GIVING THE CHURCH PERMISSION TO REST
Today is the day. It's a great day. You may not think so if you've spent more than five minutes watching the news or reading the headlines. It's easy to get sidetracked with fear and hopelessness. But, when you are a Kingdom Bringer - a person who knows and understands that the Kingdom of God is alive and active inside of you - you can manage your feelings. You can steward your heart and your mind. You can look through the chaos and confusion and turmoil and find peace and order and comfort. It's not easy to do. It's not even natural. It's actually a SUPER-natural way of thinking and believing. So, how can we access this? How can we think and feel and live outside of what we see and experience?
We're currently living in a strange time. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has now become a pandemic. That is, it has grown to be a sickness that is now prevalent throughout the world. At the time of writing this, there have been 642,238 active cases worldwide. Over 29,000 people have died. In the United States, the number of cases is rapidly growing, causing many state's governors to issue stay-at-home orders. Schools have been shut down. Many businesses not considered "essential services" are closing down. I personally have never really experienced something so unknown bringing so much fear and panic. But I suppose that's where the fear comes from - the unknown.
It truly is like something from the movies. Until it hits home, it still feels like a madman's fantasy. People stocking up on essentials like toilet paper and water. Sanitizers and cleaning products. Everyone is actually expecting the worse. And you can't really blame them. Our most easily accessible sources of news are pumping out numbers and expectations and predictions that are pointing to darkness and death. Again, not surprising. Like Proverbs 14:12 says, There's a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
If you have been watching closely, you've been able to see a divide forming. One that looks similar to the one seen in politics. A left and a right. A wrong and a … not as wrong as the other. The church, in it's efforts to maintain it's position as the standard of truth, has done a great job of highlighting it's separation from the world. It has showcased it's faith by looking COVID-19 in the face, puffing up it's chest, placing it's feet firmly on the ground and saying "That's it, we're going to gather." When social distancing and stay-at-home orders have been recommended, the church has boldly opened it's suit jacket and exposed the "S" on it's chest. They've told the world and COVID-19, "We're going to gather…until you order us not to." And many states have, suggesting that larger or even medium sized gatherings be discouraged. So, what's the point of persistence you ask? Well, for FAITH of course.
Let's get something clear. I love the church. I've dedicated most of my life to ministering inside of its walls. I believe in the foundational purposes of it's gatherings. The idea of meeting together to be encouraged and trained and equipped is very dear to my heart. But, there is something that I've noticed in the church's reaction to this outbreak that I believe is dangerous for those that serve in it's mission AND for those that have a watchful eye from the outside. I believe that in its desire to portray strength and unity, the church has missed an opportunity to be what it actually says it is built to be - the perfect representation of Jesus.
The immediate reaction by the church was to keep their buildings open for weekly gatherings. The natural instinct was to proclaim its FAITH by showing the enemy, Satan, that he could not alter the christian's weekly routine. Posting popular hashtags like faithoverfear was common practice among church leaders' social media timelines. The purpose and motive I believe was pure and meant to bring peace to a tumultuous time for the people. It was actually my initial thoughts as well. To me, there are only two ways to handle unknown situations like this. We either cling to our faith or we cling to fear. It really is that black and white to me.
However, I have also been able to recognize how some people may see the church. Watching them define FAITH as a way to disregard wisdom and be blind to reality. Not everyone is as easily able to grab on to FAITH amid crisis. When the single mother gets laid off and has to now stay home with her child because school is no longer in session, the church flexing it's faith muscles by gathering on Sunday mornings isn't necessarily a solution to her problem.
Now, to be fair, many churches did quickly make the choice to honor suggestions to cancel or postpone public gatherings. But, I believe that while doing so, the pressure to remain relevant has led to other issues that I feel point to a different direction than the true answer for peace in crisis. Once physical gathering was off the table, many churches appeared to frantically rush to social media to get their voice, their face, their brand, out to the world. A loud message of "WE'RE STILL HERE" rang loud and clear like church bells in the mid-March air.
So far, I've seen the church have two reactions to this time of fear for so many people. One - gather together as to not allow negative circumstance to disrupt the comfortable routine. And two - find other outlets to be seen, heard and partnered with. Both reactions were had and both were under the flag of FAITH. But, if I'm being honest, both wreaked of something that is not a representative trait of the Spirit or the Kingdom of God. I believe the underlying factor behind both reactions is pride.
I also think a valuable lesson is being missed here. What would Jesus (the man that the church is supposed to be modeled after) do in the midst of a storm? The answer is found in Mark 4:35. When the storm arose and the waves crashed against the boat, Jesus was sleeping in the back with his head on a cushion. Simply put, he took a nap. He rested. Jesus, when the chaos of the storm became a reality, showcased FAITH by resting. I believe there's a time for the church to rise up. I understand there's a time for the church to push through. I believe many reactions showcase FAITH. Discerning the times is important for us to know which reaction to we should have. It is extremely clear to me that we, as a people and as a church, are being invited into a place of rest. It's easy to miss if our desire is something other than pointing people to Jesus.
The storm that many people are facing right now is real. There are real hurts. There are real questions. And there is still only ONE real answer. His name is Jesus. And He's inviting us to rest with Him. The times aren't calling for us as a church to strive. They aren't calling for us to be seen and known and relevant. I believe it's clear. Heaven is crying out for the church to rest. To be patient and to learn how to refocus and reset. Sometimes FAITH is on the go. Sometimes FAITH busts through walls. And sometimes, maybe even more often than we know, FAITH looks like giving yourself permission to take a nap in the middle of the storm.
