Fellowship

Fellowship

There is an old Christian conspiracy joke about backmasking which asks: “What message do you hear if you play an Amy Grant song backwards?” The answer being: “Go to church, go to church, go to church…”My guess is that many a church is starting to wonder if that message might have to preached ‘forward’ to the conscientious mind, and not rely on subliminal messages—especially those imagined through backmasked 1980s records. In my experience, churches are sensitive to the needs of those who cannot attend worship services due to sickness and work responsibilities. With the advent of high-quality livestreaming, members and visitors alike have enjoyed an experience that is ‘the next to best thing’ to being there. Praise God for the good work done by these congregations.However, what of those who are not coming back by choice? Those who have decided that ‘livestreamed church’ is good enough for them? Sickness or work was part of the original reasons, but now its just the way they prefer it to be.Livestreaming has brought with it just another twist in an old problem. If someone doesn’t want to be at church, they will find the latest ‘reasonable’ excuse, and build on it.You and I know members who would give anything to be back ‘in church’ with the brethren. The love and need for fellowship courses through their veins. But sadly, either their own sickness, or the sickness of a loved one, or another unavoidable responsibility has kept them away. They rejoice in the livestreamed services. They Email if something has gone wrong. “They’ll be back!”We must do all we can to watch over those who are drifting away. “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb.10:24-25).John StaigerIf you have been blessed by this message, please feel free to: Like, Comment or Share it with your friends.