4 Reflections On Gathering In-Person At New City For The First Time In Over 3 Months

On June 28, 2020, New City Church gathered again in person for the first time in over three months. Talk about something I never could have fathom I would ever write!

And while it will take time for many people to feel comfortable gathering again as we continue to navigate the impacts of COVID-19, it was still great to be with some of the amazing people who make New City what it is.

Given that it's been longer than I could have ever imagined our church not gathering together in-person, in this post I share four reflections on what it was like to be together again for the first time on over three months.

1. COVID-19 should not be our only concern

What I am not saying is that COVID-19 doesn't matter. It does. What I am saying is that if we are not careful, we can lose sight of all of the various hardships and difficulties people face. While I in no way want to downplay the dangers of COVID-19, I also do not want to downplay the numerous other afflictions we face.

In a fascinating article written in May of 2020 regarding the varying responses to the coronavirus, Daniel Taylor wrote about how wisdom is needed more than expertise. What has stuck with me since reading this piece is when Taylor wrote, "A decision that is technically correct but not workable in the real world of human behavior is not a wise decision."

What we need is to hear from experts from varying fields and walks of life and then make the wisest decision possible. I am clearly not a doctor or an epidemiologist, but one of my fears during this entire COVID-19 pandemic is our sole focus on defeating the virus (which is a good pursuit) at the expense of the other areas of concern.

Anxiety, depression, financial concerns, abortion, substance and physical abuse, suicide, and other ramifications that can increase if we only focus on COVID-19. I don't have a clear answer on how we balance these things while facing COVID-19, but we cannot underestimate the human toll that some of our measures to fight COVID-19 have had.

This past Sunday I spoke with someone at New City who mentioned the depression they have been battling these last few months while they have been unable to work and have lived mostly isolated from others. Again, I don't know the best approach to all of this, but I do think we may be causing even more harm than good if we only worry about COVID-19 at the expense of other just as real and dangerous realities.

Humans need relational connection to truly live. And it was great to connect again with many people I had missed.

2. I need to be encouraged as much as anyone else

It may be tempting to think this isn't true, but pastors need as much encouragement and support as anyone else. We need prayer, grace, and relationships as well. I was looking forward to being around our people again this past weekend, but what I didn't anticipate was how good it was for my soul to be encouraged by and prayed for by others.

I may have more "expertise" in Biblical and religious studies than the average person given what I do, but following Jesus is about much more than intellectual knowledge.

No one is more "holy" than anyone else because of their profession or vocation in life. Our apprenticeship to Jesus is measured in our love for God and our love for others. I can't do either of those things well on my own. This past Sunday was a great reminder of that for me.

3. Attending a Sunday service is bigger than simply attending a service

"Going to church" doesn't make someone a Christian. However, my fear in the sentiment behind sayings like that is how much it downplays how vital consistent involvement in the local church is for our faith.

Attending a service is not just about singing some songs or listening to a sermon. You can do both of those things on your own. It's about developing practices in our lives that orient our hearts on Jesus and keep us grounded in Him.

The rhythm of a weekend service isn't about checking off a spiritual box that shows how faithful or holy you are. It's about the encouragement that happens between people. Relationships that are formed to help you celebrate the good times and grieve during the hard ones. It's about reminding ourselves that we aren't in control and yet we worship the God who is.

There are many benefits that come from consistent involvement in a local church that aren't realized until later. In fact, here are four of those benefits that I have previously shared.

I personally desire all followers of Christ to be active participants in a local church. Not because I want people to go and join for the sake of numbers, but because it's the best thing you can do for a flourishing walk with Christ. When we see attending a Sunday service as simply a decision that affects that particular Sunday, we misunderstand how much of a larger decision it is than that.

4. Online "church" isn't church

Given what I said in my previous point, this should be no surprise. But first, let me say this; I'm a massive proponent of churches spending time, money, and staffing on positions on reaching, engaging, and connecting with people online.

While I'm at it, I'd love for you to connect with New City on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. We prioritize creating engaging, fun, and helpful content. But it cannot do what in-person connection can.

I won't get into the theological and Biblical case for the church to be defined as a local gathering/assembly of believers, but it's easy to see practically why this is the case.

I'm not against live-streaming church services. I'm not against using technology in any way possible to better reach people. But reach and impact are not the same thing. Of course, you can deeply impact people via online means, but that is often the exception and not the rule.

I know that many people take their first step in connect with a church online, but our hope at New City is that it is a first step. We desire people to develop relationships that can do what information transfer cannot.

Again, following Jesus is not about knowing all the right things, but about loving God and loving others. We need help from one another to move us toward that end. God is a relational God, and it is in relationships with others that God so often moves in our lives.

Churches should definitely be online, and there are many ministries that primarily function online (and this is a good thing!). But the church is relational, real, and raw. Things that often don't translate to online-only platforms.