With the exception of attending my great-grandson’s dedication, I have not been to church for three years. I will explain later why someone who has regularly attended church for some eighty years has not gone to church for years and the lesson that I learned when I attended church again on Christmas Eve with my daughter and her two youngest children.

Americans have experienced some major changes in their way of life in recent times. Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic, which struck America in 2020, has been a primary cause for many of the changes in society, including the lockdowns that affected schools, work, and larger gatherings of people, such as church worship services.

This was not something that people chose; rather, these changes were forced on people by the government. This led to all sorts of strange things, such as football games being played in empty stadiums and pastors preaching in empty sanctuaries. Consider all of the things that happened.

MISSING PEOPLE – JOBS

Following government mandates, businesses began to require workers to stay at home and work from there. This was possible because of modern technology with computers, emails, zoom meetings, etc. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans working primarily from home has tripled since 2019 (breakpoint.org). Also, many people lost their jobs when businesses closed temporarily or permanently. Since then, employment numbers have increased, and the missing people have found their way back into the workforce.

MISSING PEOPLE – STUDENTS

COVID-19 changed education for all ages. Schooling changed locations to student’s homes when public and private schools were closed and switched to online learning. School meals, access to friends, and organized activities were lost with the closing of in-person schools. In turn, this has raised the question of how this has affected the mental health of students, especially younger children. Also, the effect on student grades and we could go on.

MISSING PEOPLE – THE CHURCH

There is no doubt that the church was affected by COVID-19. It caused church leaders to consider how they do church. It has resulted in the development of the use of technology, especially in the larger churches. I heard one leader express the opinion that where churches were involved in discipleship, including small group ministry that maintained personal contact, the numbers in those churches were not substantially affected. Likewise, the finances were not affected as much. But overall, a significant number of people stayed away from church during COVID-19, and some chose not to return.

MISSING PEOPLE – CHURCH SERVICES

In some cases, the government required services to close or to meet with limited contact between people. Some mandates were opposed by churches and ended up in court cases.

But in many cases, there was an exodus from in-person worship services as people watched online each Sunday. Church was now held in one’s living room, with people sitting in couches and not pews. Now, this had many consequences, including finances, even though churches encouraged people to give online. “Researchers from the Survey Center on American Life and the University of Chicago found that, last year, one-third of Americans admitted to never attending religious services, up from a quarter of Americans before the pandemic”(breakpoint.org). Consequently, although many people have come back, people are still missing in churches.

MY OWN EXPERIENCE

My wife Dorothy had been sick for a number of years despite the prayers and ministry of many people. About three years ago, she became more and more restricted to living at home and rarely went anywhere. Eventually, she entered hospice care at home, with regular medical care and then, for the last twelve months, daily caregivers.

During this time, I felt God prompting me to not physically attend church but rather to stay home with Dorothy. We would listen to the service streamed online from the church our daughter Joy and two of her children attended. As such, we stayed connected with the family as we could discuss the sermons.

For approximately three years, I didn’t attend church. Dorothy and I listened to many programs on the radio, TV, and online. Let me say there are some excellent programs available. Then, in October last year, Dorothy went to be with the Lord in heaven. We had a private family burial and then, in November, a wonderful memorial service. I decided to give myself some time to grieve before returning to church in person. On Christmas Eve, I eventually went with my daughter and family to their church service. I thoroughly enjoyed being there for the worship, the teaching, and the fellowship with other people again. It did not feel strange, even though I had not been there for a long time.

WHAT WAS I MISSING?

Christmas Eve, before I went to bed, I reflected on being at the service earlier in the day. I asked myself the question, ‘What have I missed the last three years?’

Well, it wasn’t the teaching. I had received plenty of that on radio, TV, and streaming online. The preachers had been excellent, so I hadn’t missed the teaching at church.

Strangely enough, it wasn’t the worship. I could join in with the services online or listen to CDs, so I had plenty of opportunities as far as that was concerned. So, I didn’t miss the congregational worship.

Well, what did I miss?

I realized that I missed Christian fellowship. I missed being together with a congregation of people to worship the Lord and hear teaching from the Bible. As such, I missed what I hadn’t had those three years – Christian fellowship.

At the Christmas Eve service, I sat near some old friends and had a great talk with them. I was introduced to the pastor after the service and enjoyed our conversation together. My grandson Benjamin even introduced me to one of his friends, and we also talked.

I can understand now why the writer of the book of Hebrews, whoever that may be, declared this challenge, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some . . .” (Hebrews 10:24-25) There are so many things we can do by ourselves, but stirring up love and good works is not one of them. We need not forsake the ‘assembling of ourselves together.’ You don’t have to take three years, like I did, to truly realize what the Bible has to say about assembling together.

Perhaps this is a word for you. Maybe you haven’t been going to church regularly since COVID-19 shut things down. Maybe you only attend at Christmas and Easter. Why not get back in the habit of what the Bible says, do ‘not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.’

RESOURCES

https://breakpoint.org/why-so-many-are-choosing-couches-over-pews/