Is the Keyboard the New Monastery?

I am saddened.

On the one hand I want to protect as many people from the Corona Virus as possible.

On the other, I am determined to hold the line on the necessity of the New Testament worship assembly, though temporarily said assembly is not possible or ever feasible in the near-term. The long-term is a "whole nother kettle of fish."

At the present time, however, it appears that we are having an Acts 8.4 moment. (I'll let you get your Bible out and figure that point on your own!) We are, though one in Christ, forced to assemble separately in groups of 2 or more until such time as we are blessed with reassembly. This is not new as we read about "quarantined John" in Revelation 1.10. Paul himself was often "quarantined" in his struggles. (See II Corinthians 11.23 - 27)

Voluntary individual isolation among Christians also is not new. Isolation, however, is the exception and is not the norm, the public assembly of the saints IS. During the early years of the Dark Ages, the so-called "aesthetic" movement took hold among believers. It was thought that one could get closer to God in a monastery under seclusion. Today, the old heresy is the "brand new shiny thing" out there as the computer / smart phone screen puts people in a virtual monastery, secluding themselves from the rest of the church...and society.

Isolation is antithetical to the Great Commission!

Of late, there has been at "1984esque" attempt by theological deconstructionists to dismantle the very concept of a New Testament worship assembly. The conclusion? Claiming that there is no such thing as a worship assembly, one can do anything one pleases in such an assembly should one choose to hold one, INCLUDING not having a worship assembly at all.

Whether intentional or not, the consequence of this line of thought is to embolden the recluse and the isolationist to hunker down with their computer in lieu of corporate worship...1984 style..."virtual church" if you please. The practice of "live streaming" worship services is apparently trending from an emergency, to an exception, to a convenient choice, to absolutely normative, thus creating more and more "invisible Christians."

Now, due to the Corona Virus, the "non-assembly-virtual-assembly-invisible-church," is being hauled up the flag pole by these theological deconstructionists and many are saluting. Using the Corona Virus to justify and normalize "non-attendance attendance" is not only dangerous, it is life threatening to any congregation lured into the ease of the "virtual faithfulness" of it's members.

What happens one day when hoards of individuals in front of their keyboards tune in for a live stream worship service only to find that all the live worshipers have gone home to their computers?

"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." - Hebrews 10.24 - 25 (ESV)

We, the elders at where I worship, are encouraging all persons, especially those with any kind of medical issue to stay home for their safety and the safety of others until this time of danger ceases. For the members at our congregation, a New Testament worship service will be held...with two or more gathered together in one's individual home. There will be no live streaming though my sermon will be recorded for playback at a later time. When the virus crisis is over...and it most certainly will be over...we will welcome back each other who could not assemble in person during the crisis, and never surrender our souls to the "new monastery."

Russell H McCullough is a gospel preacher, writer, speaker, NC Real Estate Broker and public historian living in Charlotte, NC. He posts often here on LinkedIn Pulse on a variety of subjects