The internet has given the church the power to spread the Gospel across the world in such an easy way. Throughout the pandemic it was a blessing to have the technology to be able to still have the Gospel preached and worship God in a way that was safe for everyone while the severity of COVID was still unknown and spreading rapidly. But this was never meant to be a long-term solution or substitute for coming together in the worship assembly.
Today, for those who are not able to attend physically and are confined at home, those who are in the nursing homes, those who are sick for a time, and even those who are hindered from being at the assembly in some way, being able to still have access to the local congregation on the internet is a huge benefit and encouragement. But, what about those who simply choose to stay away from the assembly out of convenience and “watch” online?
We must remember that worship is not just something to “watch” it is something we do to give God the honor and glory He deserves (Psa. 33:8; John 12:28). Our hearts must be actively involved in it like John saw those in Heaven falling before God, singing His praises, and casting their crowns toward Him (Rev. 4:9,10; 5:9). This can’t be done if worship is simply something that we pull up on our phones or tablets to view while we are at a ball game, on the beach, etc. Worship must be a priority not a secondary afterthought to whatever worldly plans we have.
If we are choosing to watch away from the assembly out of convenience, we are missing out on the vital connections we have in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12). Every member must be functioning in the body or else that member is failing. Just like when a body part fails to function in the right way and is damaged, so is the church. There is work to be done and a care we must show for one another that can’t be accomplished at home (1 Cor. 12:25-27). There are talents to use, exhortations to be made, services to perform, and edification to give that must be done in the local church (Heb. 3:12; 10:24,25; 1 Pet. 4:10; 1 The. 5:11). How will it ever be done if we are choosing to “watch” from a distance?
God never intended for the members of the church to be isolated from each other. Think about it. If everyone decided to stay home or away and “watch” online, there would be no local church! God designed the local church to come together to worship Him (1 Cor. 11:20). It is where we get strength from our spiritual family (1 Tim. 5:1,2), help each other in doing good (Gal. 6:10), and comfort one another (2 Cor. 1:3,4).
Remember, the internet is not the local church. No doubt, God has providentially given the means for many who would not be able to hear the Gospel any other way to hear it online. However, for those who are still able to assemble, He expects us to do so. “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him” (Psa. 89:7)
~Derrick Coble
Today, for those who are not able to attend physically and are confined at home, those who are in the nursing homes, those who are sick for a time, and even those who are hindered from being at the assembly in some way, being able to still have access to the local congregation on the internet is a huge benefit and encouragement. But, what about those who simply choose to stay away from the assembly out of convenience and “watch” online?
We must remember that worship is not just something to “watch” it is something we do to give God the honor and glory He deserves (Psa. 33:8; John 12:28). Our hearts must be actively involved in it like John saw those in Heaven falling before God, singing His praises, and casting their crowns toward Him (Rev. 4:9,10; 5:9). This can’t be done if worship is simply something that we pull up on our phones or tablets to view while we are at a ball game, on the beach, etc. Worship must be a priority not a secondary afterthought to whatever worldly plans we have.
If we are choosing to watch away from the assembly out of convenience, we are missing out on the vital connections we have in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12). Every member must be functioning in the body or else that member is failing. Just like when a body part fails to function in the right way and is damaged, so is the church. There is work to be done and a care we must show for one another that can’t be accomplished at home (1 Cor. 12:25-27). There are talents to use, exhortations to be made, services to perform, and edification to give that must be done in the local church (Heb. 3:12; 10:24,25; 1 Pet. 4:10; 1 The. 5:11). How will it ever be done if we are choosing to “watch” from a distance?
God never intended for the members of the church to be isolated from each other. Think about it. If everyone decided to stay home or away and “watch” online, there would be no local church! God designed the local church to come together to worship Him (1 Cor. 11:20). It is where we get strength from our spiritual family (1 Tim. 5:1,2), help each other in doing good (Gal. 6:10), and comfort one another (2 Cor. 1:3,4).
Remember, the internet is not the local church. No doubt, God has providentially given the means for many who would not be able to hear the Gospel any other way to hear it online. However, for those who are still able to assemble, He expects us to do so. “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him” (Psa. 89:7)
~Derrick Coble