Churches in New York City that have been gathering for worship in public school facilities will no longer have that option available. The New York Board of Education has banned all use of public schools for “religious worship service” effective February 12th. The Court of Appeals has rejected attempts to have this ban lifted. And so, as of this writing, many churches are scrambling to find alternative meeting places for worship.
We may join fellow believers in feeling indignation—rightfully, I believe—at this development. Yet it has also led me to ponder just how essential it is for a church to have its own building or facility.
Vallejo International is quite blessed to have its own facility. For sure, having our own building makes it very convenient for us to conduct our ministries and activities without hindrances. We are able to schedule whatever event we want without having to worry about availability of space. We make our own decisions without outside interference.
But perhaps it is worth reminding ourselves that such convenience may also lead to slackness in our zeal and our commitment. We may start attending events only “at our convenience.” We do not see the need to be on time because there are no limits to the time that the place is available. We may even take for granted the fact of having a building that showing up for worship or prayer or Bible study becomes practically optional.
The early church did not have facilities such as we have in contemporary western society. Yet they showed up and participated fully at the gatherings. The New Testament evidence suggests that the early believers gathered in homes for worship, prayer, study of the Word, and fellowship. And when persecution of the church was at its worst, they had to meet secretly. But meet they still did! (This is true even of today’s church in countries where Christianity is outlawed.)
Perhaps we should revisit and take to heart Jesus’ words when he declared: “A time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem … a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4.21, 23 NIV).
It is not the place that makes a gathering a “worship service.” What matters is the fact that people do gather in the name of the Lord to bless his name and to seek his guidance. Whether it be a cathedral or a home or even a field, the place becomes “holy ground” when God shows up and meets with his people.
–Keith Y. Jainga