The congregation entered from the rear of the sanctuary and was told to avoid utilizing the restrooms. They were asked to wear masks and to take one from the church’s supply if they forgot their own. The time to shake hands arrived and left with only virtual hugs and air high-fives. Families sat together and were asked not to come within six feet of other families.
“I am sooooo ready for things to get back to normal,” said one church member to another. “Me too,” said the pastor, overhearing and interrupting the conversation. “I can’t wait until we can all sit together in Sunday school again,” said his wife. But what if “normal” isn’t ever the same or where we return? Was everything we were doing, all those meetings, all that busy-ness, those three sermons per week, necessary? Was it effectively reaching others with the Gospel? Was it even truly, (dare I write), biblical? Is it possible that the Lord has allowed churches to become more influential and relational than institutional and programmed? I like to think that we can view churches as either fortresses or outposts. Sometimes it seems like churches were sheltering in place in our fortresses rather than entering our mission fields after leaving our outposts, prepared to influence the world.
Most churches have now gone online in one form or another. Some worship services are virtual, some are in-person with live-streaming. Sunday school classes and small groups are meeting electronically, outside with distancing, or indoors with distancing. Some have yet to meet at all. Children and student ministries are finding creative ways to meet online and live with distancing. To say the least, churches have had to become creative. We may have lost our fortresses.
Now school is starting, or not starting, or starting with three choices of delivery methods. Churches are reimagining Wednesday night programming and other ministries. Some are virtual, some are live with distancing, some are live with live-streaming. We may be more involved in our mission fields, having come less often to our outposts and being , but more enthused and energized, to our outposts for equipping.
Perhaps it is good for the institutionalized church to create new ways to provide community. Perhaps the church is to continue to be creative while adapting to the COVID-19 situation as it continually changes and causes change. Perhaps we, as believers, are to exhibit faith and joy as we find new ways and opportunities to fulfill the Greatest Commandment, loving God, and the Second Greatest Commandment, loving others. Perhaps we can fulfill the Great Commission by not insisting on our own way, (see 1 Corinthians 13), and by truly loving God and others enough to embrace and adapt for the sake of the Gospel. Maybe we needed to be out in our communities more, representing Christ in our relationships with others.
How are you personally going to react if your church changes worship, Sunday school, small groups, midweek programming, and other traditional expressions of worship and ministry? Will you follow your pastor’s vision for adapting to a changed world? Will you be a supporter of reaching others? Will you exhibit joy and excitement over the possibility of seeing new people, new types of people, and new age-groups of people find the love of Christ and join your community of believers? I sure hope so. The times have demanded change, not for the sake of change, but for the sake of the Gospel. Maybe we needed a reboot, of sorts, to help us see past our preferences. Let me assure you, church, your pastors and leaders are doing all they can to seek God’s will and assure your safety. They never expected to be in this situation. It is in this vein that I wrote the following:
Dear pastors,
Keep praying. Remain diligent. Do your best. Consider the lillies of the field and the birds of the air. These times feel tough. We wrench to do what we perceive as best for our people. We diligently pray for each of them, staff included. We make decisions in the COVID-19 era based upon prayer, research, forecasts, best practices, and our local cultural makeup. Then the sands shift. Then they shift again. Everyone around us is tired in this present situation; and tired of it, as well. Folks are feeling anxious. Five generations have different perspectives and needs. Technology helps some, but not all, to remain connected.
We long to see our people thrive, but times are strange and we don’t know when they will become less strange. Folks’ hopes and opinions are hinged upon the desire to return to how it was before this pandemic. Their tension is palpable. We haven’t seen some of our people since March. We then read that many may not return and the chances of that happening increase the longer we remain separated. Our tension is palpable. May we not contribute to the anxiousness.Hang in there, pastor. Remember from whom your strength comes. Let’s lift each other before Him.
In Christ,
A Fellow Pastor
Friends, these times of change are naturally frustrating, but we are to be people who possess the peace that passes all understanding. As we reformulate how we do church, let’s keep the main things the main things. Love God and love others. As you go, make disciples.
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