After COVID – Don’t Neglect Meeting Together: Why Church Gathering Still Matters (Hebrews 10:25)

COVID-19 has changed our lives in unimaginable ways. It has changed our lifestyles, manners, and attitudes. These changes have affected life in the churches as well. Because church worship and prayer meetings were held online when the church doors were closed, people have become accustomed to being closer to God while maintaining distance from believers.

Many people still prefer to watch a good Christian concert or live worship from a distant church rather than attend their parish church in person. This practice saves time on travel and money on parking, and optimises Sunday leisure time.

The letter to the Hebrews, a timeless piece of advice, urges us not to neglect meeting together as some were used to. Some avoided meeting for fear of arrest or of not being noticed as Christ-followers. Let us not forget this wisdom and strive to gather in His name.

The believers assemble not only to hear a good sermon and great music. But the in-person gathering is vital for us to inspire one another to live in godliness. Christians grow in the warmth of fellowship. Our presence with each other matters. We should not limit the Christian experience to the two senses of hearing and seeing, as the online experience limits. We need to walk toward each other, hold hands, and smile—there is a range of experiences. A word of encouragement spoken face-to-face is much more valuable than a motivational quote that we forwarded to our friends over the phone.

Take an active role in planning the next Sunday or the next available opportunity to be together—Bible studies, weekday prayer meetings—to be with other believers in the same space. Your presence and participation are vital to the community's spiritual growth.