Pastoral Thoughts for this Cultural Moment
Who would have imagined just a few weeks ago that we would be unable to meet as a corporate body because of the rapid spread of a new virus? The whole situation is surreal. Watching industry, government, and education systematically shut down seems like something from a movie script, and yet it is real. In the midst of all of this we are called upon as Christians to walk wisely between faith and prudence. How do we submit to the governing authorities appointed by God and maintain our distinctly Christian identity? While all of these questions and more are swirling, one thing is clear--this is a marvelous opportunity for the Church to both learn about herself and display the glory of Jesus to a watching and fearful world.
First, The corona virus is uniquely poised to expose where our true hope lies. As Christians we claim to hope, believe, and delight in Christ alone and yet we shamefully trust ourselves. The simple fact is that our cultural context has made it possible to believe that we need Jesus to do very little for us--we have checking accounts, steady pay, retirement accounts, and the freedom to go and do as we please. Now it seems that many of those things will be compromised and some of them taken from us altogether. As things that provide us with a sense of security crumble, we are being reminded that they were never appropriate sources of security and hope anyway. In my Bible reading plan this morning I read Leviticus 25. In that chapter the Lord provided the laws regarding the sabbath year. In that year all debts were to be forgiven, people returned to their homelands, and no crops were harvested so that even the land could rest from its labor. In other words, the sabbath year brought with it a shutdown of a dominate industry. Into the panic of "how will we eat if we can't harvest for a whole year", the Lord spoke an eternal truth that abides to this day. He promised to that people that He could make the crops of the sixth year abound so that they would have left over for three years--far more than enough to carry them through one year of no harvest. Now, I am not claiming that God is going to give three years of "harvest" for our security. But I am saying that God is the one who provides--He always has been and He always will be. It may be a wonderful gift that we don't think we want that in the midst of this chaos, God teaches His Church to trust Him and only Him.
Second, if you, a regenerate Christian with a set and secure hope in Christ and an assurance of your eternal destiny are concerned, then consider the mindset of those who are still slaves to their flesh and have never contemplated the reality of death and loss. In other words, there is a strong chance that your neighbors are afraid. The uncertainty of this moment worries them. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to speak truth and display the goodness of Christ to a neighbor in need. Make your contact information available to your neighbors. Offer to pray with them and to work toward meeting physical needs. Be present in your neighborhood for the glory of God. Be creative in the way you love your neighbor.
Finally, lean into your community groups. Small meetings of Christians in homes may become a new normal for a season. We need one another, especially in a time like this. It seems that for some time we will need to be creative in the ways that we meet. We would strongly encourage your community group to meet--if you are a large group, consider dividing for a season and meet in a couple of homes, but meet. Pray, sing, and go before the Father of every good gift and ask for mercy and wisdom, but beyond even that, ask Him to cause His name to be honored in this time. We need Him. May the world see in the church that it is so sweet to trust in Jesus.
First, The corona virus is uniquely poised to expose where our true hope lies. As Christians we claim to hope, believe, and delight in Christ alone and yet we shamefully trust ourselves. The simple fact is that our cultural context has made it possible to believe that we need Jesus to do very little for us--we have checking accounts, steady pay, retirement accounts, and the freedom to go and do as we please. Now it seems that many of those things will be compromised and some of them taken from us altogether. As things that provide us with a sense of security crumble, we are being reminded that they were never appropriate sources of security and hope anyway. In my Bible reading plan this morning I read Leviticus 25. In that chapter the Lord provided the laws regarding the sabbath year. In that year all debts were to be forgiven, people returned to their homelands, and no crops were harvested so that even the land could rest from its labor. In other words, the sabbath year brought with it a shutdown of a dominate industry. Into the panic of "how will we eat if we can't harvest for a whole year", the Lord spoke an eternal truth that abides to this day. He promised to that people that He could make the crops of the sixth year abound so that they would have left over for three years--far more than enough to carry them through one year of no harvest. Now, I am not claiming that God is going to give three years of "harvest" for our security. But I am saying that God is the one who provides--He always has been and He always will be. It may be a wonderful gift that we don't think we want that in the midst of this chaos, God teaches His Church to trust Him and only Him.
Second, if you, a regenerate Christian with a set and secure hope in Christ and an assurance of your eternal destiny are concerned, then consider the mindset of those who are still slaves to their flesh and have never contemplated the reality of death and loss. In other words, there is a strong chance that your neighbors are afraid. The uncertainty of this moment worries them. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to speak truth and display the goodness of Christ to a neighbor in need. Make your contact information available to your neighbors. Offer to pray with them and to work toward meeting physical needs. Be present in your neighborhood for the glory of God. Be creative in the way you love your neighbor.
Finally, lean into your community groups. Small meetings of Christians in homes may become a new normal for a season. We need one another, especially in a time like this. It seems that for some time we will need to be creative in the ways that we meet. We would strongly encourage your community group to meet--if you are a large group, consider dividing for a season and meet in a couple of homes, but meet. Pray, sing, and go before the Father of every good gift and ask for mercy and wisdom, but beyond even that, ask Him to cause His name to be honored in this time. We need Him. May the world see in the church that it is so sweet to trust in Jesus.