Virtual Church Services - Ancient Strange or Crazy Times?

Church services 'forced' to stop meeting in sanctuaries and church buildings is one greatly disruptive consequences of the current pandemic. Churches that have met for centuries and constantly open even during great wars are suddenly have to temporarily shut their doors. This is proving very strange, upsetting and disruptive for both church leaders and congregations. The focus of this article is to consider that though one fundamental of the lifestyle of Christ-Followers is meeting together at least once weekly, whether in the sanctuary or in home, hotels, pubs, schools and practically anywhere we can gather, inability to meet together physically in recognised locations is not new even if unusual.

As to locations, I have been part of church services that held in unusual venues such as nightclubs, pubs, river-side, mountain-tops and most surreally, under a tree when we were locked out of the usual venue due to hostility from the anti-Christ community.

THE TORMENTED AND PERSECUTED CHURCH

There have been many times through history when believers could not all physically meet together. Today persecuted Christians in many parts of the world are not always able to meet freely. Persecuted Christians in some countries are not always sure they will return home even as they regularly come under attack by Anti-Christians persecuting governments or by Islamic terrorists. As example, consider the case of the so-called underground churches in China. Check out https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/13/china-christians-religious-persecution-translation-bible. To give examples, there are vicious wars and attacks against Christians and churches in Syria, parts of Pakistan and North-East Nigeria where Boko Haram Islamic terrorists have waged deadly war on Christians and churches for many years. Christians in such places go to church without knowing what the enemy may be up to and whether they will return home alive or intact. Yet they have never stopped but keep going in faith and reverence for the Lord. Check out  https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/nigeria/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/13/china-christians-religious-persecution-translation-bible. Also check out: https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/01/30/as-horrific-persecution-against-nigerias-christians-continues-ird-joins-in-urging-for-special-envoy/

ANCIENT ANALOGUES

Scriptures are full of examples worth worth knowing and following where individual saints have been distanced from their family, friends and fellow believers and unable to physically join the congregational worship. That was the case of Joseph who as a teenager was separated from his family. Incredibly, his faith, devotion and right-living did not diminish. Since he was alone for about 23years, he could have diminished or abandoned his faith and adopted the ways of new forced new homes and associations. But Joseph did not, instead he grew and grew in faith and got to know the Lord so well and so closely that he could hear Him, ask him big things and represent him well. Check out Genesis 37, 39 to 41. 

Esther followed a similar path after she became Queen of Persia in her teenage years. She could have abandoned God and her faith. Not only did she nor abandon or weaken in her faith, she grew to become so close to the Lord and through that means, she became the woman behind the throne. Previously she depended on her uncle and spiritual mentor to function in her faith but once in the palace, she took over and her discipleship training kicked in gear. We saw that in action when she prayerfully strategized how to respond to Haman’s conspiracy. 

We also have examples of whole peoples congregations or generations removed far from their kith, kin and congregational worship. That was the case of the Jews who sat by the River of Babylon (check Psalm 137) far away from home and the beloved temple. Painfully they gathered by the River Babylon in worship and memorised their disruption and pain and longing for their homeland and Jerusalem temple worship in the now famous song which has been recorded by many gospel and un-gospel artistes - Boney M is one well-known singer who turned the Scriptures into that greatly popular song - Rivers of Babylon. In the new testament, there are two great case-studies - Paul and Silas in prison and the Apostle John the Beloved on exile to the Isle of Patmos.

The jews worshipping by River Babylon longed and lamented for the day when they would be connected back to the temple and congregation. Indeed the absence made them grow deeper fondness for their Lord, their Temple and their congregation members. You can listen to Boney M's famous version of Psalms 137 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta42xU2UXLA.

PAUL AND SILAS IN PRISON

Apostle Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi for their passionate preaching of Christ and sharing of their faith. Check out Acts 16.20-35. There in prison, the two remembered that Jesus said church is anywhere where two or three are gathered in Christ name (Matt 18.20). So Paul and Silas did mid-night church all by themselves and kept the whole prison away with their loud prayers and singing at midnight. What did they do? They prayed, they sang, they praised, they worshipped the Lord in the prison and guess what mysteriously the Lord joined them forcefully. Suddenly there was an earthquake and the whole prison shook, prison doors were blown open and the chains of all prisoners not just of Paul and Silas fell off. Instead of running away Paul and Silas stayed. The roman prison governor who was initially about to commit suicide thinking that all prisoners had escaped, was so amazed that Paul and Silas remained and all other prisoners remained perhaps captivated by the wafting worship and miraculous happenings that night, was so touched such that, that night he, his family and his entire household converted and became Christians that night. Before the morning they were also all baptised. He asked for how to be saved. Paul preached Christ to him and his household. Paul and Silas started midnight service of just two persons and by the end of the night, earthquake had taken place and church grew from just two members to a great company. Paul and Silas became VIPs, hosted, and were fed and feted by the prison governor. They left a thriving church in the prison led by the Prison Governor himself. Check out Acts 16. 

What could happen to you, your family, your household and your neighborhood? Your neighbours may not be Christians. This will be a good time for them to hear your vibrant prayers and worship. You never know by the end of the social-isolation season, you can invite them to enjoy what you are enjoying, and ask them to join you back to your congregational church. In the meantime, you can share the online church media links widely. many of those home-bound are seeking change, excitement and encouragement and those are abundant in your worship so invite all your friends and business associates to your online worship.

John on the Island of Patmos, Revelation 1:9-11

One more example is the wonderful case of Apostle John the Beloved, who the Roman authorities tried to execute but when they failed, he was sent on exile to the Isle of Patmos to pine and die away, if not killed by wild animals. Check Rev 1.9-19. On the Sunday, John was all alone and no doubt greatly missing congregational worship. Miraculously and unexpectedly, the Lord came to have Sunday service with just this one brother and was an incredible service that was. It led to what we now read as the Book of Revelations. 

"I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” Revelation 1:9–11

So welcome to your own season away from sanctuary worship but watch out as glorious experiences and unexpected outcomes are possible.

Incredible things can happen when the Lord is worshipped in truth spirit and great passion and devotion, whether in the Sanctuary or elsewhere and whether by just two (like Paul and Silas) or even you are all alone like John the Beloved. The Lord is there when 5000 or 20000 or 2 or even one person, are gathered in truth and worship. He is with you even if you are alone in a lonely place just as He was with Esther and with Joseph. He wants to make His home with you. He wants your home to become salvation arena. He wants your home to become embassy of Heaven. He wants your home to become miracle centre. He wants your home to become the discipleship ground for your raising many disciples. He wants your home to become solution ground, healing ground for your neighbourhood.

Welcome to your own season away from sanctuary worship but still in congregational worship. The unusual and the miraculous are possible right there in your home. So welcome the Lord to your home which is now an extension of the sanctuary

12 practical guides for Church from your home

1.         Clean and arrange your home and prepare it for the visitation of the Lord 2.         Use the best room, which may be your lounge or dining table for your home church service.

3.         Do not use many small devices. If possible, use your biggest size TV and let everyone gather around it. 

4.         Shower and dress properly to meet with the Lord

5.         Honour the Lord by keeping the service time holy, sacred and distraction-free.

6.         If there are children in the house, tutor everyone and lay the ground rules

7.         Prepare your Bible, notes books, as if you were going church face to face, for your home has become an extension of the church! 

8.         Switch your phones off just as you will do when you are in church, phones off, reverence the Lord

9.         Do all, follow all, pray, praise and do all. Stand when it is time to stand, sing when it is time to sing; respond to the Word and instructions from the altar.

10.  When it comes to giving, give more than you have ever given. Do the unusual. Give online or directly into bank account or better still setup weekly direct debit. If you are more than one, pass an offering bowl and send to the sanctuary.

11.  Decide how to support and grow your church in specific and dedicated ways when you return to the Sanctuary worship. Follow Luke 8.1-3 example.

12.  At the end of online service, close with your household, review with them what came through the service and pray more abundantly. Acts 17.11-12

It will be good too to hear about your insights and experiences in this season.

Dr Mark Osa Igiehon