Throughout the centuries, churches have in various seasons been unable to meet due to persecution, geography, pandemics, or other limitations. God wasn’t worried then, and he’s not worried now. His plans will not be thwarted or undone. Because God made the church to gather.

Only God could have ordained that I would be writing an article on the benefits of corporate worship during the COVID-19 pandemic. My church in Louisville hasn’t met since March 15, and we’re still trying to decide what the process of meeting together again will look like. Livestreaming Sunday mornings is beginning to feel almost normal.

Almost. Although I’m thankful for the virtual contact technology has made possible during this season, God has unique purposes for the weekly gathering that no livestream or Zoom meeting can replace. Perhaps we feel similar to the apostle John when he wrote, “Though I have much to write to you [or many virtual meetings to participate in]…I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete” (2 John 12). Not being able to meet in person makes us appreciate more deeply the privilege, joy, and benefit of gathering with the saints.

What We’ve Been Missing

On a recent Sunday, I led “Crown Him with Many Crowns” in front of a camera and seven other people. On any other Sunday, our church would normally explode in a spontaneous overflow of jubilant shouting and God-exalting clapping. That day? All you could hear was my voice lamenting that the congregation wasn’t there to respond.

While writing this article, I reached out through social media to find out what else people missed most about not meeting together. The overwhelming number of comments mentioned sensory elements. Hearing. Touching. Seeing.

• Heartfelt hugs and handshakes of dear friends and new acquaintances
• The sound of God’s people passionately raising their voices in praise together
• Watching those going through painful trials lift their souls to their faithful Father in prayer and song
• The robust “Amen!” of people responding to the preached word
• Saints, feeling victorious and defeated, experiencing grace and mercy in the Lord’s Supper
• Opportunities to encourage, pray for, counsel, and get to know both members and visitors
• The sweet foretaste of gathering around the throne in the new heavens and new earth
• And for some, the donuts and coffee

One person’s response to the question “What do you miss most about not gathering?” was simply “Everything.”

What Difference Does Gathering Make?

I’d like to unpack that “everything,” focusing on the time we spend singing together. What difference should singing God’s praise in the same physical space weekly make in our lives? I can think of at least five God-glorifying effects.

Exaltation

When we sing God’s praise together, he is exalted more highly than if we do it alone. His inherent glory doesn’t change, but the manifestation of it does. It’s the difference between playing a basketball championship in an empty arena (not such a strange thought these days), and playing the same game in front of twenty thousand screaming fans. The final score is no different. But it’s safe to say that the glory of the winning team in the second scenario will far surpass that of the first.

Read More