There was some reason for optimism, even in the darkest days of COVID. Pastors with whom I spoke (admittedly a small sample size) all affirmed two things. First, despite not meeting live and in person, giving did not go down. For several churches, giving increased, as did virtual “attendance.” Second, perhaps based on the first point, they all were confident that when their doors re-opened their pews would be filled. The hope in the sails of these pastor friends wasn’t just the ongoing giving of the saints. It was the conviction that absence would make the heart grow fonder. Surely people would miss, even hunger and thirst for face-to-face interaction, to shake hands and to hug. Surely when the doors opened the floodgates would open. Not so much.
While I’m sure some churches are bursting at the seams at their IRL meetings (IRL= in real life for those of you too young or too old to know), many haven’t come close to pre-COVID numbers. Why? Virtual church turned one of the greatest appeals of the contemporary church up to 11. People want a worship experience. People want an engaging sermon. And people want to be left alone. While our hearts might not be quite so stirred by the band while we’re watching from our couch at home, the message can still grab us. And on that couch at home, no one will grab us. No one will make us feel awkward. No one will expect anything of us. No one will judge us.
Without scorching anyone for closing or for staying open during COVID, we should all be able to agree that we should be coming together. We know that because God commanded it. Hebrews 10:25 says we mustn’t forsake gathering together as is the custom of some. Have you been the some? Stop. You don’t know what you’re missing. The solution to the problem of COVID and church, meeting virtually, has become the problem. The solution is to jettison the solution.
Is it going to church more inconvenient? Of course it is. Will you, if you go back, miss out on some sleep? Probably. Are you more likely to catch something? Almost certainly. Can you get the same thing online? Not on your eternal life. When we embrace inconvenience, when we miss out on some sleep, when we expose ourselves to danger for the sake of the body, the body becomes stronger. Every member of it.
And to you churches. Go get the sheep. The Good Shepherd doesn’t allow the one sheep to wander off, so long as they can still have face time via Facetime. No. He goes and brings back the one. I know it’s scary. I know the sheep are skittish and you don’t want to drive them away. But face it. Being a shepherd is always scary and sheep are always skittish, and they are already away. You need to drive them home. Do you believe the Bible? The same book that says we mustn’t forsake the assembling together of the saints also says that the elders will give an account for their flocks (Hebrews 13:17). Let’s be shepherds, undershepherds under the Shepherd. Let’s love the flock face to face.