The Non-essential Ecclesia, [Part 2]

Excerpt from, Koinonia:
What is it? Why do Christians need it? [1]

The Non-essential Ecclesia, [Part 2][2]

Paul teaches us and the Corinthians about the church using the image of the body. In 1 Corinthians 12:12–14, Paul writes, “For just as the body is one and has many members but all the many members of the body being one are the body, thus also the Christ. For we all also were baptized in one Spirit into one body. Whether Judeans or Greeks or slaves or free, we all were given to drink one Spirit. For even the body is not one member but many.” Paul clearly teaches that as the body is united so should the church be. “If the foot might say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not from the body,’ is it, because of this, any less from the body?… Nor is the eye able to say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you’” (1 Corinthians 12:15, 21).The body is not to be divided up into multiple parts or spread out over a whole county, city, state, or larger area. The body is meant to be physically in one place and Paul draws on this image to say this is what the church is. The church cannot be a body if its parts have no need to be with the other parts. Worship is orderly when the body is gathered together and worshiping together in unity. There is to be no skisma, or “tear, crack, division” in the body (1 Corinthians 12:25). Paul is most certainly referencing the figurative aspect here—that the church cannot be and should not be divided on an issue or on doctrine. Still, we cannot help but understand that there shouldn’t be a “physical” division of the body, either. After all, Paul goes on to speak about the body caring for one another, which is primarily something that happens in the body and with and for the body.

This means that the “unity” of worshipping virtually is lacking—it is not the fullness of what is intended. Nothing should make this clearer to us than the death of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The death of such leaves a hole in our communion and community. The body hurts and mourns at our loss here and now. We rejoice that these beloved brothers and sisters are with Christ now but we long for their presence with us. Paul also spoke both about the blessedness of being with Christ and the importance of one’s physical presence to others. He wrote to the Philippians regarding his own circumstances about, “having the desire for departing and being with Christ for [it is] much better by far but to remain in the flesh is more necessary on account of you” (Philippians 1:23b-24). He says it is better for those who are in Christ to be with Christ and away from this world and all its hardships and struggles. He adds that though he would desire to depart, his physical return to them is important. He goes on to state, “And while this has persuaded and still convinces, I know I will remain and I will stay with all of you for your furtherance and joy of the faith in order that your boast might abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence again with you” (Philippians 1:25-26). Paul is certain that he will remain because of how his gathering with them will benefit them. That is to say, God waits to call us to be with Him because it is beneficial to others who remain in this world. It is to the benefit of those on earth to have our fellow believers here with us.

So, we know from this very passage that those who have died and gone to be with the Lord Jesus are where He is. They are “with Christ.” This means, that where Christ is, they also are. Paul further affirms this when he says “we are more determined to leave out of the body and to be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8b). In death, we depart our body to be with Christ Jesus and we remain with Him forever.

On the last day, all who have died in Christ will return with Him as He gathers up all the believers who remain on earth as Paul explains:

But I do not want you to be ignorant brothers, concerning the ones who are fallen asleep in order that you might not be distressed just as also the others who don’t have hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, in this manner also God will lead with Him the ones who were sleeping through Jesus. For we are saying this to you in the word of the Lord because we, the ones who are living, who are remaining into the coming of the Lord, certainly will not precede the ones who are asleep; because the same Lord in a cry of command, in the voice of an archangel, and in a trumpet call of God, will come down from heaven and the dead ones in Christ will be raised first. Then, we, the ones who are living, who remain, at the same time with them will be snatched away in a cloud to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)

As you can see, the dead in Christ will arise in new bodies and those who remain will be likewise transformed and God’s people will be forever physically together in His Kingdom and house. This will be the body of Christ, the Church of all times, forever reunited and joined to live and abide together. There will not be a virtual worship or an existence like angels. We will be physically restored and in renewed human bodies that are better than have ever been.

If that is what is in store for us, how can we give up that physical gathering here and now when we don’t have to do so? How can we act like something else will suffice?

Now, I cannot go much further without addressing Paul’s comments in Colossians 2:5 and 1 Corinthians 5:3 nor can I ignore that those who have died in Christ are present where Jesus is. As you will see, in these passages, Paul talks about being absent from the church congregation in body but being present in spirit:

For even if I am absent in the flesh, certainly I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and looking at your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. (Colossians 2:5)

For I, on the one hand, while being absent in the body but while being present in the spirit, already as being present have judged the one who in this manner did this and the verdict stands. (1 Corinthians 5:3)

It is because they are connected to Jesus that Paul can be present in spirit and those who have died can be present in our worship. The connection to Christ brings about a connection with other Christians both those living and those dead. This only happens through Christ Jesus. Where Christ is present, so are all those who are at home with Him. But not only those who have died in Christ, those who are living in this world are also present in their spirit.[3]

And here we are reminded that the gathering of Christians, where at least some are present only in spirit, is not the fullness of what will be. We are people, created with a body and a soul. To have unity only in the body or only via the spirit is not complete or full unity. It is partial and incomplete. To say otherwise would be to conclude that the resurrection of the body isn’t that important or that it isn’t good. But we … know that it is God’s intention and plan to restore us in body and soul.

This means that while we can have a certain but limited unity in Christ and through Christ while we are physically apart, it is not the fullness of that unity nor our Lord’s intent for His body. Rather the body is to be together much like a family is meant to be together gathered around a meal. A family has fellowship when they gather together to eat and pray. …it is essential to their cohesion. Without such, many families drift apart. …

It is no different with God’s family. … We gather together, not because we “have to do so”—although to a certain extent, we have to!—but because we belong to Christ. We are God’s children through Christ’s sacrifice.

And we need our family for encouragement, for strength, for support, and to renew those ties that bind us and make us part of God’s family. This is one reason the church in Troas extended their regular gathering late into the night. Luke writes:

But of the first of the week, while we were gathering to break bread, Paul was instructing them because he was about to go the next day and he was extending the word until midnight. And there were many lamps in the upper-story room where we were gathering. And a certain young man named Eutykos, who was sitting in the window[and] who was brought into a deep sleep while Paul is teaching at length, after having been brought into a sleep, fell from the third-story down and the dead one was lifted up. But Paul, after going down, fell upon him and after embracing [him] said, “Don’t be disturbed! For his life is in him.” And after arising and breaking bread and partaking upon a sufficient amount and conversing until daylight, in this manner, he departed. And they led away the boy who was alive and not somewhat they were encouraged. (Acts 20:7-12)

Here we see clearly that the Word was taught, that bread was broken, and a meal was had. This fellowship was so important that they continued through the night into the daytime. This meant no rest for the congregation. With daylight upon them, work had to be done. Plus, even the death and rising of a young man didn’t put an end to the gathering. It provided a pause in what happened. The gathering continued.

… Without the assembly, we face temptations and challenges alone and, not only that, people tend to drift away from God’s Word toward their own words and thoughts.

This is why Paul urges us to “[c]lothe yourself with the full armor of God in order that you are able to stand towards the scheming of the devil. Because the opposing struggle is not for us towards blood and flesh but towards the rulers, towards the authorities, towards the world-rulers of this darkness, towards the spiritual beings of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:11–12). We are locked in a spiritual battle and while Paul details the armor of God to put on and how we stand by God’s strength and power (Ephesians 6:10, 13-17)[4], he also urges the Ephesians to pray for him “to make known in plainness the mystery of the gospel” and to pray “concerning all the saints” (Ephesians 6:19, 18). He doesn’t urge an individualistic standing up. In fact, in the following verse, Paul explains that he is sending Tychicus along with this letter, for the very purpose of filling them in on the details of what is happening and that “he might encourage your hearts” (Ephesians 6:22). Paul would likewise urge the Thessalonians, after explaining and teaching them God’s Word, “Therefore, encourage one another in these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18) and “For this reason, encourage one another and strengthen one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We see in all these instances that, while this encouragement can happen from afar, it happens best in person. This was not only Paul’s preference but Paul understood that we needed this encouragement in person. The family assembly is important enough to sacrifice sleep that we might be together, be encouraged, and be strengthened by God’s Word. And…it is important for that word to be spoken to us in the flesh. Not to mention that our assembly also challenges us to live in love toward each other and those outside the church.

For now, suffice it to say, our new family needs this gathering. We need this gathering. And we don’t just need it sometimes. We need it weekly and, at times, daily. God’s command for a weekly Sabbath wasn’t for His benefit but for ours. The Sabbath was made for man, not the other way around. We are the ones who need the Sabbath assembly with our eternal family.

Heavenly Father, You brought us into unity with Your Son and with one another through His death and resurrection. Let us not be quick to give up on that unity either in doctrine or practice but strive to retain and preserve it. Help us to encourage one another in gathering together and sharing Your gifts and our lives. Lead us also to remember those who cannot gather with us and strengthen our bonds with them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

[2] The first paragraph and a portion of the second paragraph concluded last month’s newsletter and have been reprinted here for continuity.

[3] Christian congregations are connected with other Christian congregations through the Spirit of Christ, even as they worship at different times and places. Sometimes, this spiritual connection made know to us through some means like recorded video or audio. Another way this was realized was in farming communities that used a bell during the Lord’s prayer. The tolling of this bell three times told those who were not gathered for church that those present were praying the Lord’s Prayer. Those who weren’t physically present could stop then and there and pray the Lord’s Prayer and in this way be united in spirit with those who were gathered in the church building. (Klemet,131-132)

[4] “From now on, be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of His strength…. On account of this, take up the complete armor of God in order that you might be able to resist in the evil day, and after conquering all things, to stand. Therefore, stand after girding your waist in truth and after clothing yourself in the breast plate of righteousness, and after putting on the feet in the preparation of the gospel of peace, after taking up in everything the shield of faith, in which you will be able to quench all the arrows of the evil one, which are flaming. And after receiving the helmet of salvation and the short sword of the Spirit, which is the speaking of God.” (Ephesians 6:10, 13-17)