"Zoom" is spelling Doom for the Assemblies

 It would not matter how I expressed my reasonings for the above title to this "Post." Its content will doubtless fall on many a deaf ear, and anger many saints no doubt. Be that as it may, there sadly is the need for the opportunity to be given to those who have a contrary view of so-called "virtual" meetings.

Right-back, very early in the first lockdown here in the U.K, many believers capitulated to extreme pressure from a few medically-minded and scientifically-disposed brethren in the U.S. and Canada.  Quickly adopting their continental brethren's dictates, and as quickly adapting the Word of God to meet the situation as interpreted by those brethren. All were based upon a very feeble medical understanding of the virus and on an ever-changing scientific basis. Worst of all man's wisdom was bowed to at the expense of the wisdom of God. Obedience to those in authority over us, "the powers that be," was demanded with the authority of the One who is Lord of all, pushed to one side to accommodate the advice of a handful of brethren from countries acting under a different legislature. Indeed here the legislation was deemed to be "unlawful!" sweeping away the constant cry of "civil disobedience." Furthermore, very few brethren took the time or made the effort to discover what the government had deemed mandatory and what was simply advisable. May I respectfully remind you that advice is not legislation?  

Immediately the vast majority of Assemblies here either closed their meeting places if they had not already done so, or determined to keep them closed until, well, WHEN? Countless local testimonies ceased almost overnight. And none that I know about in the S.W. of England and S. Wales have re-opened! But already a huge number of Assemblies have decided to close permanently, and many others are considering the same course of action. 

Now, perhaps none too soon I will address the subject of "virtual meetings." I DO NOT condemn them out of hand. As additional means of relaying gospel and ministry addresses, it is commendable and may well be blessed of God if for no other reason than that it is His Word. But what has been reported to me is alarming. Some have suggested that this is to be the "normal" way for saints to gather and that there is no need to return to the "old" way of meeting, i.e. face to face. More than once it has been said that when meeting "virtually" there is no need to dress properly, you can have your breakfast while the meeting is in progress, or pop out to make a cup of tea. You no longer need to make your way to the gatherings. It is so much more convenient. One brother told me in the course of a telephone call that he believed it was "the Lord's will" that we should meet in this way! 

Sadly the more I hear about this means of communication, the more distressed I become. I am the first to admit I do not have a huge amount of information, but sufficient for me to suspect that things are indeed so much worse. "ZOOM" means "DOOM" for the Assemblies of God's people!

I will not repeat what I reported a long time ago regarding the suggestions as to how we should celebrate the Lord's Supper, save to repeat I believed it to be a grotesque caricature of the "pattern" laid down in Scripture; and many of the practices at other gatherings, most having now abandoned meeting together since new government advice, were/are quite awful. I will not attempt to go into details.

Finally, I only know of one Assembly in England, one Assembly in South Wales, and one Assembly in Europe, where they have never deviated from their normal "assembling of themselves together!" It is of interest to note there has not been one case of covid-19 among them all. But they have all been vilified by their brethren! Why? Either because they are shamed or else envious. There is a need for us all to examine ourselves before the Lord and seek to know from Him if we should also have continued persevering "in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, in breaking of bread and prayers." Acts 2:42.