Is Face-To-Face Christian Fellowship Essential?
Is Face-To-Face Christian Fellowship Essential?
What is so important about face to face Christian fellowship? The answer to this seemingly innocuous question has come to bear at the level of state governments as each has attempted to implement its own covid-19 restrictions. This struggle was most clear as states attempted to define what is or is not essential. How different state governments have meted out the specifics of covid-19 stay-at-home orders has revealed a great deal about how they would answer these questions. The policies of Ohio and New York make for a fascinating comparison. Ohio listed churches as essential human services, while the New York criteria strongly discouraged it1. The Mayor of New York city went so far as to threaten to “permanently” close down churches that continued to meet in any fashion2.
The scope of this post is not to weigh the moral virtue of these decisions, nor to encourage a spirit of insubordination to authority. God has instituted the governing authorities as a gift of common grace from His hand (Romans 13:1-7). Rather, the purpose of this post is to simply meditate on the importance of face-to-face Christian fellowship. As churches learn to navigate the new world of virtual fellowship, one might ask why not continue meeting virtually once all the dust settles? Is there some particular benefit of meeting face-to-face that cannot be had by means of technology?
The author of Hebrews said, “let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25). Stirring up “to love and good works” is the objective along with “encouraging one another”. The means to achieve these goals is by meeting “together”. In what way does meeting together face-to-face help stir up love, good works, and encouragement? The answer might be easier than it seems. The nature of social media is to project a positive image of oneself by only posting the good pictures and not the ones that didn’t turn out or the ones with angry or crying kids.
Meeting together face-to-face while not preventing the human heart from projecting a false image, does still afford the risk that someone might lovingly see through the eyes or expression an anguish of soul. Someone might ask unsought questions that reveal heart idols. Someone might see the mask fall slightly out of place. A digital environment provides a much safer place for sin to hide. From another angle, face-to-face meeting has the impetus to “encourage” and “stir-up”. For believers in Jesus this must be grounded in the reality of a living and risen Christ and that all the moments between his ascension and His second coming are meaningful and part of the growth of His kingdom. Who can count the value of the synergy that happens when believers rejoice together over truths in Scripture? Much of true biblical service and meaningful personal ministry happens in an unscheduled fashion, though schedules certainly help. Personal face-to-face interaction provides a much better gateway into these sorts of initiatives.
“18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Another text to consider is Ephesians 5:18-21. Paul encourages believers to be filled with the Spirit rather than be filled with wine. In other words, to be uninhibited for kingdom work. This happens by means of:
“addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
“singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart”
“giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
“submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ”
One would be hard-pressed to contrive a digital experience that would effectively accomplish all the above. Even the singing is to “one another”. Believers need to hear truth sung by fellow believers that know them and know their lives. Believers need to learn to submit their preferences to another brother or sister. These goals are more easily achieved when the person is in front of you than when the person is merely an avatar on a screen that can be muted or closed out.
How important is face-to-face Christian fellowship? It is very important, even essential. During these weeks of viral quarantine as we wisely abide by mandated social distancing, let your heart also grow in fondness and yearning for face-to-face fellowship and the benefits to be had for your own growth and the growth of the church, to God’s glory, and even more as the Day approaches.