CANCELED. POSTPONED. RESCHEDULED. REMOTE ONLY. From birthday parties to softball games, nothing seems to have gone as planned in the past weeks.
While things have changed, the roles we play have not. In fact, this is an opportunity for us to evaluate the nature of our positions. Too often, we become focused on the tasks we have left to accomplish instead of considering the responsibilities themselves.
I want to focus our attention on the role of a church member, while we could just as quickly do this with any other role we play. Being a member of a new testament church comes with responsibilities.
We have a responsibility to attend church regularly. The author of Hebrews makes this responsibility clear when he wrote: “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.” (Heb. 10:24-25, ESV)
Our church, along with many others across our country and the world, has been unable to meet together. Are we failing to satisfy this responsibility? Looking at this passage closer, what we’re being commanded to do has little to do with physically gathering for a meeting. While it is important to physically meet together, the imperatives give us clarity in what our role is in doing so.
The instruction from this passage is to 1) stir up one another to love and good works, and 2) encourage one another.
These two commands aren’t actually fulfilled in corporate worship services completely. While a sermon may be stirring and motivating – even encouraging — this commandment is actually accomplished in the moments in the church foyer and in the gathering room as we greet one another.
We’ve worked hard to make a streaming service an option during this time – but what are we doing to stay connected in this personal way? Make sure you’re reaching out to one another during this time. Send text messages. Write cards. Make some phone calls (try Zoom, or Facetime even).
We have a responsibility to preserve the gospel. The New Testament church is continuously under attack. That’s a reality. Many false gospels float around mainstream media. An actor I enjoy watching when asked if he believed in God responded, “I do . . . like in a mother nature sort of way”. The truth is that there is no fulfillment in the false gospels that float around today. What is sad is they’ve intermingled themselves with the hope found in scripture. Without discernment, it is difficult to identify the truth.
This principle is the responsibility of every church member. When Paul wrote letters to churches on issues of promoting false gospels, he didn’t write to individual leaders within their ranks but each individual that made up the church.
So how do we build a “discernment” muscle? We study and ensure our own understanding of the truth. Can you summarize the gospel in one minute? Could you explain the relationship between faith and works?
We have a unique opportunity while our families are at home to begin a discipline of coming together for family bible studies. Maybe even start an individual practice of journaling through a survey of scripture every day.
We have a responsibility to share the gospel. One of our students caused me to realize how much I had been allowing this mandate to fall to the wayside. In response, I added time on my weekly schedule to spend time out in the community engaging with people that would lend me the opportunity to share the gospel with others.
What am I suppose to do now that most public areas for gathering are closed? Even if they weren’t closed, I’m protecting my family’s health by staying home.
The good that has come from the increase in churches pursuing online mediums for broadcasting worship services is the number of people that have been exposed to the gospel through social media.
While we’re making sure to reach out to our fellow church members – do the same to your neighbors and peers. The world is hurting right now and in desperate need of the hope that the gospel provides. Pursue the open door that has been opened before us.
Click here to pull up a discussion guide you can use for your family bible study.