Why the church needs to meet together

An increasingly-connected world, the social media revolution, the global economy. Making the world an ever-smaller place.

It takes a fraction of a second to send a message from London to Sydney ... to think two hundred years ago it took four months - and with a high chance of never getting there. Today we rely heavily on internet communications and this is an integral part of our lives. But it doesn't govern everything.

Sometimes you need to be with a person and Facebook is not enough.

The great apostle John said, in 2nd John verse 12,

Having many things to write to you, I don't want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.

I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen; but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. ...

And, see this:

If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless. Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Here, we meet a challenge. Wealthy people are often very generous in giving to worthy causes. However, the Bible here is saying that this is not enough. People in need don't just need our ‘long-distance’ assistance or our money. They need ... us!

Some things we cannot do without our actual, physical, meeting together. And such christian encouragement requires -

Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.

But not only that - this passage in Hebrews shows meeting together as a church is an express Biblical command.

Christians celebrate the Communion, the last supper of the Lord, remembering as He said to His disciples, Eat, this is My body - do this in remembrance of Me, and likewise, This cup is the new covenant in My blood. When we read 1 Corinthians 11:17-27, we see (through Paul's rebuke to a church doing it wrong) that the church, as the Lord's body, is to assemble together in His presence, in partaking of this solemn occasion (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)!

But also this -

If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.

... teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

- Here we see a wonderful promise: the Lord will be with His faithful follower, always.

But think about this: through the difficult times, and the wonderful times - do I want the Lord to be with me? Or would a ‘long-distance’ relationship be sufficient? Of course I want Him to be with me, right near me!

And God wants this of His children also. To be right there, with Him, and also with one another.

We urge you to find a Biblical church you are able to get to.

The importance of a church practising the right things cannot be overestemated; neither can the importance of meeting with them.