For Christians, the short answer is that God is not a stranger to pain and suffering. On the cross, God manifested His infinite love by sacrificing His own beloved Son for the sake of sinners like us. In a mystery beyond human comprehension, Jesus the Son of God tasted excruciating torture that He may obtain the salvation of His people. In response, we Christians ought to worship Him.

In this times of Covid-19, public worship every Sunday is a challenge. In the past three Sundays of this month, our church has evolved from regular worship on the first Sunday, to a small group worshipping in a socially-distanced way on the second Sunday, and finally last Lord’s Day, to complete virtual worship via Zoom.

While there are difficulties in convening publicly for worship, we must find a way to keep the Lord’s Day holy. We must beware of the temptation to neglect congregational worship just because of the community quarantine. We are blessed to be living in an age where technology can make virtual gatherings possible. We must take advantage of such means whenever we could.

Let me be clear. I am not advocating virtual assembly as a replacement for regular church worship. I am simply pointing out that instead of neglecting public worship, we should make use of whatever means God has provided for us. In like manner, during times of persecution, Christians of old worshipped in whatever way they could, be it at the catacombs under Rome or under trees in the field in the times of the Puritans.

One thing that virtual worship has taught me is actually how valuable congregational worship is. Worship via the internet has made me long for the time when I could once again see our church face to face. We take such blessings for granted Sunday after Sunday. Now that they are withheld for us, we realize how great a blessing it is to be afforded the freedom to worship together.