QUARANTINE LIFE: STATE OF EMERGENCY

“Jesus, I know. Paul, I know. But who are YOU?” ~Rona

I noticed several social media posts that reveal how antsy and angry people are about the moratorium on large gatherings. It seems they’ve forgotten— the church is a body of believers, not a building. 

Maybe this ban on large gatherings is providing a good time to clean the building, and reevaluate why people go, and what they do when they get there— and if God is even in it... or if He ever was.

Leaders and followers are posting messages that, frankly, border on mockery and manipulation. 

Instead of playing the All Viruses Matter card, instead of listing all of the pandemics by which people— including good Christians— actually died; instead of criticizing, guilt tripping and attempting to shame other Christians into defying the law, YOU go, Sir and Madam. YOU be the example of great faith that you want, expect, and demand to see. Show the rest of us chickens how it’s done. 

Disregard the warnings. 

Ignore the wisdom. 

Laugh off the severity. 

Minimize the urgency. 

Bully people into submission just to prove a point. 

The gullible,  beholden, bootlickers, and most susceptible will follow your lead into contagion (much in the same way you lament and don’t understand how people follow the president). 

Superbully Christians, if it’s not the possibility of infection, what are YOU really worried about that has you so disgusted with people for erring in the side of caution? 

Are you worried about a drop in donations and gifts? 

The depletion of profits—that a non-profit isn’t supposed to have? Worried that you’ll get no weekly ego boost? 

Perhaps this state of emergency is a wake up call to be more fiscally responsible; to not selfishly waste or misuse resources; to shore up the building; make repairs. 

Perhaps this is a prompt to consolidate with the churches next door and across the street, and not divide communities with monuments to men on, and in between every corner. 

Perhaps this is a time to study; a time to stop envying mega churches and stay put in the neighborhood where your presence can do some good. 

Perhaps it’s time to organize paperwork; take a break; rest; spend time with, and pay attention to the needs of your own family; 

Perhaps it’s time to BE the church as opposed to merely attending.

Everyone has a choice. Choosing to avoid crowds, and soberly consider the health, well-being, resources of oneself, family, and community is, I think, quite a godly move, not a reason to troll and heckle others. 

Where are the people of God, you ask? They’re heeding good advice and being wise. That’s not scared. That’s smart— and if people ARE scared, it’s because they’re human. God knew our propensity to be anxious. Fortunately, He doesn’t taunt or beat us up about it. He comforts— right where we are. 

When people aren’t getting straight, honest answers, and don’t know what to do, they’ll instinctively do something— like buy unreasonable amounts of toilet paper. 

Everyone is seeing, in real time, worldwide, the reality of the situation. 

Crematoriums burning. 

Mass graves being dug. 

Doctors, celebrities, and politicians falling ill. 

Journalists and experts being undermined or muzzled. 

Leaders being apathetic and appearing clueless. 

Markets tumbling. 

Governors taking matters into their own hands. 

Don’t confuse being responsible with running and panicking. 

Should they, or someone for whom they are responsible become ill, will YOU, who are so well-heeled, deep pocketed, highly favored, and spiritually superior, assume their debts? 

Care for their children? 

Feed their families? 

By the way, what kind of feeding/clothing outreach is in place at your church when there’s NO pandemic? Where’s the benevolence committee now? Is the benevolence account in the red, too? Is THAT why you need people to grab a mask (if they can find one) and show up on Sunday?

Don’t let religiosity or denominational arrogance make you think you have to prove your faith by being an idiot. 

Christians get sick and die, too. 

No need to hasten your demise just so you can make a Facebook post, bragging how faithful and invincible you are. 

Technology has created a way to reach millions without a live audience. Wendy, Tamron, and Jimmy proved it yesterday. 

If you have something encouraging, reassuring, or motivational to say, you can still say it— without feedback. 

Go. 

Set up your cameras. 

Open your laptop. 

Reverse the lens on your camera phone. 

Give the world something of substance to hear (if you remember how). 

Perhaps a sober focus on the rightly divided Word of God will make a comeback. 

Perhaps respect, reverence, and order will return, as opposed to the video comedies, cringeworthy nonsense, pratfalls, fashion shows, bloopers, selfies, parties, refried messages, empty rituals, bizarre doctrine, extravaganzas, embarrassing floor shows, and narcissistic celebrations of jacklegs, false prophets, and hucksters, posted every week on the internet, that masquerade as Christian church services. 

Perhaps the unintelligent spirit misidentified as God’s will die of malnutrition. 

Perhaps now genuine service will make a comeback. 

No audience is needed for that.