ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24,25, The Message)

One of the casualties of the pandemic has been church worship and fellowship. We have suffered from isolation and loneliness which has affected our faith, hope and love. Not seeing and enjoying relationship with friends and loved ones has discouraged and depressed us. Avoiding physical contact and conversation because of social distancing has diminished our fellowship and concern for one another. Not seeing one another regularly except for occasional glimpses in supermarkets has alienated us from one another. Even family members have avoided one another on the mistaken assumption that we need to be careful not to spread contact positivity. Masks have made conversation difficult. We have avoided sitting close to one another and churches have dropped passing the peace of greeting in services. As we resume worshiping together we must encourage conversation and contact in order to enjoy fellowship and care for one another. It is all too easy to go to church and not talk to others or greet them in any but a superficial way. We are part of the Body of Christ and we need one another in order to function in a healthy way. It is an anomaly to participate in Holy Communion by serving oneself in the pew and not to have communion with one another by ignoring each other, by leaving early so that we do not have to talk to anyone or greet them.

“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread which we break a participation in the blood of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” (1 Cor.10:16,17)

Let me encourage you to show your solidarity with, concern for, and care for one another in your church by greeting one another, enquiring of one another, and reaching out to one another for we are all part of the Body of Christ. If we live to ourselves we will also die to ourselves. Jesus said, “By this all people will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) Be friendly and welcoming to others. All of us are starved for relationships, if we are willing to admit it. Self-isolation is deadly. Christian love is life-giving.