New Church Clothes

Greetings!!!

Don’t be surprised when I show up to church in my underwear!

I don’t know about you, but here in the O’Neal household, we have settled down and adjusted to our current circumstances. The initial shock of being “locked down” and unable to gather as we normally would has passed. We have endured the discomfort of being instructed, albeit not in a biblical sense, “thou shalt not gather.” Now, we have grown accustomed to waking up a bit later on Sundays, no longer rushing to get ready for church. It has become our new norm to sit through the sermon in our pajamas while enjoying breakfast, perhaps even dozing off or taking breaks. It seems this new normal has become comfortable, but deep down, isn’t it a shame?

What an intriguing temptation to face—the temptation to embrace the new normal, to even enjoy and, if I’m being honest, prefer it. Let’s admit it, sitting back and relaxing on a Sunday can be quite convenient. After all, we work hard throughout the week, and doesn’t God command us to rest? But what are we missing? Well, if I’m being honest, it’s almost everything.

Last week, I mentioned that all of life is worship. I emphasized that gathering in a physical building is not the ultimate requirement for worship. We should be worshiping wherever and whenever we find ourselves, in every given moment and circumstance. Whether on a train, in a plane, or in an automobile—though I’m not quite sure why I brought up modes of transport, it seemed to flow, and I stand by it. The essence is that all of life should be marked by worship. “Saying you are going to church to worship should be like saying you are going to bed to breathe.” However, even with this perspective, staying at home on Sundays is not the norm for followers of Christ.

So, is it right for us to honor and comply with the government’s command to stay home? Absolutely! Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 make it clear in this regard. By submitting to our not-so-holy government, we demonstrate our ability to submit to a Holy God. It is through such obedience that we shine brightly in the world. Having said that, we can be thankful that this period is coming to an end. Although it may happen slowly and with additional restrictions (which we should honor), it seems that things are starting to loosen up. Some of the restrictions are being lifted, and praise God, it appears that we will be able to resume Sunday gatherings again! Hallelujah!

So, how should we respond? By gathering, of course! This new normal is far from normal; it’s peculiar and somewhat unpleasant. Honestly, part of our old normal was practicing good hygiene by showering regularly, and perhaps we should have maintained that normalcy. But it’s just too easy to become lazy. As Christians, we are called to gather (Hebrews 10:24-25), to bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2), and to maintain unity (Ephesians 4:3). We are all parts of one body and one spirit (Ephesians 4:4). God has blessed us with one another to equip and support one another, and it becomes much easier to fulfill this calling when we are physically together.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
    and he gave gifts to men.”

(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:1-16

Oh how I’m longing for, and looking forward to, normal fellowship on Sundays, to being normal with all of you (even if I do seem to struggle with being normal sometimes, but that’s why I need you)! To laugh and to grow with, in a way that is normal. In the way Christ intended….together!!!!!

Love you, miss you, looking forward to seeing you, and prepare yourself for some Rom 16:16,

Mike

P.s.Seriously though. Don’t be shocked when I show up in my jam jams. Some new habits die hard!!!