The point of gathering together is because it is in gathering together that we are the Church, because it is in our gathering together that we hear the word, that we receive the Lord's Supper, that we offer thanksgiving and praise to God, and offer our prayers to God. It's what we've always done, and it is for our benefit.
And I can offer first hand experience that time apart from the Body is unhealthy for one's soul. There is spiritual therapy here in God's Word and Sacraments, in the fellowship of the Body, in the hymns and prayers of the Faithful, in the confession of our sins, and in the affirmation of our faith.
As Christians we need these things. God promises to actually be present through His Word and Sacraments to us, to minister to and heal us with His grace.
True, it's not about the building. But dedicated sacred spaces are beneficial for our gathered worship because such spaces are for that purpose. Even the ancient so-called "house churches" of the early centuries were specifically designated sacred spaces where the houses had been worked on and changed to actually accommodate the gathering of the Faithful. While mosaics, stained glass, various paraments, etc may not be "necessary", Christians have always dressed up their sacred spaces with visible marks of our Christian faith. Images of Christ and the saints, images from stories from the Bible, symbols (especially the cross), etc. Various practices developed, not as meaningless "ritual", but rather as things which help facilitate the preaching of the Word and the receiving of the Sacraments. For example, why do we historically recite Creeds as part of a traditional worship service? It originates from baptismal confessions of faith. The earliest Creeds are baptismal confessions, where the baptismal candidate is asked, "Do you believe in the Father, Almighty Maker of heaven and earth?" and "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary..." etc. Since baptisms typically happen in the context of the gathered fellowship, not only did the baptismal candidates confess their faith, but the entire congregation confessed their faith together with them. Thus by openly confessing what we believe with and to one another we are saying, "Here is our agreement in Christ: We have one God, the Father, Almighty Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His only-begotten Son, our Lord..."
As many have distanced themselves from "organized religion" the fruits of these things have been consistent: People are not hearing the word of God, people are not being taught and instructed in the faithful teaching of the Christian Church, there is an exponential growth in both biblical and theological illiteracy. People are, rather than abiding in good and faithful preaching and teaching, turning their ears toward less reputable sources for their spiritual and religious formation. They are turning to politics, turning to entertainment, turning to the latest fads. Heresies are growing in abundance, and con-artists and false prophets are thieves robbing lambs from the flock of Christ. Wild beasts are preying on the weak and the unaware.
Are there a lot of really toxic and weird and bad churches out there? Of course there are. And I don't think anyone should be part of those. But there are as many, if not more, very good, solid churches which are faithfully committed to the work entrusted to us by Christ. Where God ministers to us through Word and Sacrament because there is an abiding in the historic teaching of the faith and the word of God which has been received since the beginning.
The answer to the problem of problematic churches isn't no church at all. The answer to that problem is the need and importance of faithful churches, and for the Faithful to be fed and shepherded in the things of Christ.
And no matter how often you might open up your Bible or watch a Christian tv show or listen to "Christian music". Without the Body you're just a limb that is seeking to amputate itself. The arm needs the Body, the leg needs the Body, because the Body is held together under its Head, which is Christ Jesus our Lord. A branch cut off from the root withers. Do not wither, but thrive in the abundance of Christ which is in His Body, where He gives Himself in Word and Sacrament as true heavenly food and drink for us.
-CryptoLutheran
