Coronavirus Christianity
The Coronavirus has caused a major disruption in all of our lives. Hundreds of thousands of people have been infected with the virus, and tens of thousands have died.
- 05/01/2020 04:52 PM (update 08/18/2023 07:45 AM)
By Pastor John Vaughn, Cross Roads Baptist Church
The Coronavirus has caused a major disruption in all of our lives. Hundreds of thousands of people have been infected with the virus, and tens of thousands have died. And because of the nature of the virus and the response by governments around the world, everyone on the planet has been affected by the disease. Businesses have closed their doors, or changed the way they do business. Jobs have been lost. Store shelves are void of some items. Masks, hand sanitizer and toilet paper are in high demand!
Our churches have not been immune to the disruption. Worship services and other activities at churches have been cancelled. Social distancing policies have affected the way we conduct funerals and weddings. I’ve done both under the social distancing guidelines. Churches have reverted to social media for worship services. As someone said in jest, “And just like that, our preacher turned into a televangelist!” Sunday School classes, committee meetings, children’s and youth activities and other functions have been in “Zoom mode.”
We look forward to the time when we can gather once again in corporate worship. But we must understand that it could look much different now than it did before the virus hit. So, from a Christian viewpoint, how should we respond to the coronavirus?
First, watch for God’s activity. God is always at work around us! But He often does His best work in crises. When facing a deadly pandemic, people may be more open to talking about life and death. Our mortality, generally a taboo subject, suddenly becomes front and center in people’s minds. People who were fiercely independent may suddenly have needs you can meet. People with whom you might never have been able to talk about God may suddenly be open to spiritual discussions. Keep your spiritual senses attuned to such opportunities.
Second, make the best of changed routines. When we go to church, most families are separated into different areas of the building. Since church services have only been available online, make the most of the opportunity for your family to worship together. Have Bible study together. Pray together. If you can’t go to work, try to exercise more. That’s another activity your family might be able to do together. Use your time to catch up on projects on the “to do” list. If your schedule has changed, look for opportunities to do things that result in positive outcomes.
Finally, check your own spiritual vital signs. When you test the health of your heart, you don’t monitor it while you’re sleeping. Doctors put you on an inclined treadmill. How your heart handles adversity reveals what it’s made of! America has been placed on a spiritual treadmill. Many are panicking! Some are frantically stocking up on a year’s supply of toilet paper and retreating to the safety of their house. Many are glued to their televisions, grimly waiting for the next breaking news. Some are focused entirely on themselves and any sign they might not be well. Crises have a way of exposing us for what we really are.
Yet others are calm, even peaceful. Some are making a special effort to check on the elderly and vulnerable. Some are ministering to medical professionals who are under unusual strain. Such people are determined to produce the maximum good during this time of unprecedented disruption. What has the crisis revealed about you?
The church has tended to grow most in times of crisis, not in periods of prosperity. While the business community rightly fears loss as a result of the crisis, the kingdom of God may be about to experience enormous gain. So, be sure to use hand sanitizer and stay out of public areas as much as possible. But, at the same time, keep your spiritual eyes and ears alert, for we may be at the brink of one of the greatest movements of God in recent history.
As soon as you can, take your family to church on Sunday. Until then, worship at home with them.
The basis for this devotion came from an article by Richard Blackaby, with a few added thoughts of my own.
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