Why We Need to Meet Together
Slide 2 of 6
Because people need each other. Frankly, we need each other more than most of us realize.
In my Bible, under the heading, “A Call to Persevere in Faith” I find these words:
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:23-25
Why should we meet together? We meet together to help each other persevere in faith.
In fact, in my nearly three decades of ministry there is only one thing I have observed 100% of the time: when a person disconnects from the body of Christ, he or she also disconnects from Christ. It may happen sooner; it may happen later. But it does happen.
Disconnecting from Others Disconnects Us from Christ
I once mentioned this anecdotal statistic at a conference where I was speaking. A few days later I received an email from one of the attendees. She began by telling me she almost walked out of my message, but instead stayed, seething in anger. She didn’t like what I said. But she also couldn’t shake the feeling that it was true. For days the thought haunted her.
She went on to explain that the conference was her first time in church after years away, and although she never intended to drift away from God, she did. She shared how the Holy Spirit used my words—a (sometimes) hard to accept truth—to choose to press in when she’d rather pull away. For the first time in a long time, her presence at the conference allowed her to sense the grace and unrelenting love of Jesus.
She ended her email with a heartfelt “thank you.” What is true for someone on the fringe of the church is also true for someone at its core.
When life throws us a curveball, like it has with COVID-19, even those whose faith seems unshakeable can feel shaken. We are human, after all.
Other believers help us hold unswervingly to our faith by encouraging us with their hope when we can’t find our own. By reminding us of what is true, because it’s easy to get swept away by what feels true. By motivating us to be our best selves when our burdens might bring out our worst selves.
The simple act of meeting together gives us access to encouragement when we lack courage, comfort when we are in crisis, counsel when we are confused, prodding when we need purpose.
All this is ours if we make it a habit to meet together. Why would we want to live any other way?
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