We hear you! We hear you say, “I can’t wait to get back to church!”, “I’m so anxious for us to meet together!”, “I want to see the people of Otterbein again!”.  We hear you and we agree!

We can’t wait to get together again either! 

But I (we) as pastors and teachers can’t help but ask, what have we all learned from all of this?  What is the lesson here? 

I think it is simple!

The Bible says in Hebrews 10, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And 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.” (emphasis mine). Now making the choice to not gather together was something that was thrust upon us unexpectedly. We did not choose it willingly or as the verse says, “out of habit” but you know, not gathering together at church is a choice that people make…. weekly.  In fact, statistics show that 20 years ago regular church attendance was considered to be every Sunday, 10 years ago regular church attendance was considered every other week.  This year, regular church attendance is considered to be 1 Sunday Service every 6 weeks.  You read that right…every…6 (six)…weeks!  That amounts to going to church 1 time every month and half, or 8.67 times in 1 calendar year. 

That is considered regular church attendance in 2020!

Perhaps the lesson here, since we have been force to NOT go to church, is that when we are able to go back to church we should make it a habit to go back to church!  Every Sunday! 

I have heard analogies of not going to church being compared to not eating on a regular basis.  If that were true or we were to use that particular thinking, most only “eat” 8.67 times per year. How terrible?

But how about a different analogy? How about a scenario where you and I are a part of a community that loves each other with deep family love, that cares for one another as each individual cares for him or herself, and strives to worship and honor the risen Savior and God of the Universe together! But it was taken away from us…for a time. 

Once it is restored, the lesson and the challenge is to make it a habit of getting together every week! Make it a habit to gather with the people of God to encourage and be encouraged, to spur one another toward love and good works, and worship together!