In today’s world, it’s easier than ever to stay home and “do church” virtually. Livestreams, Zoom Bible studies, and online sermons are just a click away, tempting us to trade the gathering of God’s people for the comfort of our couches. This shift started for many during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when churches were forced to close their doors, and we turned to screens to worship. While technology can be a blessing, it’s also a challenge—because the Bible calls us to assemble together, not just watch from a distance. In 1 Kings 12, Jeroboam, a king synonymous with sin, made a similar move. He redefined worship for God’s people, making it convenient but disobedient, and his legacy led Israel astray. God’s Word calls us to active, in-person faith. Let’s explore Jeroboam’s “new normal” and why assembling as a church is essential today.
Jeroboam’s “New Normal”: A Convenient but Costly Change
Jeroboam’s name appears 22 times in Scripture with the phrase, “which did cause Israel to sin.” After the kingdom split, with the ten northern tribes under his rule, Jeroboam seized an opportunity (“never let a crisis go to waste”) to radically change worship (1 Kings 12:26-31). He set up altars in Dan and Bethel, creating high places throughout the land so people didn’t have to travel to Jerusalem to worship. This wasn’t outright idolatry like Ahab’s later reign, but a watered-down form of Judaism—convenient, comfortable, and uncostly. You didn’t even have to leave home to “go to church.” Jeroboam’s system ensured Israel never had a good king or a single revival, leading them into spiritual emptiness. Hosea 10:5 calls Bethel, “the house of God,” Bethaven, “the house of emptiness,” because of this particular sin.
God’s Design for Assembly: A Biblical Mandate
Before Jeroboam’s “new normal,” God’s design for worship was clear. In Exodus 19:4, He said, “I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.” Eleven times God told Pharaoh, “Let my people go, that they may worship me!” God delivered Israel from Egypt, baptized them unto Moses in the Red Sea, and led them to the Rock that was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:2-4). They became “the church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38), assembling whenever the silver trumpets sounded (Numbers 10:2). Once in the Promised Land, God chose Jerusalem as the place for His people to gather as one assembly (Deuteronomy 12:1-11)—Zion, the city of the Great King. Over four hundred times, “assemble”, “assembly”, and “congregation” are mentioned in the Old Testament.
The New Testament continues this call to worship corporately. The word “church” means “a called-out assembly,” mentioned 115 times, with over 100 references to a specific local gathering. Just as God freed Israel to worship corporately, Christ liberated His church from Satan’s bondage to assemble as a household, temple, and body (Ephesians 2:19-22). We’re not bound by fear but are children of liberty (Romans 8:15). In fact, America was settled and founded by those fleeing tyranny to worship God freely—our freedom to assemble is a sacred rite, a legacy rooted in Scripture.
Jeroboam’s “New Normal” Was Based on Fear
Jeroboam ruled out of fear, not faith. In 1 Kings 12:26-27, he worried, “If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto… Rehoboam, king of Judah, and they shall kill me.” God had promised Jeroboam the northern tribes (1 Kings 11:29-43), but he “devised in his own heart” a plan to keep people from the house of God in Jerusalem.
Fear—False Evidence Appearing Real—drove him, not Faith: Forsaking All I Trust Him. Fear always inhibits the free worship of God. Today, we face similar fears: the fear of family members, loss of leisure (sports, recreation…) or economic opportunity at work, “It’s easier to stay home,” “What if I’m too busy to gather?” Remember the COVID-19 days, when we were told that assembling was “dangerous?” The message from Jeroboam was clear: “There’s a lion without—I shall be slain in the streets” (Proverbs 22:13). Today, that same fear lingers. But God calls us not to fear but to only trust Him and gather as His people.
The “New Normal” Was Based on the Wisdom of Man
Driven by fear, Jeroboam sought ungodly counsel (Psalm 1:1), making two golden calves and saying, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (1 Kings 12:28). He appealed to spiritual laziness, giving Israel “a reason” to slack off: “It’s too much!” Proverbs 20:4 warns, “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold.” Jeroboam’s excuse echoes today’s temptation: “It’s too much…” But this convenience comes at a cost. Jeroboam turned from true worship into a godless form of religion, “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). His legacy confused generations—even the Samaritan woman in John 4 was still debating the right place to worship nearly a millennium later. Jeroboam left a spiritual stumbling block for all those who came after him. Let us leave a heritage of the wisdom of God for those whom we influence, not the wisdom of men.
Jeroboam Redefined Church: A Warning for Today
Jeroboam went further, redefining the church itself: “He made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi” (1 Kings 12:31). There are three ways to change the Bible: add to it, take away from it, or redefine terms. Jeroboam redefined “church” as something it wasn’t. The church isn’t a content-creating online business—it’s a “called-out assembly.” I’m thankful for online sermons and resources. After I was saved, I listened to hundreds of preaching tapes, CDs, and now YouTube videos, but I never once thought, “I’ve been to church.”Watching a livestream isn’t the same as gathering with God’s people. When governments—or we ourselves—redefine worship as virtual-only, we echo Jeroboam, establishing a form of religion that misses God’s design.
Today, more than ever, people need the hope of assembling with God’s people. Anxiety, hopelessness, and godlessness are on the rise. A recent study showed that mental health struggles, including anxiety and depression, have increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, with many feeling isolated. Psalm 122:1 says, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord!” We need the joy, encouragement, and power that comes from gathering together to worship and also to fulfill the Great Commission.
Choose Faith Over Fear
Jeroboam’s “new normal” was a counterfeit, born of fear and man’s wisdom, leading Israel into spiritual emptiness. God’s design is different: He calls us to assemble, worship, and experience His power together. Don’t let the convenience of virtual church—or the lingering fears of “what if”—keep you from gathering with God’s people. Choose faith over fear, and join us in person at Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church to worship the King of Kings as He intended. Remember, assembling isn’t just essential—it’s biblical.
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