The Case for In-Person Gathering
As the time is getting closer for the church to re-open, some Christians may have gotten acclimated to staying at home and watching live services. Apathy may set in for some to gather at the church. Furthermore, given the constant news report on the virus, some may not feel safe to return for many months to come. The church, however, cannot be driven by fear. And believers cannot retreat to online church services, but we must remember the case for in-person gathering.
The Apostle Paul was often in situations where he was physically away from the church. At times he was imprisoned. Due to persecution, he would have to flee from a certain area, and so hindered from visiting the churches in the area. At other times, his missionary journeys kept him from visiting some churches he wanted to attend. It is interesting that Paul never viewed the forms of communication he had with the churches as a substitute for physically being with them. In fact, he desired to be with them face to face.
Our desire should be for gathering face to face with the saints. Even though we can communicate with each other online and other digital devices, our desire should be to be in each other’s physical presence. The Apostle Paul, while he communicated to the church in letters, still desired to see the believers face to face. Often, he would even send his fellow-workers to deliver his message to the churches on his behalf. But even so, he longed to see them face to face. The following scripture in Thessalonians shows Paul’s desire to be face to face with the saints. He even states he was with them in heart, but greatly desired to see them face to face.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
Paul had a purpose for wanting to see the believers face to face. Paul would write to the churches, send representatives to them on his behalf, but yet he desired to be in their presence physically. He even stated that he would be with them in the spirit, or in heart, but still desired the physical gathering. Paul states throughout the scriptures why he wanted to be with them. The purpose of Paul seeing them face to face is ample reasons for pastors and church leaders to want to gather with the saints. However, the example of Paul is applicable to all believers, as he even said to be followers of him, as he follows Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). So here is the case for in-person gatherings, from the purposes given by Paul for wanted to visit the churches face to face.
Impartation
Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
Through the laying on of hands, God uses his servants to impart spiritual gifts (2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 4:14). Moreover, the exercise of our spiritual gifts imparts its benefits to others. To impart means to show, share or bestow something to others. When we use our spiritual gifts in the presence of others, we are bestowing virtues into their lives. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal”. Others benefit through the exercise of the gifts of the spirit. Paul wanted to visit the Roman church to impart a spiritual gift.
One case for in-person gathering is to impart spiritual gifts to each other. One may argue that we can share our gifts at a distance. Biblically, the norm for exercising spiritual gifts is while in the presence of others, and especially in gatherings. 1 Corinthians 14:26 when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. The Apostle Paul calls for the exercise of the gifts to be done so that all may be edified. We gather together to impart a spiritual gift unto others.
Mutual Encouragement
Romans 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
We do not gather to warm the benches of a church or to socialize. God has designed it so that we gather to encourage each other with uplifting words. The Hebrew scripture that admonishes us not to forsake gathering together, says we should rather exhort one another, Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Discipleship
1 Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
Paul wanted to see the Thessalonians so that he could continue the hands-on work of maturing them in the faith. Paul understood that effective discipleship cannot be done fully from a distant or just with teaching materials. The discipler needs to be in the disciple's presence, just as Jesus walked, talked, ate, and lived with his disciples. Just as the early church gathered together daily, studying the Word, and breaking bread together, for the sake of new and struggling believers, we need to gather.
Harvesting
Romans 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
Harvesting is reaping the fruits. The idea of fruit reaping presumes that there is physical contact. The farmer gets physically involved in nurturing crops to bear fruits. Then to gather in the fruits, the farmer goes out among the crops to do it. While we can reach the lost and edify believers through the media, the gathering is necessary to ensure we are bringing in the fruits. If an evangelist comes to town and win souls but, then they are left without a body of believers to gather with, though the evangelist may have won many, much of it could be in vain unless there is a place for them to gather. We gather to get a hold of the fruits that have been born. We gather and see what the Lord is doing.
Accountability
1 Timothy 3:6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
When we see our brothers and sisters in Christ, there is a sense of accountability. We can report of our well-being to each other, our need for prayer, progress in ministry, and of God’s blessings. Gathering provides a means of accountability as we hear and witness how we are doing and offer the necessary support.
Let us not allow fear nor apathy to keep us glued to our couches, but let us realize the purpose of church gatherings: for impartation, encouragement, discipleship, harvesting, and accountability. The Apostle Paul knew that letters, the communication technology of the time, was not a replacement for active ministry among a gathering of the believers. The church assembly is an active time, not one of spectators, but of participants.
