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One thing that the coronavirus situation is teaching God's people is how essential Christian community is. When we are deprived of the ability to congregate together for worship, to see the Word preached and the Sacraments administered, we feel the loss. When we can't spend time in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we rightly feel diminished.
I wonder, though, if this time isn't an opportunity to learn a complementary lesson as well. The flip side of the coin is that this time of separation should remind us that we are united to Christ through faith alone. Certainly the man who could go to church but doesn't because, "I can worship God just as well up in the woods alone with my Bible," is committing a grave error (Hebrews 10:25). However, it is also an error to believe that partaking in the outward life of the church is the same as being united to Christ in faith. There will be people at the last day who proclaim, "But Lord, were we not baptized? Did we not take communion regularly? Did we not go to church every Sunday, and tithe, and hear the Word preached?" but who will fail to enter into God's rest because of unbelief (Hebrews 4:6,11).
Under these unusual circumstances, remind yourself that you are connected to Christ individually as a member of His body through faith alone, even if you can't see that body around you right now as you are used to. Remember also that being around His body and engaging in the same activities as the rest of His body counts for nothing if you do not put your faith and trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ on your behalf.
Puritan minister Thomas Hooker, founder of Connecticut, warned his people of this danger in a sermon on the faith of Abraham, and it's worth reading at the present time. Here is an excerpt:
"The point is clear in the text, that if a man had circumcision, that is, if he had all those preferments that God vouchsafeth to a people in the face and bosom of his Church, this would not do him any good at all. He hath no title to the promises because of these, if he rest in them: Abraham is not the father of those that are circumcised only. So that I say again, all outward privileges are not able to make a man a true Saint of God…
This doctrine confoundeth the carnal confidence of those professors, that living in the bosom of the Church, place all their hopes and assurance of being saved upon this bottom: because they have been baptized, and come to Church, and hear the Word, and receive the Sacrament, therefore of necessity (they presume) they must be accepted of God…These are the Fig-leaves wherewith poor and ignorant Christians think to hide themselves at this day. Tell them of their faults, bid them walk humbly and holily before God, reprove them for their strange practices against God and his truth, in profaning his day, blaspheming his name, contemning his Word, despising his ministers, etc. and they presently cry out against us: What will you make Pagans of us? What do you think we are Heathens? Have we not received Christian Baptism? etc. This is a bottom that beareth up many: But oh poor silly creatures, this will not do it; be not deceived, you will shrink under this shelter, you will fall notwithstanding these props, when you come to trial; you may have all this and yet perish, this will not make you saints in the sight of God.”
I wonder, though, if this time isn't an opportunity to learn a complementary lesson as well. The flip side of the coin is that this time of separation should remind us that we are united to Christ through faith alone. Certainly the man who could go to church but doesn't because, "I can worship God just as well up in the woods alone with my Bible," is committing a grave error (Hebrews 10:25). However, it is also an error to believe that partaking in the outward life of the church is the same as being united to Christ in faith. There will be people at the last day who proclaim, "But Lord, were we not baptized? Did we not take communion regularly? Did we not go to church every Sunday, and tithe, and hear the Word preached?" but who will fail to enter into God's rest because of unbelief (Hebrews 4:6,11).
Under these unusual circumstances, remind yourself that you are connected to Christ individually as a member of His body through faith alone, even if you can't see that body around you right now as you are used to. Remember also that being around His body and engaging in the same activities as the rest of His body counts for nothing if you do not put your faith and trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ on your behalf.
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| Thomas Hooker |
"The point is clear in the text, that if a man had circumcision, that is, if he had all those preferments that God vouchsafeth to a people in the face and bosom of his Church, this would not do him any good at all. He hath no title to the promises because of these, if he rest in them: Abraham is not the father of those that are circumcised only. So that I say again, all outward privileges are not able to make a man a true Saint of God…
This doctrine confoundeth the carnal confidence of those professors, that living in the bosom of the Church, place all their hopes and assurance of being saved upon this bottom: because they have been baptized, and come to Church, and hear the Word, and receive the Sacrament, therefore of necessity (they presume) they must be accepted of God…These are the Fig-leaves wherewith poor and ignorant Christians think to hide themselves at this day. Tell them of their faults, bid them walk humbly and holily before God, reprove them for their strange practices against God and his truth, in profaning his day, blaspheming his name, contemning his Word, despising his ministers, etc. and they presently cry out against us: What will you make Pagans of us? What do you think we are Heathens? Have we not received Christian Baptism? etc. This is a bottom that beareth up many: But oh poor silly creatures, this will not do it; be not deceived, you will shrink under this shelter, you will fall notwithstanding these props, when you come to trial; you may have all this and yet perish, this will not make you saints in the sight of God.”
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