#thisischurch

Today the activity of the church looks very different from it did just one month ago. In the middle of a lockdown due to COVID-19 churches are no longer able to gather together for worship, prayer and activities. As a result we have had to rethink what we do, with alot of activity moving online.

The change has been sudden, and has caused us to ask - what is church? There is a lot of good that has come from the changes, new opportunities have opened up. Despite it's challenges, many have had good experiences of church, some even for the first time.

As we evaluate the changes, we are in danger on making a judgement based wholly upon our experience. We must test our experience, and evaluate the changes against Scripture and over 2000 years of theological reflection on the question 'What is church?' As we continue in the New City Catechism I am thankful for the wisdom of the catechism it brings to this question which resonates with the wisdom of many who have come before us, searched the Scriptures and asked 'What is church?'

Q48. What is the church? God chooses and preserves for himself a community elected for eternal life and united by faith, who love, follow, learn from and worship God together. God sends out this community to proclaim the gospel and prefigure Christ's kingdom by the quality of their life together and their love for one another.

As is my pattern when going through the catechism, I'll draw out some points from this answer. Then I shall reflect on some of the lessons for church today.

The nature of the church does not change. How churches look and where they meet vary over time. They are different from place to place. A church in the highlands does not look like one in a Glasgow scheme, let alone a congregation in Africa, China or Latin America. Yet the nature of each church is still the same. The 'what' of church does not change.

The church is always 'the called out people of God.' They are his chosen people. A community which will continue to exist until the end of time, as he himself preserves this community. Indeed, since the community of his people have eternal life - the church will never end. The church will never be defeated. It might look different this week from last week, but it will never, ever come to an end.

One person does not make a church. The church is a community. The church does things together. The catechism teaches that the church needs more than one person to be a church, yet you could argue it does not go far enough. The bible teaches us that the community of God's people is diverse. People from all sorts of backgrounds, diverse cultures and careers. Young and old, with various gifts, talents and abilities come together to make up the church of Jesus Christ.

It is true to say, you can get a diverse bunch of people united around many activities - brought together to watch a football match, or united to raise funds for a common cause. The church is different. They don't come together because that all have a common interest or goal. They are brought together by the one who is the very reason for their existence. We are the called out people of God. Now God doesn't just bring us together for a meeting once a week - he sticks us together forever. As we respond to his call by faith, we are united to him and to each other. He builds us into his temple. Temple, not tabernacle. A building, not a tent. One which we are placed in and remain in. It isn't erected only when we come together for a meeting - it is built for all time.

We have been brought together for a purpose. Well - three purposes actually. As God's people we love one another, we worship God and we proclaim his gospel.

Loving one another means we care for each other - practically and spiritually. We encourage each other to follow God. We teach each other. We disciple one another.

And when the church does this, it displays God's glory before the watching world. If we where to opt for one purpose - that is it. God's glory is the aim of all the activity of the church. God's glory is displayed through the depth and quality of our life together and our love for each other. God's glory is experienced as his people worship him - so that when others peer in at the edges of that worship they are struck with the greatness and glory of God. God's glory is proclaimed as the gospel of Jesus life, death and resurrection for us is clearly declared, so that men and women are convicted of their sin and come to trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and thus are brought into his people the church.

So how does this help us understand and evaluate the church in lockdown?

We can be encouraged - the church has not changed. It still exists. It will not be extinguished. God continues to call out and always perseveres his people. I think it is also true to say that we continue to fulfill the purpose of being church. Yet, I am not unaware of the limitations, even the dangers of this current time. It is my view that the way we are functioning now acts only as a window, not a door. Online cannot allow us to enter into the fullness of being church.

It is great than many churches have been able to facilitate worship online - through audio or video recordings or live streams. It is vitally important that as God's people we continue to hear his word and offer him worship. Yet we are unable to participate in the sacraments (I know there are a variety of views on this, for a helpful explanation of my view see Donald MacLeod's blog here). It is good that people have been able to look in on church and hear God's word. Yet that experience of corporate worship is missing. That sense of the presence of God in the midst of his worshiping people is not the same as listening to a recorded worship song. OK, depending on our source, the recording is most likely a lot better than we can produce locally - more instruments could be used, the mix is better - yet all that does is elevate the band, and it can lead to dissatisfaction with what we can do in our local church. I do strive for excellence in worship, yet I also love the imperfection of organists or worship bands in the local church. Despite the bum notes, the off key singer beside you and the person who has forgot to advance the words on the screen - when God's people come together and worship him - there is a sense of his presence, which is hard to emulate online.

Put simply the danger is we become consumers not worshipers. We are used to channel hopping, we flick over all too easily. We can float around from one church to another, checking in on our favorite bible teacher or worship style. Many churches have been pleased to see the numbers of views they have, but viewers are not worshipers. Distractions abound in the house, we need to fight to worship. And remember God doesn't just call us to worship him, but to serve him and love one another. That is possible online, but it is given fuller expression when we meet each other.

Church is about community, the danger of online is that it is driven by personality. I was struck by this when I figured out that I could quiet easily, put a service together and place it on Youtube. I could call it something snappy like 'First Presbyterian Church of Moodiesburn Online (Reformed)'. I could build a following through my contacts. Sharing on Facebook, sending a few emails, perhaps buying some advertising. I could encourage folk to share. I would hope people would enjoy it, the views would build. The church would be established... or would it? It would be all about me. The people viewing would know next to nothing about each other. Even if they knew each other, perhaps even lived next door to each other, they would have no idea that they both worshiping at 'First Presbyterian Church of Moodiesburn Online (Reformed), that morning. And that is the danger. And so far as I know my own heart, it is a massive danger. Every preacher faces that danger each Sunday, we want to be liked. Seeing how many people view, and where those people are tuning in from, only amplifies that danger.

Of course there are many other problems and limitations - I haven't touched on governance. Lets not confuse facilitating a worship service and some fellowship with the fullness of church life.

As you read this you might think that my criticisms are too negative. Too discouraging, after all we are simply trying to do our best at this time. I certainly don't want to discourage, but I do want to highlight the dangers and limitations of online. The way in which it stops short of the fullness of church.

Perhaps the biggest danger is we get used to this. We settle for #thisischurch and don't long for more. One of my friends has described this time as a time of exile. That is true. The church is in exile now, and whilst we want to make the most of this time; whilst we seek to fulfill our purpose as church; whilst we want to learn about what matter as church - we don't want to settle here. We should and must long for that time when we can be together again, to worship God, love and serve one another and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to all.

And when that time comes I pray we shall have a stronger, more Christ centred and Christlike church, which is focused on bringing glory to God in every way and every opportunity.

Until then perhaps we should use #churchinexile