This morning, I woke up to at least ten emails on the subject of the coronavirus. Almost every organization is thinking through plans in case of a larger scale outbreak. At City Church, we’ve been thinking through the implications of all this as well. It is important for us to respond accordingly. But it is also important for us to all see this as an opportunity to demonstrate our faith to a world that is watching.
1. This is an opportunity to trust Christ.
In Matthew 6, Jesus encourages His followers. He says, “Do not be anxious about your life.” He instructs them to look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. God cares for them. He asks, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” If God cares for the lilies and the birds, how much more will your heavenly Father care for you? “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”
God cares deeply and intimately for you. You are His child and He is your Father. None of this catches Him by surprise. Don’t worry. Trust Him with all your anxieties. Approach Him with childlike faith.
2. This is a reminder that life is fragile.
The anxieties of our culture are fueling the furor over this potential outbreak. But the anxiety perhaps has more to do with what it reminds us about life and less to do with a virus. Ultimately, it reminds us that life is fragile. James compares our lives to “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes(James 4:14).” Psalm 144 reminds us that “man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.”
The Scriptures consistently remind us of the fragility of life. At any moment our lives could be taken from us. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. A wise person recognizes this and lives in light of it.
3. This is an opportunity to demonstrate Christ.
Our culture doesn’t like to be reminded of the fragility of life. We think we are guaranteed tomorrow and act like we will live forever. We think that we are in control of our own destiny. But when confronted with reality, the glass house falls and we are left with all sorts of anxieties.
What an opportunity for God’s people to demonstrate the values of God’s kingdom! We don’t stick our head in the sand when it comes to hard things. We acknowledge that life sends us frightening and scary things. Yes! Life in a fallen world can be painful and arduous.
But, God is in control. Our Father even numbers the hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30).
Yes! Life is fragile. We are here today and gone tomorrow. But, we are held in the hand of a God who loves us infinitely. If we are His, an eternity of blessing awaits us. Why worry?
These aren’t simply religious platitudes. They are concrete realities that we can and should build our lives upon. These concrete realities will help us stand while the waves of whatever current anxiety and cultural furor buffet us.
We exemplify Christ by demonstrating childlike faith in the midst of the storm.
We also, exemplify Christ by radically caring for those who are around us. Sociologist Rodney Stark in his book, The Rise of Christianity, writes about multiple epidemics that threatened the Roman Empire. While everyone else fled, Christians stayed. They exemplified childlike faith and radical care for those who were suffering. Because of the testimony of these Christians, many were converted to the faith.
Things are not as serious today. But the anxieties of our culture become opportunities for God’s people to demonstrate our faith.
But there are some practical elements to this discussion as well that have implications for our church:
1. We plan to never cancel services [Lord-willing!].
We believe that Sunday matters. We have long resisted providing online or streaming options because physical presence matters. Yes! We can and should worship God everywhere. But, we are also called to regularly and publicly gather for worship. God calls us to be committed to a local and spiritual family and physically being there matters. (Stay tuned for a blog series entitled: “Why Church Matters.”)
So, whether we are many or few, we plan to gather for worship each Sunday.
2. We have already changed communion procedures.
As already announced, there are some ways we can do communion differently in order to minimize the spread of germs. We have implemented some new methods and plan to consider more. However, we don’t want to so sanitize the sacrament, that its power becomes lost.
3. We plan to offer a live stream option for those most vulnerable.
We also recognize that there are some who are particularly vulnerable when it comes to sickness. So in order to care well, we hope to offer a live stream and / or video recording of our service for this population. We are going to do a practice run on March 15 and plan to have this option available for our March 22 service. The video will not be open to the general public, but only to those who subscribe to the stream.
To gain access to the stream, click here: CITY CHURCH LIVE STREAM.
Let’s join together in prayer for our community and for each other. But, let’s also commit to exemplifying the values of the kingdom to a watching world.