“Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.” (Acts 2:42-47 The Message)
Seeking to ensure that congregations continued to hear a word from the Lord, a countless number of churches started broadcasting their services via a virtual platform during the Covid-19 pandemic when gathering together was viewed as a super spread occasion. It was the wise thing to do out of love for our brothers and sisters. The impact was positive in the midst of high positivity rates. Souls were reached and souls were rescued by the preaching and teaching of messages sent by God. Content from the word of God was communicated and the power of God’s word did not cease to touch individuals in specific ways. The content was available, but something was missing. The character of the church was changed, temporarily in some cases, and I believe there is a threat for it to be sadly a long-term effect. While virtual church is a great way to reach those unable to physically come to church, due to geographical location, illnesses, or work situations, it has also conditioned the younger generations; provided them with an acculturation or a type of socialization imprint that fosters the belief that church attendance is unnecessary or, church services should stay with an abbreviated format. To make it worse, recognize that this is happening in tandem with Sunday school becoming extinct in many places, and our children, as well as adults, are missing out.
In the passage above we see that the early church did some things that brought about growth. They lived in harmony. There was a sense of community, a loving community. They fellowshipped with each other frequently. They were benevolent, moved by their awareness of those in the congregation that had need. They had what we would call “fellowship meals” affording an opportunity to establish relationships with fellow believers and thus countering the need to depend on unbelieving peers for “good” which was actually “bad” company. They celebrated the Lord – together! They praised the Lord – together! Together they created an atmosphere that brought about church growth. The early church got both content and character.
With the positivity rates related to the pandemic declining, many churches are beginning to assemble while maintaining their virtual services simultaneously. However, returning to exhibit the character that was obvious during pre-pandemic years will be a challenge. Now don’t get me wrong, virtual worship serves its purpose, but now is the time for churches to experience restarts, excel in a resurgence of character, embellish the days where the saints assemble together, engage in fellowship, emulate the early church, enhance the dynamics of worship in the sanctuary, and explode in growth exponentially. I don’t know about you, but I am glad that we can benefit from content and character! I know it is only Wednesday, but start planning your return to attending church, worshipping the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Make the words from an old song, composed in the early 1900 hundreds by an accomplished musician, Hank Jones; make the words your own personal expression. Get back to that old time religion, the one where we did not forsake the assembly of the saints. Pray for content and character! Be blessed!
“Give me that old time religion. Give me that old time religion. Give me that old time religion. It’s good enough for me.”
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King