A Sacred Gathering

Rallies and protest marches in Washington, D.C. have been taking place since 1893, when Fry’s Army organized a protest march by unemployed American workers. Events held at the National Mall take place between the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. In 1995, the National Park Service quit releasing crowd size estimates for Mall rallies after a controversy concerning the Million Man March.

Over the years, there have been marches against nuclear weapons, marches to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr., repeated protests against the Vietnam War, pro-life marches, pro-choice marches, and, more recently, the March for Our Lives student-led demonstration. Turnout was estimated to be between 1.2 and 2 million people, making it the largest protest in American history.

The Bible encourages the “assembling of ourselves together,” not for the purpose of protest, but to worship God and fellowship with one another. The early church understood and practiced coming together. “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1). When the Holy Spirit was poured out, the results were astounding. “Those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (v. 41).

Another reason Christians come together is for corporate worship. It affirms our identity as believers in God who “are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Such gatherings not only provide encouraging opportunities for interpersonal relationships and spiritual growth, but they become a witness to the world. “Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:14).

Apply It:

What is the biggest crowd you have ever been in? Was it a sports event, a concert, a rally, or a church gathering?

Dig Deeper:

Deuteronomy 31:12, 13; Matthew 18:20; Colossians 3:16

Key Bible Texts

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (Hebrews 10:24 KJV)