Well, at the beginning, churches were willing to abide by some extra rules and restrictions because it seemed like there was a genuine danger. But how long can this be kept up? We cannot expect those who do not know the Lord Jesus to understand, but meeting together is essential to the spiritual life of the believer. I remember following, for some time, the site where a family told the story of their little son. He was suffering a condition that would eventually take his life. If he went out into places where more people were gathered (such as church), this increased the risk that he would contract some illness and his life would end even sooner. His parents took him anyway (and he desired to go). They felt that his spiritual health was far more important. God protected him for quite some time. Finally, he did pass away. So will all of us. We may die of current health conditions. We may die from contracting a contagious disease. We may die in an accident. One way or another, this body will soon pass away. But there is a part of us that will never pass away. It too, requires regular feeding on God’s word, fellowshipping with other believers, and equipping of the saints by God’s under-shepherds. If this is the part that will never pass away, sure this is the part to which we should take the most heed. It is the most essential part.
The first verse that comes to mind is Hebrews 10:25, which says, “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.” Consider the wording for a minute. “Not forsaking the assembling.” “Assembling” refers to a “complete collection gathering together.” Just for emphasis, the verse adds, “of ourselves together.” One may argue that we can do this online or by Zoom. That is true to some extent, but not all can and not all have the capability to do so. If that were sufficient, why does the church not always meet this way? We need the one on one contact and fellowship with each other, and this verse says to do this so much the more as we see the day approaching. Have we not seen that the day seems to be rapidly approaching?
Sometimes the gathering may have to be in secret, “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” (John 20:19) The Bible has other examples showing that the believers “came together” – Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 5:4 (gathered together); I Corinthians 11:17-20 (mentioned three times in this passage); I Corinthians 14:23 (come together in one place).
One purpose of coming together is to exhort one another, as Hebrews 10:25 mentions. Another purpose is to declare God’s praise among other believers, as was done by the Old Testament saints, “Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.” (Psalm 111:1) Yet another purpose is for the equipping of the saints. (See Ephesians 4:11-16)
In Psalm 84, we see a psalmist longing for the courts of his God. Perhaps this Psalm was written during a time of captivity; perhaps the psalmist was in hiding for some reason. It does not say. Whatever the reason, the Psalmist was unable to go worship with the congregation. He expressed his desire in these words, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” He would rather spend a day in the house of God and be a doorkeeper there than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. A day in God’s courts was better than a thousand. He was willing to spend a day in God’s house humbly serving rather than being spared a thousand to do as he pleased or to be with the wicked. How he longed for and valued time spent in the house of God!
Another reason many pastors want to open back up is to preserve liberty. This is not referring to those who meet together in a haughty attitude just because they want to defy the governor. This is referring to those who remember that liberty to worship God according to one’s own conscience was one of the foundational desires upon which this country was built. If it is a liberty easily given up, it will be a liberty long lost. Some are willing to pay fines or go to jail in order to do what they believe is right before God and what they believe is right before their fellow countrymen in order to preserve liberty and the freedom to worship God according to one’s own conscience. Is this right? Just study the Old Testament. There are numerous examples of people doing difficult things and sacrificing to restore or keep liberty for their people.
We cannot live without physical sustenance forever. Just so, our spirits cannot thrive without the assembling of ourselves together and the resulting nourishment and building up that it brings. How long do we wait? When do we take the step to go ahead and return to our assembling together in one place to have our hearts and spirits nourished and to build each other up and to give praise to the Lord in the presence of other believers?