and not a book).

How do we resolve these tensions?

Mind you: there are no easy answers. I would suggest that one place to begin is with the law of love.

We must recognize that we are inclined to lean towards our own self-interests in such matters. And we tend to cover our self-interests in theological and religious garb that makes it look like it is not actually self-interest.

“I just want to go to church to worship my savior!” And though this is likely very true, it may also be true that it is, “I just want to go to church and see my friends and be in the community where I have been for the last 40 years.”

This is not wrong. But what if it harms our witness to the world?

The fact is that many pastors and church leaders are protesting to have their churches reopened simply does not send a good message. In the public’s eye it looks like churches are only concerned about reopening because they were losing tithe dollars.

After POTUS’s declaration on Friday, that churches were “essential,” I know a pastor who received a text message from a “congregant” who asked if they were opening Sunday. Interestingly, the man’s text to this pastor said, “we gotta do it bud.”

Now I say “congregant” because this person has lived in this pastor’s community for a year but has yet to actually attend his church—though the pastor has been discipling the man frequently during the past year.

I love the man’s enthusiasm, but I am disheartened by his lack of concern for the well-being of others. This man has not been to this pastor’s church in a year, but now he is enthusiastic about attending even though it may mean that others could be exposed to a deadly virus?

From the outside perspective, the concern to reopen churches does not appear to have the public’s health in view. Churches appear more concerned with gathering on Sundays than they do with the potential of fostering a public health crisis.

We need to ask, then, if churches are clamoring to meet too soon? And, if so, what this will mean for our witness?

The fact is that in the public perception, like it or not, agree with it or not, it appears that churches are clamoring to meet out of their own self-interests and not in consideration of the greater good of public health.

And in doing so, they are failing to love their neighbors as themselves. This means that the very heart of the Gospel is lost.

Now there will come a point when churches will need to be allowed to reopen. When that happens churches will need to lead the way. We will need to show that we care about public health. As Jeremiah says, “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile” (Jer 29:7).

This means, practicing safe distancing; providing masks, sanitizing stations, and following the CDC guidelines.[1]

NB: As I was finalizing this blog and about to go to press, word was coming down that the governor of Ca., where I reside, was about to reopen churches in our state. Let us do so carefully and lovingly and prayerfully!

[1] I am not about to argue if the CDC guidelines are correct or if they work or not. Our job is simply to follow them

Bible

Biblical Interpretation

Previous Post

May 15, 2020

Are we sure that we are reading our Bibles well? Part 2

Next Post

June 2, 2020 George Floyd: not again!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 000 1 Cor 11:17-34 1 Corinthians 1 John 1 Peter 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 10 Commandments 2 Corinthians 2 John 2 Peter 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy 3 John 666 Abortion Acts 2:42 Ahmaud Arbery AIPAC All Saints Day America antisemitism BDS Beast Betting Bible Bible study Biblical Interpretation Biden Book of Acts Boycott Campus Protests Catholicism Ceasefire Chavez Ravine Christian Nationalism Christian Zionism Christianity Today Christmas Church Colossians Communion Convict Leasing Covid-19 Craig Blaising creation Crucifixion Daoud Nassar Deception Deconstruction Democracy Devotional guide Discipleship Easter Eden Education Election End-times Ephesians Eschatology Ethnic Cleansing Evangelicalism Evangelicals Evolution Fall Famine Fascism FIFA Freedom of Speech Galatians Gary Burge Gaza Gaza; Genocide; Boycott Genesis Genocide George Floyd Global Warming God's will Gospel Gospel of John Gospel of Luke Gospel of Mark Gospel of Matthew Government Grace Great Prostitute Hamas Harris healthcare Hebrews HeGetsUs Holy Spirit Holy Week Honor Father and Mother ICJ Immigration Indigenous peoples day Iran Israel Israel Palestine Itamar Ben Gvir James Jesus Joel Willits Jude Just war Justice Kamala Harris Kingdom Of God Kings and Queens land of Israel Law (OT) Lazarus Les Miserable LGBTQ+ Love Luke Mahmoud Khalil Man of Lawlessness Mark Mark of the Beast Marriage Martin Luther King Jr Mercy Mexican Repatriation Military-Industrial-Complex Ministry Mission Money NAFTA Nakba Netanyahu New Creation New Testament Nicaragua Nicodemus Non Violence Occupation Pacifism Palestine Parable Paul Peace Pentecost Peonage Philemon Philippians Politics Poor Power Prayer Pride Month Priests Pro-life Propaganda Prophesy Prophet Qatar Queen Elizabeth Racism Reconstruction Redemption Reformation Resurrection Revelation Roe v Wade Romans Romans 13:1-7 Rome Russia Sabbath Samaritan Seals Sermon Settlements Slavery Spiritual gifts Taxes Tent of Nations Terrorism The Beast Theology Titus Torture Trump truth Ukraine Uncategorized Veteran's Day War Warsaw Ghetto wealth Wedding Women World Cup 2022 Worldview Worship Wrath Yemen Zionism

Select a Month September 2026 May 2026 February 2026 November 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 March 2018 September 2017 July 2017 May 2017 November 2016 October 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: The Corinthians were told that if Christ has not been raised, their preaching and faith are useless.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE

Support this
Column