Have we outgrown the need? I don’t think so. The church is necessary. Preaching is necessary (Romans 10:14-17 and 1 Timothy 4:13), singing Psalms is necessary (Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16), discipleship and discipline are necessary (Matthew 28:16-20, 1 Corinthians 5:4-5), public prayer is necessary (1 Timothy 2:1-2), evangelism is necessary (Mark 16:15), and fellowship is necessary (Acts 2:42-47). The ministry of Word and sacrament is not a mere convention of human will and expediency, it is absolutely necessary. So I have another proposal. If the church is necessary, let’s not quit. Let’s devote and commit ourselves to it in this year for our good and God’s glory. As the author of Hebrews wrote: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
