Practically many Church buildings in many countries where the Covid-19 pandemic is ravaging have remained closed to physical Church meetings. Irrespective of their sizes and the number of people they could seat per time, 100,000 capacity, 50,000 capacity, 500 capacity or even less. It is true the Scripture admonished that we should not forget the assembling of ourselves together in Hebrews 10:25. However, I don't know if there had been a time in the past, either in Church history or in contemporary history, where Church building has been ask to close for one reason or the other.

 

Even in war periods, Church buildings aren't mostly closed. Although a few at the centre of war fronts could close their doors temporarily in order not to risk being shot at or bombed, but I doubt there had been events that warrants Churches to remain closed to meetings for the time being. This really calls for some reflection and why we need to go back to the basis. Right before we started having mega Churches, the Bible documented how believers at the time meet and hold their meetings, even in the face of threats and persecutions.

 

The first Church in the Bible no doubt must have been one big mega Church. The Bible recorded in Acts 2:42-47 that all those who became converted at the time all gather in one place to observe worship: Prayers, sharing the word of God and sharing their possessions among themselves.

 

"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ⁴³ Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, ⁴⁵ and sold their possessions and goods, and divided^[them among all, as anyone had need.⁴⁶ So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved."

 

The least we could think of regarding their number at the time was 3,000. Verse 41 says: "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." That was some humongous number there really. And it did not just end there, the Bible recorded that daily, as many who believed and being saved; were being added to this number. But a time came, after the killing of Stephen that this arrangement could no longer work. They needed to disperse abroad because the persecution was too great: "At that time a great persecution arose against the Church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles."

 

In this period that they faced persecution, it was no longer relevant who had the biggest auditorium at the time or whose congregation was the smallest. Believers, including their leaders, needed to run for their lives and safety in order to be able to stay alive to preach the message that Christ had commanded them to preach in Acts 1:8: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And this keeps me wondering really, whether in the future, Church capacity and sizes would matter as the events unfold in the world.

 

In this modern time where men of God are competing to have the largest auditorium in the country, command the largest crowds, et cetera. With Covid-19 and what have you, one have been able to see how "futile" so to say those desires could be amidst a pandemic and a global shut down. Whether big auditoriums or small, whether there is a shut down or not, the most important thing that should be in the hearts of spiritual leaders is how the word of God and regular worship will continue, irrespective of what is happening in the world per time.

 

Although, persecution had prevented the large gathering of the early Church and it warranted their scattering abroad, but what is happening right now really is telling us that it does not have to be persecution alone. Other things can come up. It is time to decongest our 50,000 and 100,000 regular Church meetings and release men into the world to go fulfill their God-given mandate. Jesus gave the disciples the mandate to raise disciples unto nations and not just some regular Church goers.

 

What is happening in the world right now is a signal to the Church that events and happenings may warrant that the physical buildings of our worship centers remain under lock and keys. But constant worship and spiritual meetings must never cease. And how really can this happen? It means the Church must leverage on technology. This is where I have a little concern about the back and forth debates among certain Church leaders who think the introduction of 5G is satanic and sign of the end time. Let us even agree that the source might be satanic, who says it cannot be converted and use for God's purpose and glory really?

 

It is time to learn the hard way from this occurrence and look towards the future. To those men of God who still hold the view that technology is evil, I think they might just need to relax and think again.

 

If events around the world is warranting that the Church buildings be closed just like we are witnessing right now, then Church leaders must still find a way to connect with their people one way or the other, either through leveraging on technology, or going back to the basis; house fellowship meetings. When this pandemic is over, I believe strongly that the Church meetings of now will not remain the same again. Everyone must have learnt one or two things which will revolutionize how we meet and how we raise our worship collectively to God, even amidst a shutdown.

 

Amen.

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Obayomi Abiola Benjamin!

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