March 20, 2020
To Meet or Not to Meet. That is the question. I wanted to share with you the wrestling that has gone on in our minds as we deliberated over what the current COVID-19 pandemic means for our gathered time of worship.
The Situation
Our country and province has recently put a limit on gatherings. No more than 50 people are to meet together. This is not an attack against religious gatherings. All gatherings, sports, schools, conferences, and so forth are affected by this. These policies—common around the world—are meant to stay the spread of COVID-19, keeping our medical resources available to cope with illness and save lives. There are different opinions on whether “social distancing” or isolation measures are the best course of action, but this is the position of our government leaders. So what should we do?
The Options
Option 1: Defiance. Churches could defy the government orders. However, such defiance would be unwise and would bring unwarranted harm to the name of Christ and his followers. If this was a case of religious persecution, the course of action would differ. But in this case, it is best to submit to our governing authorities (1 Peter 2:13–14). Paul instructed Titus to teach his church to obey their governing leaders (Titus 3:1).
Option 2: Multiple Services or Small Groups. We could continue to gather in a group less than 50 at church. We could arrange multiple services where people could check-in to a time where there is room. This would keep us under the limit of 50 to a gathering. Or we could meet in different homes to enjoy fellowship, worship in song, and hear the word taught.
However, this cannot replace the church (the gathered assembly). We would still be a divided body. For example, it is clear from Scripture that the Lord’s Supper is for “when you come together as a church” (1 Cor 11:17). Certainly we can meet in smaller groups for encouragement and equipping, but it cannot be a substitute for the gathered church on the Lord’s Day. And would not the same motivation to submit to our governing authorities and to love our neighbor to reduce the risk of transmission apply here?
Option 3: Online Service. Some have sought to recreate church online. Many preachers in past weeks and coming weeks stand behind the pulpit addressing empty chairs while people watch via livestream from home. Larger churches incorporate the worship band, children’s ministry, and other aspects of their church service online. Fully online churches already exist and others are following their example in this time.
We can be thankful that technology today makes such modes of communication possible. However, this form of “church” forgets that the church is the people, not the performers on stage. It can communicate that what is essential is what comes from the stage.
In fact, all substitutes will say something about what we believe the church is. Your own preferences or convictions about what to do on Sunday will be informed by your view of the church and what is essential. The truth is that none of these options can be substitutes for the gathered church. The gathered church is more than small groups, more than preaching, more than worship in song, more than fellowship, it is those things and more as God’s people gather together to devote themselves to teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42).
Option 4: No Services. This is not a suggestion that Sunday should just come and go as any other day. Rather, this would be a day of family worship and devotion. It would be a time of waiting until we can be united together again. It would be a time of hunger as we long to be satisfied in a future gathering of the body of Christ.
Our Plan for this Sunday
There was much prayer, wrestling and counsel sought on what we should do. Our plan for this Sunday is a bit eclectic. We have decided that we will not be gathering this week. We should use this time for family devotion and longing to be together again. We should use this time for extra time in the word, in song, and in prayer. We should use this time to call others in the church or write an email to one another. Let us do our best to keep in touch and keep encouraging each other as we wait to gather again.
What will I be doing? As we long to be reunited together again, I will be making an address to the church online via livestream. Paul was in jail, unable to gather with the brethren, and he wrote them letters. The Scottish “Puritan” Samuel Rutherford was exiled and not permitted to be with the church he pastored, so he wrote them letters. I plan to speak with you through the internet with Scriptural reflections from 2 Timothy 1 as Paul longed to be with the church and gave Timothy encouragement as he was facing a difficult situation alone.
And remember, church is not canceled. We are the church. We exist regardless of whether we meet together. We are at this time providentially hindered from gathering.
Some may disagree, but I pray you all understand. Continue to pray for us as the end of this pandemic is not in sight. We will continue to follow the situation day by day and will revisit this decision for future Sundays.