The event of waking up early on Sunday morning, getting ready, leaving the house, arriving in Church with little minutes to spare, singing, dancing, listening, taking the benediction, chatting with folks, then arriving home tired is a thing which is gradually becoming of the past.
If there's one thing COVID-19 has cone to do, it is to change the narrative. People are suddenly becoming antagonistic towards peer-to-peer interactions. No one shakes or hugs anymore; except you are someone extremely close and trusted (and the hug would be a very cautious one still). So when I hear people talk about how badly they want Church to resume, I roll my eyes, hold my face in my hands, then sigh.
Church as was originally invented was not a religion. It was a way of life which was noticed by the natives of Antioch. They didn't call the disciples of Christ Christians cos' they saw them clap or sing; they called them Christians cos' they exhibited Christ-like features. Christ-like features which are now nonexistent in the lives if Christians today. What is the use of assembling as a group if we cannot edify ourselves? The Bible says "iron sharpeneth irons" but all I see these days are ice cold Christians who can't even define their faith. All of a sudden healing a sick person has now become a miracle. Is that what Christ died on the Cross for? That we become shy and cowardice in the exhibition of the grace that His death offers us on a platter of gold?
If I would be clear on my point, I would say we have stopped becoming Christians and now become Religious folks; who assemble like the Pharisees in the streets that they may be seen. Unlike the Pharisees, Christ did something which I would admonish us to do; He developed Himself after the Holy Spirit rested on Him.
Growth can only come when you decide to work on yourself..yourself, not ourselves. A few areas we should work on are;
Prayer: Many a Christian cannot pray for an hour in their closet, but when you see them in the gathering of the brethren, they're busy prancing about like a caged lion. A prayer less Christian is a Christian bound to fail on his journey to purpose fulfillment.
Ethics: Recently, there's been a wave of Christians who want the public to applaud them, so they fake almost everything about themselves; especially in the presence of the pastor. Thereby forgetting the main goal; pleasing God, our Father.
Self Discovery: When you go to Church you see someone with a beautiful smile and cheerful spirit work in the technical studio, when meanwhile she could be an usher. We need to start asking questions pertaining our purpose.
Fellowship: When I say fellowship, I don't mean the gathering of the brethren. I mean father and son fellowship. In an average African Church, you can put an estimate on amount of people who can say they hear from God directly; and that estimate is usually low. It's high time we go back to our first love; God.
I'm certain that if all these be, our Christian journey would be one to reckon with. It's high time we stopped having Church goers and start having Christians.