What a joy it was for us to celebrate our Resurrected Savior this past weekend! I am so thankful for the hope that we have in Jesus! It is remarkable to think that the same power that conquered the grave lives in each of us! I am praying that our church will continue to proclaim that truth to a world that desperately needs hope.
Gallup released a study a few months ago that I found very telling concerning our need for hope. As you know, 2020 was an incredibly taxing year for all of us mentally. In fact, this poll by Gallup found that nearly every demographic group saw a decrease in their mental health from 2019 to 2020. It did not matter if you were male or female or married or single. It didn’t matter your race or your socio-economic status. It didn’t matter what political party you were affiliated with. It didn’t matter your age. Every single demographic saw a decrease in mental health except for one category.
What was that category? Weekly religious service attendance. The only demographic that saw their mental health increase from 2019 to 2020 were those people who attended weekly religious services. Isn’t that remarkable?
I think it says something profound about the need that we all have for Biblical community. We are not meant to live our lives alone. We truly need each other! We need each other for encouragement and we need each other for our own mental health!
In the tenth chapter of Hebrews, there are a series of “let us” imperatives that the writer challenges us to do as a church:
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— 20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Because of what Jesus has done for us, we want to draw near to God with one another. We want to hold on to our confession of hope. And we want to consider how to stir one another to love and good deeds. We do this by not neglecting to gather with one another!
I know this past year has been crazy. We know this world needs hope. I want to encourage you to continue to gather with us weekly, whether in person or online, as we encourage each other. We are truly better together, church family! And not only are we better together, but according to this Gallup poll, we are healthier mentally as well!
In Him,
Pastor Zach