by Dan Christian

When you hear that meeting together in-person as believers in Christ is what Scripture calls us to do, don’t miss the beauty of all that frames that biblical command in Hebrews 10:25. And then think carefully about what virtual gathering can—and cannot—provide. 

The command to not neglect meeting together is actually just one phrase in a very long sentence that stretches from verse 19 through verse 25 of Hebrews 10. It is a densely packed summary statement that bookends the central idea of the whole book of Hebrews. So when verse 19 starts with “Therefore, brothers and sisters,” it is referring back to all that has preceded it about the superiority of Jesus as our great and perfect high priest.

Because of all that Jesus has accomplished for us as our great high priest, the author of Hebrews is saying, we then respond in three distinct but connected ways, delineated by three statements of “Let us”: Let us draw near, let us hold fast, and let us consider. We are to draw near to God in faith, hold fast our confession of hope, and consider how to stir one another up to love. Faith, hope, and love are all wrapped up in this call to respond to Jesus’ priestly ministry. 

Stirring one another up—or spurring one another on—to love, by definition requires connectedness with one another; it is not a solitary action. Therefore, the author says, we must not neglect meeting together, but instead encourage one another continually. The word for “neglect” is much stronger than simply being lax about getting together—it means to “abandon” or “forsake” a covenant. The author says that attitude of giving up on meeting together is something that could become habitual, thus there is need to intentionally fight that tendency. 

The flipside of not abandoning our gathering is instead to encourage one another. So in one sense, the author is making gathering together synonymous with encouraging each other. This is the same word “encouragement” that is used in Hebrews 3:12, where we are commanded to “exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” The kind of encouragement that comes through meeting together is not mere positivity, but is a deep soul care that keeps us walking faithfully with Christ.

In the flow of this long, beautifully crafted sentence, the encouragement of meeting together connects directly with the third exhortation to stir one another up to love. There is a mutual, good provocation that comes with gathering together, which deepens our capacity to love. However, it’s not a stretch to see that meeting together and encouraging one another also boosts our faith as we draw near to God, and strengthens our hearts to hold fast to hope. Thus, just as the priestly work of Christ provides the basis for our response of faith, hope, and love, so the act of gathering together provides the context in which all of that can happen. 

So does a virtual gathering, like a Zoom meeting or a livestream worship service, accomplish this same mutual encouragement toward faith, hope, and love? Yes…and no. I believe significant aspects of this mutual encouragement are only possible in a physical gathering together. Virtual meetings are helpful and can facilitate some aspects of this kind of mutual soul care, but let’s not settle for the virtual and miss the fullness that comes with actual gathering. And as we come back together in-person, let’s not bypass the benefits that we gain with physical proximity.

Think about a few of the differences between virtual and in-person gathering. Virtual gatherings miss out on most of the significant pre- and post-meeting conversations that happen spontaneously while simply hanging out. Often those conversations are where we process and apply what we have just heard in the sermon or meeting, and where relationships are deepened as we listen and share with one another. Those conversations can—and sometimes do—happen virtually, but in a much more limited fashion than when we are present in-person with one another. Thus, as we come back together, let’s make sure we make the most of these times to connect deeply before and after, rather than showing up late and leaving early. 

Virtual meetings miss much of our nonverbal communication and are devoid of physical touch. There is much encouragement that comes through our nonverbal engagement with one another—whether sighs or smiles, tears or a gentle touch—which gets lost (or is downright impossible) in a virtual gathering. Thus, as we come back together, let’s make the most of the opportunity to engage our whole being with one another as we were created to do. 

There are many other distinctions between gathering virtually and in-person, but I’ll mention only one other here: Virtual meetings generally cushion us from spontaneous, sanctifying interactions with people we find uncomfortable to be around. I recognize this may not be a reason that excites you to come back together, and yet this is an important aspect of Christian community. We are called to love the unlovable, to care for the least of these, to extend kindness and grace to those different than us. In the gathered community of the church, we have ample opportunity to grow in these ways, as uncomfortable as they often are. Again, these opportunities could happen in virtual gatherings too, but it is easier to avoid them when they are not physically “in your face.” So, as we come back together, let’s open our hearts to the opportunities God gives us to love difficult people.

In this pandemic time, there is much good that has come from our virtual gatherings, and I am certainly thankful for the opportunity to connect virtually in an otherwise extremely isolating time. However, as the situation continues to improve and there are increased opportunities to gather in-person, I hope that (to the extent that we can) we will not settle for the virtual substitute but will come together in-person to encourage each other to draw near to God, to hold fast to hope, and to spur each other on to love.