Will Church be the same again?

Dear friend,
It’s been too long. I am back to write a few things about this upcoming season which some termed the “Great Re-Opening.”

Many churches are returning to some form of in-person meeting in May. Christians need to realize the tragedy of a season which has kept saints away from each other and the corporate gathering of God’s people. But first the good news.

The good news is that I have heard overwhelming reports of beautiful stories from families bonding over board games, long conversations, walks in the neighborhood, and more. This forced sabbath means that the life of many (even those continuing to work) has slowed down to some extent because society has slowed down. The exceptions are too few to even mention.Familial life is taken a front seat. Some have lived up to Wendell Berry’s dream of “rising early at dawn and picking dew-wet red berries in a cup.” Domestic life, so often despised by modern culture, is being restored. Front yards are looking meticulous, flower and fruit trees abound, and the human spirit within this community is flourishing. Of course, domestic bliss is not universal. Suffering, hurt, depression exist and are propagated more so these days in environments where the Gospel is not present. But overall, this season humbles the mighty and restores the weary.

Now for the bad news.

For many of us who are a part of theological traditions where worship is the assembly of flesh and blood humans next to each other, performing bodily rituals and postures, hearing actual voices without the translation of a virtual signal, surrounded by a sacred space and hovered by angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, this season has been tragic.

The evangelical church has found ways to cope with much through virtual exercises, but coping is only a form of survival. We can only survive for a time before our hope gives way. To further the bad news, there will be many evangelicals who will likely dread the return of corporate worship. They have lived before the pandemic in a state of apathy. They were quick to find some obscure rationale on Sunday morning to not come to church and now the compelling reason of the season has firmed their resolve that worship (the gathered assembly) is not really that crucial, and furthermore, if they had to, they could do just fine with a little pajama gathering around a screen on Sunday–preferably later than earlier.

But not all feel this way. There are some broken, hurt during this season. This desert has caused them to hunger more for the sacred assembly, or to use Hebrews’ language, the worship of Zion. I know too many elderly saints who have not missed two Sundays in a row in over 30 years. They treasured that consistency. To be church and in church was a way of life; where they found their strength, wisdom, and orientation for their weeks. May their love increase when some form of normalcy returns.

My concern is for the former group whose energy is in everything except that one distinct thing they were called to do by the Triune God. I am concerned because for many evangelicals, worship and the accountability of their local pastor and parish life were the only things that kept them from wholehearted ungodly pursuits. Further, the gathered assembly was the only semblance of heavenly air they breathed each week.

So, as many return to some variation of normalcy in May, I am not entirely discouraged. I believe even during the wilderness we are guided by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. I believe God guides us and keeps our longing alive. I believe that worship and fellowship will take on a new dimension of newness and tenderness than before. I believe voices will be louder than ever in singing praises to our God. I believe many who were apathetic will be restored and begin taking their faith with the seriousness it deserves. I believe families will worship with greater vigor because of the intimacy they shared this season. I believe churches will be full(er) again. I believe the gates of hell will not prevail. But I am also certain that the de-ecclesialization or the de-churching of many this season will require an extra measure of Spirit-grace and mercy. May we receive a double portion of it.