Today’s blog is contributed by Evelyn. Evelyn is a member of our 10.30am congregation, works as a Psychologist at a Sydney Prep school, and is appears to be a fan of Winnie the Pooh. Enjoy.
We’re all wondering aren’t we? When will we be able to have live physical church again?
As Winnie the Pooh in his thinking corner says, “Ho hum.”
We could get used to this. When online church is done as well as SJM has been delivering, we might find ourselves thinking the unthinkable. It’s a bit hard to have church community online but maybe for some, the small dabbling via facebook, texting, video chats etc etc is just enough to make us believe we’re having community. Yeah, right.
And we can start thinking the unthinkable – do I actually need to attend church?
Our modern techno age has us questioning what is church, and does it really need to include going to a service on Sunday.
In Hebrews we are encouraged to keep meeting.....
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Heb 10: 24-25).
This passage is over-quoted isn’t it? It’s like as soon as you hear the word ‘spur’ you switch off cos you know what’s coming. Being aware of my falling into this little habit, I decided to search for other more innovative passages to spur me on. And I found myself craving not just church, but craving breaking bread with fellow Christians.
Jesus broke bread of course during the Last Supper. But He also broke bread when the 5000 were fed, when He met the disciples and the women after He rose. And then the apostles continued what Jesus showed them:
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:46-47).
The most beautiful of images is when Jesus and Peter had their moment on the beach:
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish (Jn 21:10-13).
If we continue to read, we listen to the intimate exchange that happened between Jesus and Peter. A heart stopper. But let's face it- they didn't have technology back then did they? No phones or any other device to help them connect any differently to just meeting up.
So imagine how keen everyone would have been to get to Sunday (or was it a Saturday?) to see each other? Just imagine for a moment……..
Really, it wasn't that long ago that we didn't have the technology, relied on landlines and getting together for Sunday meals, picnics or a lovely afternoon tea. Our cool millennial kids can't imagine life without technology and the reality is, we can’t either, and perhaps we don’t want to.
This has all made me consider the pull to go to church. Having smaller doses through the week is perhaps not so healthy unless it’s following the apostle’s model of daily engagement in teaching, prayer, fellowship and breaking bread. Are your smaller doses of engagement bringing you to believe you are ‘doing church’?
In this climate I've realised that I've had to, out of sheer necessity depend more and more on texting. Texting has the advantage of feeling connected immediately or at least quickly. It's informal, it allows emoji expression, you can have a semblance of a conversation. It satisfies in the moment. Leaves you feeling connected. I imagine it’s the same for those on facebook. It’s a burst of satisfaction and the immediacy of a sense of belonging.
If you experience enough of this in a week, does it spur you towards wanting church on Sunday or does it satisfy you enough to not feel the need for it?
Online contact soothes for a little. And in times of deep need it is an incredible balm to the soul to receive a loving message. But it's not really church is it?
I’m craving our Sundays back together. Hope you are too. As Winnie the Pooh says, “Any day spent with you is my favourite day.”