Not all gatherings are equally good. Some gatherings are encouraged and will be encouraging to those who gather – such as a gathering of the people of God for worship. However, some gatherings are harmful, and will harm those who gather as well as those outside of that gathering. 
We saw a mob take over the capitol building last week, and innocent lives were lost. This was an ill-advised gathering. It was harmful to the gatherers and did harm to those outside of that gathering. But here’s why it’s hard to know whether a gathering is good or not. To those who choose to gather, it is always for a good cause! When the Nazi party gathered during WWII, it was to bring glory and order back to Germany. The people of Germany back then thought the Nazi party would be their savior! 
In Genesis 11, people gathered to build a city for themselves (although God told them to spread out). They wanted to “make a name” for themselves (Gen. 11:4). Whenever any group comes together for its own sake, rather than God, it has a danger of being evil! 
Why we gather matters. When you gather with your friends, is it to simply gather for the sake of gathering or to glorify God? Would your gathering in any way be glorifying to God? If not, you should reconsider gathering. Even though you might not think it, it could cause harm to you and others. 
“For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23
Human beings can do amazing things when they come together. But usually they are amazingly evil things, especially when God is absent… 
PH