 With the recent imprisonment of Pastor James Coates, increased discussion has arisen concerning the corporate gathering of God’s people. Jordan’s helpful article yesterdayreminded us that gathering is a way to love your neighbor. Here are 23 additional reasons, in no particular order, why gathering for corporate worship as a New Testament local church is loving.
In our day, the idea of being a “witness” conjures up the picture of an individual Christian evangelizing an unregenerate friend over coffee. That certainly is good and true. But God’s people also are a powerful witness when we gather for worship. Wherever a NT church gathers, whether rural towns or cities, that church declares one of the most foundational and essential truths in the universe; the existence and majesty of the living God. Though they might disagree with your beliefs, your unregenerate neighbor understands that you leave on Sundays to go worship this Being; this eternal and uncreated Creator who is our God. This is loving because he is the purpose and end for all humanity. 2. Gathered worship declares that the fullness of human existence is not merely physical and material (cf. Matt 4:4). During the week, we are, by God’s design, involved in the visible, material matters of life. But, when the NT church gathers, the topic of our singing, praising, teaching, preaching, celebrating, praying, and speaking is something vastly different than the rest of the week. It concerns the spiritual and immaterial; the invisible God; the unseen Christ; spiritual concepts and realities; salvation and sanctification. So, as we worship, we are declaring that the fullness of our existence is not material; we are image-bearers. We are not merely material matter whose goal is to keep fed, vaccinated, and comfortable, though these things can be good (Matt. 4:4). Dealing with the spiritual immaterial matters of life is essential to our being—temporally and eternally. The fullness of our existence is in knowing the immaterial God (Jer. 9:23). 3. Gathered worship declares humanity’s purpose as the worship of the living God (Ps. 95:6). We were created to worship him (Ps. 100; 150:6; Jer. 2:13). We can worship God anywhere. But the bulk of Scripture’s pattern of worship is corporate. The vast majority of worship spoken of in the Psalms is plural; corporate. Similarly, Israel gathered at Sinai. She gathered together at the Temple. The post-exilic community gathered together in Jerusalem. Exiled Israelites gathered in synagogues. The Holy Spirit’s knee-jerk movement in the newly birthed church was to gather together (Acts 2:42, 46-47). We are created for worship; to worship God. And realizing the height of our created purpose is worshiping corporately. For that reason, gathered worship is loving to all. 4. Gathered worship declares that the world’s ubiquitous idolatry is catastrophic (Ex. 32:1-6, Ps. 115:8, Acts 17:29). Man is always in worship mode. He can no more cease to worship than he can cease to be an image-bearer. But, because of inherent depravity, we lust to worship the creation over the Creator (Rom. 1:25); silver, gold, hobbies, reputation, ease, approval, sex, hobbies, stars, animals (Job. 31:26-28). Worshiping idols is not a victimless crime; idolatry is often the seedbed to many other destructive sins (1 Cor. 10:6-14). Even more, idolaters do not enter the kingdom of heaven (1 Cor. 6:9-10). One of the reasons Yahweh redeemed Israel to himself was to rescue them out of the cesspools of idolatry so that they would gather corporately to worship him (Deut. 4:19-20). When the NT church gathers to worship the uncreated God, we declare a loud, togethered reproof against the destruction of idolatry (Acts 17:29). Therefore, it is loving. 5. Gathered worship is an ongoing testimony to the love of God in the substitutionary atoning death of Christ (1 Cor. 11:23-26). At the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, God the Father judged his own Son as if he had committed the sins of all who would repent and trust in him (2 Cor. 5:21). It is there that God met man’s greatest need. The magnitude of mercy and love in that event will never be fully grasped. We understand that we can think on and speak of the substitutionary death of Christ any time. However, one of the expressed purposes of corporate worship is to remember and declare the divine accomplishment of the cross (1 Cor. 11:23-26). God uniquely blesses the corporate gathering to declare the meaning, majesty, and love on sinners’ behalf at the cross. Therefore, gathering corporately is loving. 6. Gathered worship is an ongoing testimony to the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:7). Can you imagine that glorious Sunday morning? The God-man, who was thrashed to death beyond recognition, came storming out the grave. Blessed be God that Christ conquered death! The resurrection is God’s irrefutable declaration that the Jesus of the Bible is he through whom alone sinners have eternal life (John 11:25-26, Rom. 4:25). Our archenemies—Satan, death, and all its precursors—have been convincingly smashed (1 Cor. 15:54-57). Death is gain for all in Christ (Phil. 1:21)! Consequently, what were Christians’ responses? Small group hikes on Sunday morning because we can do church anywhere? Christians began gathering corporately on the first day of the week to commemorate the day Jesus rose bodily from the grave (Matt. 28:1, Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:1-2). Understandably, the commemoration has continued. After all, it’s the greatest event in history. So, gathered worship declares loudly that Jesus rose 2000 years ago; he is still risen; and the benefits therefrom are graciously still available. It’s such a great event; so life-changing; so life-giving; so death-destroying, that it is worth gathering to commemorate. Therefore, gathering corporately is loving. 7. Gathering corporately witnesses to the return of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 11:26). Since Jesus came once, he’s coming again. And there is no more important event for which we must be ready (Matt. 24:42). One of the expressed purposes of God’s gathered people is to declare the bodily return of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 11:26). Certainly, this event can be spoken of as individuals. But the declaration of it is uniquely proclaimed in a God-desired manner during corporate gathering. For that reason, gathering is loving. 8. Gathering corporately can be a forum for a soul’s conversion (Rom. 10:17). Where there is Bible preaching, there is faith-giving power. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. Any NT gathering is brimming with life-giving exposition. Thus, the gathering is often a delivery ward for new-born souls (cf. John 3:8). Therefore, gathering corporately is loving. 9. Gathering corporately is a somber time for self-examination (1 Cor. 11:28). Ours is not a world that is friendly to serious, honest spiritual self-examination. We willingly distract ourselves. One of the expressed purposes of gathering corporately as a church is to push pause on distractions inside and outside of us, and deal with our sin (1 Cor. 11:27-32). Self-examination can be done individually, but it does not carry the God-ordained power of doing so as when corporately gathered. And, it’s so important, that people have experienced serious consequences for failing to do so (1 Cor. 11:30-32). Therefore, gathering is loving. 10. Gathering corporately shows the world that there is a God who is greater than our fears (Ps. 46). This past year has solicited fear across the globe. The Lord only knows how fear and anxiety has gripped the world in so many ways. Even just walking through the populated parking lot of a NT church in times of fear; looking at the cars, the people who have come—there must be a God who is greater than fear! And we walk in, and there are people smiling, not cowering; rejoicing, not trembling; reaching out, not pulling away; consumed with the truth Christ, not fear-propaganda from men. As she sings, greets, prays, listens, and loves, the gathered NT church is a powerful balm for fearing souls; an oasis of encouragement in a world of fear. There is a sense in which all of that—including the singing, speaking, hearing, praying—shows that behind it all is a great God; a God who cares for his people; has provided the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ whose death, resurrection, and free gift of eternal life (John 10:28) ministers a smashing blow to our fears (Ps. 23:4). Gathering corporately declares that everything about this God will counter the suffering of human fear. Thus, gathering is loving. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Ps. 23:4). “[C]asting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7) 11. Gathering gives joy in times of suffering (Ps. 43:4). Certainly, many have suffered in so many devastating ways in recent times—physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually—during these days. Shutting down a church is like shutting down a hospital in times of medical crisis. It’s cutting off our lifeline; it’s stepping on our oxygen tube. There is joy to be had by means of corporate worship. As Martin Luther once said, “At home, in my own house, there is no warmth or vigor in me, but in the church when the multitude is gathered together, a fire is kindled in my heart and it breaks its way through.” Thus, gathering is loving. 12. Gathering corporately is loving because solitude can be harmful to our spiritual well-being (Heb 3:12-14). We need each other. Common-grace observation demonstrates this. One study shows that, in the US, depression has tripled during the covid lockdowns. It’s possible that studies will show that the lockdowns were overall more harmful than the virus. A wolf is more likely to pick off a sheep when it is alone, not gathered. The rabble of hyenas will pick off the lone zebra before they attack the pack. In the pit of depression, the psalmist recalled the joys of corporate worship (Ps. 42:4. Being around people is not always subjectively appetizing to the depressed soul. But it is objectively edifying to it. Scripture confirms it. There are about 40 different one anothers in Scripture. We need each other that bad. Sure, we can do this a bit in small groups. But any honest person will tell you it’s just not the same as the corporate gathering; just like a family of seven gathering as three and four in two different houses is not the same. How much more is it with the body of Christ? And the gathered body is a climactic, full-throttle episode of being with one another. We’ve got to be together, so that the Holy Spirit can work through his indwelt, gifted people to refresh us through the ministry of corporate-togetherness (Heb. 10:24-25). Thus, gathering is loving. 13. Gathering corporately is an effective, God-ordained means to prevent apostasy (Heb. 3:12-14). A terrifying kind of elevated judgment awaits apostates (cf. Matt. 26:24, Heb. 10:26-31). Scripture teaches that exhortation through one another is a critical means to prevent this treachery (Heb. 3:12-14). Given the nature of faithful Bible exposition, a high-grade dose of apostasy prevention occurs in the corporate gathering. Therefore, gathering is loving. 14. Gathering corporately is a divinely ordained time for Christians to get equipped for life and ministry (Eph. 4:11-16). Through a trained and proven minister and ministries, God brings unparalleled equipping through the corporate gathering (Eph. 4:11-13). The pastor has given his life to preparedness for the rigors of weekly exposition to God’s people (1 Tim. 4:13-16). God then uses his instrument to equip the saints for the rigors of the world; equipped to be of greatest spiritual and eternal good to a dying, lost, fearful, and hopeless world. We leave more equipped to be salt and light. Regardless if we leave feeling more equipped, we will be since Scripture declares it so. Therefore, gathering corporately is loving for the world. 15. Gathering corporately shows others that you’re not giving up despite life’s battles (Heb. 10:24-26). Life is hard (Job 5:7). We can experience episodes where we feel like throwing in the towel (cf. 1 Kings 19:4). But, by God’s grace, we must walk by faith. That includes gathering. For the writer of Hebrews, a persistent refusal to gather demonstrated possible apostasy (Heb. 10:24-26). So, when we are able, gathering physically shows that we are likely continuing to lay hold of Christ despite the beating we take from the world, the flesh, and the devil. Don’t underestimate the value of your simple presence at the Sunday gathering. Your presence loves others by showing them that you’re not giving up following Christ despite the beating this world gives you. Your presence encourages others. They see you; they understand it’s hard, and they see, “Wow, OK, that brother, that sister fought the good fight and showed up. Praise God!” In that sense, we go to church for each other. Therefore, it’s loving. 16. Gathering is a time to benefit one another with our God-given spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:7-11). A kidney does not exist for itself, but for the whole body. And, it depends on the entire body. To prove that, take a kidney out of a body, let it sit there and see how it does. God likens the church to the body of Christ. We have a responsibility to benefit one another just as the kidney has a responsibility to benefit the rest of the body (Rom. 12:4-5). By his decree, God works through a trained and commissioned expositor to benefit the people (1 Tim. 4:13-16). However, he is not the only one benefitting others with his spiritual gifts. There many other ways the Spirit is working through the body on Sunday: musicians skillfully praising, greeters exercising hospitality, members with mercy or exhortation radar seeking out the hurting and struggling, teachers skillfully teaching, youth workers tenderly caring, set-up/tear-down crews diligently serving, and church members reaching out to the unruly, the fainthearted, the weak, and the lost. A super-charge of the Spirit works through the visible and present body parts to uniquely build up one another. This can’t happen when the kidney, the lung, the rib-cage, the eyes, and blood vessels are scattered in isolation. They need each other in togetherness. So do we as the church. 17. The corporate gathering is a unique time to serve children (Matt. 19:14). What a gift children are (Ps. 127:3-5). And what a stewardship. They will take the baton, for better or worse. Parents are delegated the primary responsibility to shepherd them biblically. But the church is a chief instrument in coming alongside them in this solemn, holy task. We must give ourselves to the next generation. And that starts with kids. They cannot be neglected. They must learn that Christ is God; they are not God; the work of Christ is finished; there are disciples to be made; a kingdom to gain; and the church is the thing Christ promised to be indestructible. Therefore, our precious children need to, not just see, but experience firsthand, the utter value of the church from the earliest ages. Oh, how children need the tenderness, persistence, frequency, and joy of loving believers walking with them in the local church! This will send them in a good direction to be a blessing to the world. Thus, gathering is loving. On a lesser note, common-grace observations have also shown that isolation and screen-life are having a catastrophic impacts on the precious children. Oh, how we must love our children more than this! 18. Gathering brings otherwise undiscovered suffering to the surface (Rom. 12:15). Often, the suffering do not want to tell others of their pain. Doing so, they feel, would just unnecessarily burden others. Perhaps it’s best to just keep biting the bullet. But the gathering can be God’s way of bringing the hurting into the light. We’re all there. Likely, someone will talk to us. We will talk to someone. That Spirit-indwelt person, in God’s providence, discovers the damage and can begin to pray, love, and help. Thus, gathering is loving. 19. Gathering gets our mind off the earthly news that can consume us (Col. 3:1-4). Throughout much of the week, we are bombarded with the world’s news. And while it can be helpful, it can also be taxing. Something is always wrong. Someone is always mad. Somewhere there’s always a disaster. Somehow things are not going to be ok, so it goes. It gets tiring; both the thorn-and-thistle reality and the talk of it. But that all changes in the NT gathering. We speak, sing, pray, celebrate, hear, and learn about the Person, work, kingdom, and future glories of Christ. Nothing on Earth matches the glory nor immutability of these truths. We are taken into the throne room of God to be reminded of his kingdom, which puts the earthly worries in proper perspective. That’s something we all need. Thus, gathering is loving. 20. Gathering is a great witness of Christ-like love to the lost (John 13:34-35). Jesus said something interesting about love the night before he was crucified. When Christians love each other as he loved us, it will declare to the world that we are his disciples (John 13:34-35). Self-denying, Christ-imitating love within the Christian community proclaims something of Christ to the not-yet regenerate. What an opportunity to love this way in the gathering. The maximum amount of people from the body are there. We would not likely hang out with people from our church otherwise. And there we are, by God’s grace, being girded together in love by the Spirit. It puts up a mural to the observing world that they need to see. Thus, gathering is loving. 21. Gathering is a critical means to our sanctification (John 17:17, 1 Tim. 4:16, 2 Tim. 4:1-4). Sanctification is the process where the regenerate are conformed to the image of God (Rom. 8:29-30). Think about it: God is making us more like the most wonderful Person ever. As the word is read, prayed, sang, heard, preached, and learned, we are sanctified. Consequently, we scatter during the week more Christlike, which is a great good for the world. So, gathering is loving. 22. Gathering is obedient to God (Heb. 10:24-25). Anything that is obedient to God is inherently loving because God’s command can be summed up as love (Gal. 5:14). 23. Gathering is a foreshadowing of heaven (Rev. 7:9-17). I like reading the Spirit’s inspired, inerrant glimpses of heaven in the book of Revelation because they help me understand what perfected people are like. Among other things, they are passionately enjoying God-centered corporate worship (Rev. 4:9-11, 7:9-17). They are utterly consumed with God (Rev. 15:3-4). And they are redlined with joy. Though imperfectly, have we as God’s people not experienced that at times in corporate worship? The singing around us; the praising; the Spirit’s work in Bible exposition—as Christ exercises his majestic sovereign lordship over the church; as the Father presides over his adopted; are there not moments where we feel as though we are getting a sneak preview into heaven? Those are glorious times that launch us back into this brief life with heaven’s scent upon us. And that is what makes us most useful in this world. Therefore, gathering for corporate worship is loving. Conclusion More could be said about the correlation between love and gathering corporately. As the NT church worships together, there is much-needed love extended inward and outward by the grace of God, for the glory of God. |
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