I’ve been thinking about church a lot lately; how strange it will feel not to be there tomorrow. But as I considered celebrating Resurrection Sunday without being able to gather together, an encouraging thought came to mind.

We are the church.

Yes, church is a building. And I will miss being there tomorrow. But the church is more than just a place. The church is people. God’s people. Wherever we are, together or apart.

We are the church.

We may not be sitting side by side in the pews tomorrow, but we can sit with our families in our living rooms praising God, reading His Word, praying, and celebrating the joy of the Resurrection.

We are the church.

Life will look different tomorrow than it has on Easter in years past, just as life has looked different over the last weeks than it ever has in our experience. But despite what we see as uncertainties and unknowns, we can rest in the truth that nothing is uncertain or unknown to God.

We are the church.

Nothing can stand against us because nothing can stand against the God we serve. Not the cross, not the grave, not persecution, not a pandemic, not anything past, present, or future.

These lyrics from a song by Downhere capture it well:

We are a cathedral
made of people
In a kingdom that
the eye can’t see
We’re a house, we are the bride
Where God’s Spirit lives inside
And nothing ever
can stand against her

We don’t have to be in a church building to be in God’s presence. The same God that offered His Son on the cross in our place and rose Jesus from the grave is with us wherever we are. What an unfathomable gift that is! And what incredible joy it brings to know that we belong to such a God.

Tomorrow we’ll wake up, get dressed up just because, and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection at home together. And while we might not be at church, I am rejoicing in the truth that we are the church.

…”Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said…”