During this ongoing pandemic, some local and state governments have mandated the closure of all businesses and inside gatherings, with the exception of essential businesses. As I write this, only a few areas are facing such mandates, but the list is growing. A major question has been raised during this pandemic. Are church services essential?
During this pandemic, many churches have resorted to outside meetings, online services and creative ways to minister to believers. Some, however, refuse to eliminate indoor services. This has brought about a clash between these local congregations and their government. It brings us back to the original question: Is church essential?
To most unbelievers, the answer to that question is no. I've noticed how many unbelievers have lashed out at churches and pastors for maintaining indoor services, calling them “uncaring” and “hypocritical.”
Even among professing believers, there is great disagreement over this issue. Some strictly state that the Constitution forbids the government from interfering with worship. Others say that the health of the people is critical and that other methods of ministry is better than indoor gatherings.
My intention is not to take sides on the issue of indoor gathers during this pandemic. Churches should exercise common sense about social distancing and caring for the health of its members. Whether a local church has indoor services or not is not the main issue here. The issue is whether professing believers have a passion for the church like Jesus has.
I heard a statistic recently that revealed that 30% of the people who quit coming to church during the pandemic will not return when the virus is behind us. Obviously, if this statistic is accurate, church is not essential to these people.
The problem is that church has not been essential for many professing believers long before this pandemic. If they were honest, most churches would report that they have members of their church who rarely, if ever, attend.
Here's the vital question: is church essential to you? Prior to this pandemic, did you attend church regularly? Could the church count on you to be present and actively participate in church services? Was church a vital part of your week or did you just attend sporadically? The answer to these questions reveal how essential church really is to you.
You see, it is possible to declare church to be essential, but your attendance, or lack thereof, testifies greatly whether your claim is valid or not.
For many people, church is not essential, just an option. For others, church is important, but not vital. For a small remnant, church is essential.
An increasing number of professing believers have not only left the church but are openly encouraging others to do the same. Jesus loved the Church and gave His life for the Church, but suddenly the Church is neglected, demeaned and even abused by those who claim Christ as Lord.
Some would argue that there is a difference between THE CHURCH and a local congregation. However, when you read the book of Acts and the epistles, it is plain to see that the Christian life was expected to be lived and expressed through a local body of believers.
Local churches provide an opportunity for public worship, Biblical instruction and fellowship. Local churches give believers opportunity to grow and develop for service. Missionaries are sent and supported by local churches. Evangelism is actively promoted through local churches. Local churches often play a key role in meeting humanitarian needs.
Is the church essential to you? Perhaps one reason that the unbelieving world refuses to see the church as essential is because too many in the church act the same way.
It is time for us to seriously ask ourselves if we are really following Christ or simply following our culture.
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