Church from My Recliner?

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations.” Leviticus 23:1-2

Over the years, I’ve heard some disillusioned Christians say things like this, I don’t need church. I can worship God just as well from the bike trail on Sunday morning. I’ve got to admit, it’s a seductive idea. There are just so few days off and Sunday mornings are an attractive time to set aside to do what I want. And it’s true – I can worship God from anywhere. I can worship in my recliner if I want, because God is everywhere. Church takes up almost half of a precious weekend day, time I could be using to do what I want, while I worship God. It’s win, win, right?

Today’s passage would object to this line of thinking. In the passage, God told his people that they were to set aside a specific day of the week (the Sabbath) and several other specific days during the year, when they were to come together in holy convocation – a calling of all the people together in a formal assembly to worship God. This wasn’t a day to be spent alone, fishing, biking, or watching football. Rather, this was a day to gather all those who followed God, seeking him together in community.

Whether we like it or not (I’m a bit of an introvert) God made us to live in community. We weren’t made to do life alone and God desires that we worship and seek him collectively. I can and should worship God while sitting in my recliner and while I’m on the bike trail, but that isn’t a replacement for convocation – meeting together to worship in community.

This is true in my recovery and in my faith. I don’t do recovery well alone. I need my weekly meeting with those who’re also working on recovery. Likewise, I need to weekly go to church, meeting with others who’re seeking God and his will. When I start thinking that I can abandon community to recover or worship God alone, from the bike trail, I’m taking a step towards me and my will, which means that I’m turning myself from God and his will.

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 (Hebrews 10:25). We need each other. God made us to live, not in isolation, but in community. If we truly desire to follow God, we must regularly gather with others who’re doing the same. We don’t do church from our recliner.