Are You Missing Church because of Covid?

In the corona crisis, some Christians are fearful even of their regular habits of church attendance. Some tried, but their fears won out, and they’ve stopped attending. Some are too fearful even to try.

We are sympathetic, we understand the fears. Some of us simply push our fears down and act contrary to our fears (for various reasons). Others of us have very little fear (maybe we are foolish!). But even if we have little fear, I think we can be sympathetic to fears. Very likely we have fears in other areas where our fearful friends might be bolder.

Perhaps my use of the term “fear” bothers you. You might prefer to say, “prudent” or “cautious.” (Isn’t that just wrangling about words?) Whatever it is, for some reason, some Christians, reacting to the corona crisis, are staying out of church. Whatever you call it, whatever the motivation is, the result is the same. You aren’t in your pew.

Preachers have long fussed with people about church attendance. The cynic will say that the preachers do it out of a self-interested motive. The reality, among preachers I know, is that pastoral concerns come from a pastoral heart that knows great spiritual danger lies in the path of the Christian who stays away.

But rather than simply take my word for it, I want to give you the words of Christians from long ago. See what they have to say about the public meeting.

Ignatius on spiritual victory through meeting together frequently:

Do your diligence therefore to meet together more frequently for thanksgiving to God and for His glory. For when ye meet together frequently, the powers of Satan are cast down; and his mischief cometh to nought in the concord of your faith. There is nothing better than peace, in which all warfare of things in heaven and things on earth is abolished.¹

Chrysostom, assembling together is the source of spiritual fruit:

This is the source of kindness, this the groundwork of gentleness; since even among beasts, those are the most fierce and untamable which are not gregarious. For this cause we dwell in cities, and have public places, that we may converse with one another. This also Paul commanded, saying, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25); for no evil is so great as solitariness, and the state which is without compact and intercourse.²

Chrysostom on our creation as social beings:

When God in the beginning made man, He did not suffer him to be alone, but gave him woman for a helpmate, and made them to dwell together, knowing that great advantage would result from this companionship. What though the woman did not rightly employ this benefit? still if any one make himself fully acquainted with the nature of the matter, he will see, that to the wise great advantage arises from this dwelling together; not in the cause of wife or husband only, but if brothers do this, they also shall enjoy the benefit. Wherefore the Prophet hath said, “What is good, what is pleasant, but that brethren should dwell together?” (Psalm 133:1, LXX.) And Paul exhorted not to neglect the assembling of ourselves together. (Hebrews 10:25) In this it is that we differ from beasts, for this we have built cities, and markets, and houses, that we may be united one with another, not in the place of our dwelling only, but by the bond of love. For since our nature came imperfect from Him who made it, and is not self-sufficient, God, for our advantage, ordained that the want hence existing should be corrected by the assistance arising from mutual intercourse; so that what was lacking in one should be supplied by another, and the defective nature thus be rendered self-sufficient; as, for instance, that though made mortal, it should by succession for a long time maintain immortality.³

Chrysostom on association increasing love:

“And let us consider one another,” he says, “to provoke unto love and to good works.” He knew that this also arises from “gathering together.” For as “iron sharpeneth iron” (Proverbs 17:17), so also association increases love. For if a stone rubbed against a stone sends forth fire, how much more soul mingled with soul! But not unto emulation (he says) but “unto the sharpening of love.” What is “unto the sharpening of love”? Unto the loving and being loved more. “And of good works”; that so they might acquire zeal. For if doing has greater force for instruction than speaking, ye also have in your number many teachers, who effect this by their deeds.⁴

The Shepherd of Hermas on what happens to religious people who absent themselves from the assembly:

In the next place, it never approacheth an assembly of righteous men; but avoideth them, and cleaveth to the doubtful-minded and empty, and prophesieth to them in corners, and deceiveth them, speaking all things in emptiness to gratify their desires; for they too are empty whom it answereth. For the empty vessel placed together with the empty is not broken, but they agree one with the other.⁵

J. L. Dagg, a somewhat more recent preacher (19^th century), on the advantage of companies of men over individualism in religion:

Every man, as an accountable creature, is bound to worship and serve God; but to render this worship and service apart from all his fellow-creatures, would not accord with his social nature. Many acts of devotion and obedience may be performed more advantageously and more acceptably, by companies of men, than by each man separately.⁶

The point is, church attendance is vital for spiritual life. It seems to me that when people stay out, for whatever reason, they risk degrading their spiritual lives. Sometimes I’ve seen people use a seemingly legitimate excuse (like a health crisis) to stay away, when the fact is that some other problem is really behind it: they are in conflict with another Christian, say, and they don’t want to say it. Or they are mad at the pastor, but don’t want to tell him. Or they’d just like a little time off to relax and enjoy a peaceful Sunday or two, instead of all the bustle and inconvenience of church.

Whatever the reason, staying away can mean withering away. You need to take extra care for your soul if you aren’t in church. You should be very fearful of the spiritual downgrade that can come. Don’t be “at ease in Zion!”

Get back to church as soon as you can. Like this Sunday.

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Don Johnson is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.

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1. The Epistles of S. Ignatius 2.13 Joseph Barber Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, The Apostolic Fathers (London: Macmillan and Co., 1891), 140. [↩]
2. Chrysostom, Homily 78 on John in Philip Schaff, The Nicene Fathers, electronic ed., vol. 14 (Garland, TX: Galaxie Software, 2000). [↩]
3. Chrysostom, Homily 19 on John in Philip Schaff, The Nicene Fathers, electronic ed., vol. 14 (Garland, TX: Galaxie Software, 2000). [↩]
4. Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 19.3 in Philip Schaff, The Nicene Fathers, electronic ed., vol. 14 (Garland, TX: Galaxie Software, 2000). [↩]
5. Shepherd of Hermas, Mandate 11.13 in Joseph Barber Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, The Apostolic Fathers (London: Macmillan and Co., 1891), 435. [↩]
6. J. L. Dagg, Manual of Theology, Second Part: A Treatise on Church Order (Charleston, SC; Richmond, VA; Macon, GA; Selma, AL; New Orleans: Southern Baptist Publication Society; S. S. & Publication Board; B. B. & Colporteur Society; B. B. & Book Depository; B. B. Depository, 1859), 93. [↩]