Congregate!

 “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1)

In our walks along the swamps and wetlands of the Lowcountry of South Carolina, it is not at all uncommon for us to happen upon turtles warming in the sun. They will gather on the shoreline or on any rock or log jutting out of the water that will hold them. It is not uncommon to see large groups of turtles congregating on a single log. Sometimes there are so many on a relatively small log or rock, it reminds me of those challenges to see how many people can fit into a phone booth or a VW Beetle. Wherever there is a place for them to catch some rays, you will likely find them. 

They’re even willing to share their warming pad with ‘gators. 

Seeing how the turtles love to hang out together always makes me think of the church. Church isn’t simply a place to hear beautiful music or inspirational teaching and preaching. It is those things, but it is so much more. Church is the fellowship of people who love Jesus, hanging out together. Church is the people of God coming together to encourage one another, to spur each other on to faithful discipleship.

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” (Hebrews 10:25)

You see, people aren’t really meant to go it alone. We’re meant to be together. Being together makes us more whole than when we’re not together.

Even before the pandemic, American Christians were in a downward trend in church attendance. Now, that trend has only grown steeper. 

It shouldn’t be that way. We are meant to be together. We are better, stronger, more healthy when we are together.

In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul describes the church as the body of Christ, with each member a different part of the body. Just as a body is less complete without a thumb, or an ear, or even a pinky toe, so is the body of Christ less complete without you. When one part of the body is missing, the whole body suffers – that applies to the human body, as well as the body of Christ.

Don’t go it alone. You need the church. You need friends in Christ with whom you can hang out and work through the highs and lows of life.

You need the church. And the church needs you.