Going back to Church?

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 I met my "life group" (a portion of it) last night for a monthly meeting of fellowship and friendship, and rejoiced over one lady becoming engaged, and that we were all well. We decided to start meeting again on Sundays when the church permits it. 

Church leaders fear that 30% or more of attendees will not come back, at least not for a while. I think there are a lot of reasons for that. Fear (I think unfounded, but I know folks disagree) and comfort zone/laziness. And maybe because they didn't much like it in the first place and only went out of obligation or guilt. 

Gathering is not to sit and be entertained, of course. It is to create a dynamic "synergy" (OK, I know, that's a buzzword but there is reality to it) for spiritual growth by bumping up against one another. Instead of one source of information/input, we have more. We see how God is working with others, for one thing. 

Hebrews 1 says that God spoke in times past by the prophets and lately by Christ. God spoke, and continues to, in many ways. One way is each other, as Hebrews 12:24-25 has it: And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

The New Testament does not allow for spiritual growth in isolation from others.  We don't like this, and prefer the "Jesus and Me" model. Sorry, not sorry. 

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