The shutdowns that happened during the Covid 19 pandemic have proven to be the cause of many detrimental and long-lasting consequences. Aside from all the economic, social, and psychological repercussions it produced, perhaps the worst is what it has done to worship attendance across the globe. Many congregations have still not returned to their pre-Covid numbers. Even after all this time, there are still many congregants who are “worshiping” online and using Covid as an excuse for not attending in person. While I recognize there can be legitimate circumstances that can prevent a Christian from being able to attend worship services, we still need to understand the importance of assembling together as the Lord’s body for worship. Consider the following questions concerning worship:

Is Pleasing God important to you?
Jesus taught His disciples, ”If you love me, keep my commandments‘ John 14:15). He also said that only those who fulfill the will of God will enter into heaven (Matt 7:21). With that in mind, listen to what He told the woman at the well, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him,” John 4:23). It is God’s desire – it is His will – that you and I worship Him, together. Therefore, if we truly want to please God, then we must worship Him and do it in the way He commands us to.

Are you thankful for what God has done for you?
Do you understand the “Scheme of Redemption,” the sacrifice that God and Jesus made on your behalf John 3:16)? That should be more than enough to motivate you to worship God. When the disciples came face to face with the reality of Jesus’ power and deity calming a storm and saving their lives, they worshiped Him! (Matt 14:30-33) Are you thankful for God’s gift of salvation? Show it by worshiping Him with the assembly of the saints ( 1 Pet 2:9).

Do you want the best for your family and myself?
Edification, knowledge, and brotherly love are better developed in a corporate setting. They can’t be increased in solitude. Simply being around fellow Christians can have a major, positive impact on one’s life. With so many negative influences in the world, we certainly need positive reinforcement. The church provides that! John 13:35; Galatians 6:2; 1 Thess. 5:11) It is an “organism” (more so than an organization); a body, a family, that cries and rejoices together – you won’t typically find that kind of support in a worldly setting (1 Cor 12:23-26). Worship is yet another way we build up each other (Colossians 3:16). That can only happen when we come together as His church.

Is the salvation of your soul important to you?
According to 2 Timothy 2: 10, salvation is “in” Christ Jesus – that is, one must be in His body. This implies that one cannot be saved outside of the church. There is no such thing as “isolation salvation” presented in the Scriptures. So, active involvement in the church, within Christ’s body, is absolutely necessary. This is exactly what is seen in the many examples of the first Christians (Acts 2:44, 11:26, 14:27, 20:7; Romans 16:5, 16:16; 1 Cor. 14:23). Just being a member is not all that is required of a disciple. Worship, therefore, is connected to our salvation.

If you answered “No” to any of the above questions, then perhaps you need to check your heart. God only wants those who will worship Him in spirit and truth. You might also ponder this: if you don’t like assembling with the saints to worship God, if you don’t look forward to lifting up His name in praise with the church at every opportunity available to you, then what do you think you will be doing in heaven? If we truly want to be prepared for heaven, then let’s worship our God by “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching,” (Hebrews 10:25).