Churches must be filled. Even though Zoom and other online platforms are becoming predominant outlets for hosting religious events, in-person worship is still essential.
The end of true worship is to give glory to God and seek communion with him through the giving of self. It is not a chore, task, duty, or “makes me feel good” activity. Authentic worship is an encounter, a personal experience, and a gift of self.
In order to achieve this end, both our soul and body must be prepared in the right manner. The soul needs silence, beauty, and contemplation for worship. Since the body contains the soul, it also needs these things. Therefore, physical signs such as sacred music, art, incense, and community are just a few among many that aid us in approaching the divine. At church, we experience the liveliness of the community and the silent moments of reflection. Many churches display sacred artwork or tasteful forms of interior architecture that elevate the mind. In church, all our senses come together to form a glimpse into the supernatural. We cannot have that same sensation in Zoom church. Through a screen, we receive only a partial experience of the unified senses. In a physical church, we are able to fully integrate our soul and body together toward God.
For example, we dress up for a fancy occasion because the event is important. The act of dressing up not only signifies our disposition, but also puts us in the right mood for the event. We take the event seriously: it is an “extraordinary” experience compared to the regular happenings of each day. We should draw the same conclusion for the need of in-person worship. The physical church (rather than the virtual) prepares, orders, and directs the attention of the participant to something greater. It is a sign that worship in a church is different from online work, class, or a professional development meeting. It is a participation in the divine.
Church over Zoom, livestream, or some other form of media fails to allow us to fully participate in liturgical celebration. Distractions in our environment impede our ability to pay attention to the two-dimensional elements of church on the screen. Church starts to become like the rest of our online activities, rather than something set aside as sacred.
For example, during the fall of 2020, I helped lead a high school boys’ small group to help them develop their faith and relationship with God. We met through Zoom and it seemed effective at first. As time passed, however, the online format created both distraction and disinterest among the boys. Once we switched to meeting in person, our discussions yielded both stronger relationships and richer discussions. Nothing changed, materially speaking. We still used the same content and method of approach in discussion. The only change was the transition from online to in-person discussions.
Moreover, churches not only prepare us to worship, but are proper places of worship. Online church is simply a temporary replacement, a way to fill in the gaps. God did not have David build a temple simply because he needed a place to stay. Rather, it was because God wanted a place that was set apart and exclusive to worship.
At its core, worship is meant to encourage relationship with God. But what does a real relationship entail? Relationship means communion. Yes, we can meet God in the classroom, street, or kitchen, but God chooses to make himself known in human, concrete ways. Ever since the Old Testament, God is apparent within a sacred place for men to visit and pay him homage. Rather than changing this, Christ made this relationship and encounter all the more intimate, tangible, and real. He does not want to meet us at a distance through virtual livestreaming, but rather in a way that we can both relate to and understand.
In-person worship is essential to man’s ability to both fully and actively participate in worship. Zoom church is a convenient fallback when circumstances are difficult, but we must not let that fallback become a regular habit. A church creates the environment for properly entering the sacred. It transmits silence, beauty, and contemplation. It is a foretaste of heavenly worship and a reminder of the true presence of Christ in our midst.
Sean Callaghan is a freshman studying the liberal arts.
