25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Church is not an activity you can do sitting at home watching a service on the TV or computer screen. We must meet together. Now before you talk to me about those who are bed-bound as a way to avoid your responsibility to meet with others, let me say that there are some exceptions. This verse is talking about laziness in not meeting, not necessity. Not meeting has become a habit. They have the ability to meet, but just choose to not meet. Other priorities take over. We need to meet because it is so easy to get discouraged in our walk. And when we are not discouraged, we need to pass on that courage to someone else. Meeting is supposed to be an activity that boosts us up in our faith. It is about connection. It is about knowing that we are not alone in our suffering. It is about sharing our joys with others. Our life’s journey can get lonely, even in a crowd of people. It only takes one connection at church for someone to return. If we make the effort to welcome and make visitors feel like there is a place for them, they will return. Exchange names. Find out about their lives, their families, their struggles, their hopes and dreams for the future. Isn’t that we want and need? Notice the verse says that our gathering together should become more frequent as the signals of Christ’s return become more evident. Our times of connection need to become more frequent, not less frequent. In our society that is so fragmented and shallowly connected, church can be the one place where people can be themselves and where authentic connections can be made.
The Arnold Journey 