By Pastor Stephen Hess –
As I write this article, it has now been well over a year since the coronavirus pandemic began. During this time last year all of our in-person gatherings were suspended, and our worship services were completely virtual. Thankfully over the past year we have been able to resume most of our church activities (with some modifications), and we are gradually returning to some sense of normalcy in our ministry.
One of the things that has been greatly encouraging to me over the past month or so is to see many people return to church in person for the first time since the start of the pandemic. After not seeing some members of our church family for so long, I have realized how much we take simple gifts, such as in-person fellowship and interaction, for granted. The pandemic has taught us many lessons, but here are two simple ones that are rooted in Scripture and are important for Christians to remember.
1) The importance of face-to-face fellowship. The Book of Hebrews gives us this reminder: “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). The Bible places a high priority on God’s people regularly gathering together. One of the primary reasons for this is because following Jesus means being part of his family—the church. We are called to worship together, pray together, and serve together. All of these things are part of what it means to be part of the body of Christ.
Today we have many new technologies that allow us to “connect” with one another when we can’t gather in person. While these technologies can be incredibly useful, I think most of us have realized over the past year that they are not a substitute for true face-to-face fellowship. Over and over again I have heard people say things like, “I appreciate having Bible studies on Zoom, but it’s just not the same as being together in person.” God never designed us for digital relationships, and when we can’t be together in person there is something missing. The Apostle John recognized this when he wrote his letters to fellow Christians. He said, “Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete” (2 Jn. 12). God designed us so that we experience deeper joy when we are face-to-face with each other.
2) The importance of physical interaction. Physical touch is another gift that we tend to take for granted until we don’t have it. Some families experienced this in a painful way when they had family members in the hospital whom they were not able to visit and hold hands with by their bedside during their time of sickness. But even in less extreme circumstances, many of us have felt the absence of physical touch over the past year. A simple handshake or a hug at church may have seemed trivial in the past, but now we have realized how significant these actions truly are.
Studies have shown that hugs have a positive effect on our health, and this should be no surprise to Christians because we know that God designed us to be in loving community with one another. Four times in Paul’s letters he instructs believers to “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (see Rom. 16:16), which would have been their cultural equivalent to a hug or a handshake. In some cultures today a kiss is a still a customary greeting. The value of physical touch seems to be hardwired into us as human beings.
I have always found it significant that Jesus often touched people when he healed them. Jesus was powerful enough to heal without touch, and on some occasions, he healed simply by the command of his voice. Why then did he so often touch the people he healed, especially when such touching would have sometimes made him ceremonially unclean according to Jewish laws? Perhaps part of the reason is that Jesus knew the value of physical touch and he wanted his followers to know it as well.
In our digital world it is easy to forget the importance of face-to-face fellowship and physical interaction. Some people have even asked whether these things are necessary anymore given all of our new technologies. But I would argue that they are more necessary than ever. We worship a Savior who came and walked among us in person. When Jesus gave us himself, he gave us one another. May we not take these gifts for granted, and may we not be quick to forget what the pandemic has taught us.