PJ's and an Espresso Don't Work

“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” (Ps 34:3 AV)

There is something about congregational praise and worship that cannot be duplicated in any other form.  I know ‘praise and worship’ is overused and misunderstood in today’s environment of contemporary worship, but the concept is still a biblical one.  The rock bands, worldly entertainments style, and un-surrendered lives do not praise and worship make.  There is much noise going on today, but little in the way of holiness, morality, and purity.  Surrender and separation are dirty words in today’s contemporary churches.  Studying the word of God for the goal of living by its standards and laws is not a popular topic.  Only when a congregation is surrendered to the will of God, regardless of what it might be, can true praise and worship occur.  There is a difference in atmosphere between those feigning a genuine relationship with God and those who actually have one.  But I digress.  Rather, a different thought arises.

When COVID was a thing, many churches were forced to live stream and the sole method of ministry.  At the time, it seemed like a necessary evil.  Now that the crisis is over, many of us have remained on streaming platforms because that is the only way to reach a certain segment of our congregation.  We have shut-ins that cannot come out to services.  For this, I am grateful for the technology to live stream.  However, there is another segment that uses live streaming for convenience’s sake.  We have toyed with the idea of password protecting access and limiting it only to those who are genuine shut-ins.  But that won’t change much.  Those who wish to stay home and attend in their pajamas will only switch to a different channel.  Rather, I think the way out of this is to encourage those who stay home that they are missing something that cannot be duplicated in one’s living room.  David writes the above challenge because he knows that corporate worship is a great encouragement to those who participate.  There is nothing like it.

Many years ago, I lived in a state like no other when it comes to church cooperation and unity.  There was no competition between churches.  They understood the principle of the local church.  They understood identity to a congregation was based on where you lived and not on other factors.  These churches worked with one another and not against one another.  Consequently, when we had pastor’s fellowships, they were something to behold.  Usually, on a Friday night, pastors would travel many hours to attend a service.  Because many traveled a distance, they were not content with an hour long service.  If they were going to come all that way, they wanted a service that spent some time in worship and preaching.  There would be several hundred preachers at any one service.  I remember one particular service my pastor and I attended.  It was a church that was a remodeled barn.  As we approached the building, the singing was so loud is shook the building.  With only about 150 people inside, glorifying the LORD together was something I will never forget.  No drums, guitars, or worship team needed.  These were 150 men and their families who had given their lives for the cause of Christ.  They had taken many blows at the and of the adversary.  Yet, they were eternally grateful for the God whom they served.  So, those who stay home and participate with a latte and soft pillows, I feel sorry or you.  You are missing something that cannot be duplicated.  There is nothing like it.  Corporate worship is something that only attending in person can be experienced.