Welcome family and friends! We desire to honor God any time we gather for Bible study, worship, and Christian fellowship. We read God’s word every day because the strength of our faith rests in our knowledge of the Bible. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The Psalmist wrote in Psalms 1 about the prosperity of the one who delights in God’s law and meditates on it day and night. This person is pictured as a healthy tree prospering year after year. We want this to be the picture of our lives. Jesus’ sermon on the mountain teaches us about the importance of hearing and doing His word (Matthew 7:24-27). It is foolish to hear what needs to be done and then not do it. It is wise to hear and do.
This week I came across the following article I wrote for the church bulletin in Kentucky in 2016, four years ago. Today, it is hard to believe that the very things I wrote about are now a part of our daily lives.
In 2016 I wrote, “Just a word or two about “fellowship.” In our day of social media, texting, email, network marketing, and the like is seems that “fellowship” has taken on a different meaning. People can now be “friends” without any physical contact. I hear that some churches are now having worship services via the internet, the preacher preaching from the beach in Florida or from some other location over the audio/video system that is sent out via the world wide web. The church gives via PayPal. One is asked to sing along as he sits behind his computer monitor watching people/the choir/the band perform. Some pray all alone then eat the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine in remembrance of Jesus’ death still all alone. And when I ask about fellowship and God’s command in Hebrews 10:24-25 I can almost hear some say, “Brother Mickey, I’m not alone! All my 482 Facebook friends, my 242 Twitter buddies, and my Blog followers are right here with me. And if I want to “see” someone or speak “face to face” I’ll just Skype them.” Really? What can I say?”
Four years ago, I thought these ideas were strange and could never be a part of my ministry or something we would even dare to participate in as a church. Today, here I am blogging and posting online, preaching online to several hundred people who have “tuned in” via Facebook LIVE and the world wide web. My daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren are “with us” from Virginia where the church cannot yet meet together in person. My parents and siblings can even be “with us” from Alabama to study, “fellowship,” and worship. Even some of my high school classmates and childhood friends are now “tuning in” every Sunday and Wednesday to be “with us” online. Unfortunately, I am in Morrilton, Arkansas and not on the beach in Florida. Also, we are called to participate in worship rather than sit back to be entertained. We cannot, must not, and will not allow this strange phenomenon to become what we do and who we are as Christians and members of the church of Christ in the world. I refuse to accept that the way things are today will be “normal.” I hope we are just “making the best of a difficult situation” until we eventually win against the “virus” that continues its march across our nation and the world. Meanwhile, at 906 E. Harding Street we are meeting together in person on Sunday at 9:00 and 5:00 and again on Wednesday at 7:00 as we reach with the gospel to as many people as we can.
Good thing you are not on the beach in Florida. The virus is bad there.
Mickey. Your right. Who would have thought that when this was written 4 years ago that it would be so relevant now. As y’all worship together at Harding Street COC, I’m thankful we can be there virtually, in faith and in spirit and truth. But, I long for the time, we who are older and have health problem can again, safety worship in person with like minded Saints in the Lord’s Church,on the Lord’s Day and other appointed times.