It has become vogue in recent decades to think of the gathering of the saints as unnecessary for Christians. When pressed, people will say things like “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.” Such a comment only betrays a deep misunderstanding of Christ and His Church. Simply put, God gathers His children together as a merciful Father. The Church in its purest form are the people of God gathered around God receiving life and truth and salvation from God. Christians strengthen one another, encourage one another, and pray for one another. Thomas had separated himself from the disciples after seeing Jesus crucified and in his separation he was falling deeper and deeper into unbelief. He had gotten to the point that he was beginning to challenge God, promising faith only under certain conditions. Like the Jews who said they would believe in Jesus if He came down from the cross, Thomas said he would only believe if he saw the wounds himself and touched the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side. Jesus’ own promise of resurrection wasn’t enough for Thomas. Thanks be to God, the Church found Thomas and urged him back. They proclaimed to him the various reports of the resurrection and by that preaching, the Holy Spirit en-kindled faith once again. To be a Christian is to be with Jesus and the gifts that He gives, receiving the life and salvation which He won for us on the cross. To be a Christian is to be gathered with other Christians receiving the peace which Christ stands in our midst to give. God grant that we not forsake gathering with our brothers and sisters in Christ as our Lord bids us to do in the Third Commandment, for Jesus promises that wherever two or three are gathered together in His Name, there He is in their midst. I look forward to being with Jesus with you this coming Lord’s Day.
Pastor Ulmer