On 26 April 2022, the government lowered the DORSCON disease response level to yellow. This significantly relaxed various safety management measures. The whole country was euphoric about this. Many immediately arranged for meet ups over meals with friends and relatives. Businesses excitedly prepared for the prospect of an upturn in sales. Those who enjoyed travelling abroad also quickly arranged to visit neighbouring countries or other countries, regaining the feeling of “going abroad,” which they missed for more than two years. Everyone is hoping that life could return to what it was before the pandemic. Will Christians also hope that church life can return to what it was before? Or have we grown used to the convenience of attending worship online, and are reluctant to go back to physical worship? We thank God! Ever since the pandemic slowed down and the government relaxed measures surrounding religious organisations, brothers and sisters of TOLCC have enthusiastically returned to church to worship God and attend classes. This shows that brothers and sisters understand the importance of physical worship and fellowship. Online worship and study definitely have their advantages. It can overcome the constraints of space and time when sharing knowledge. It is, however, unable to entirely replace physical meetings, where the exchange of life is stirred up by participating in worship and fellowship together. No matter how internet technology advances or how realistic virtual technology gets, it cannot replace people’s physical interactions. If not, why do so many companies require employees to return to the office? Why are physical concerts sold out? Why do football fans go to the stadium to watch the match? Conversely, it is precisely because of these real interactions that people do not mind the trouble to spend time and energy to meet up. In an article by Christianity Today, it was reported that as the pandemic eased amongst American churches, more of the smaller churches recovered the number of physical worshippers from before the pandemic than bigger churches. They are also less likely to lose members. Many reasons could explain this phenomenon. One reason the article brought up was that everyone knows each other in a smaller church. No one could remain anonymous. This imperceptibly strengthens the relationship and gives a sense of belonging between people and the church. This does not mean that our small church will automatically have strong cohesion. We need every brother and sister to work hard together to build that.

We need to understand that when God calls us to be His children, it is also a call to enter into God’s big family. The New Testament’s many teachings tell us how to live together in church with God’s big family. It does not teach that we can choose not to engage other Christians. “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (Eph 4:1-7). According to Ephesians, because Christians follow one God, we need to be of one heart in God. Therefore, brothers and sisters, please regard all of church’s activities highly, be it worship, fellowship, cell groups, Sunday Shool, visitation, or other special activities. Please take some time out to attend. You can then exercise the grace that God apportioned you to serve the other members of His church. In this way, the church’s cohesion and sense of belonging will be built up. Then, this spiritual family will become a place that brothers and sisters look forward to coming.

The pandemic has disrupted our church life. Many Christians feel that online worship is fine, and that there is no need to worship physically. Online worship is indeed convenient, but it has big disadvantages. First, because it is too convenient, people inadvertently become flippant, treating the worship live stream as another online programme to watch, even to the extent of eating or doing housework while watching. This will gradually erode our attitude towards godly worship. Second, unless you make preparations, the surroundings will definitely contain distracting objects, which would not allow people to focus during worship. Third, online worship cannot allow you and other brothers and sisters to have in-depth fellowship. A lack of such fellowship will unknowingly dilute the church’s sense of humanity and care. It is different when you come to church, when brothers and sisters appear in front of you, you would naturally start to ask about them and share with them. Therefore, unless circumstances do not allow you, you must be physically present to attend church activities. In these end times, the support among brothers and sisters is especially important! “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb 10:24-25).

translated by Davina Seet