QUARANTINE LIFE: CHURCH

Posts show up on my social media timelines on Sundays, and in spite of what’s there, all I can see and hear is, “Look at us! Look at how silly and irresponsible WE’RE being in Jesus’ name!” 

I neither envy, nor desire to be there or watch. The video is equally as awful as the sound. I am neither encouraged nor inspired. It doesn’t make me feel good to see people being so willfully ignorant. Why aren’t we listening?

I will just hide, unfollow, and hope I don’t have to stifle an “I told you so” when the next post reads, “I tested positive, pray for me.” or the newly minted, “Don’t ask questions, just pray...”

It’s HARD to have sympathy when people appear to be so proud of defying, ignoring, and spreading a virus, as if their faith demands it. Respect for the virus is not disrespect to God, fear, or lack of faith.

Every single day apps are looking more like obituary columns. The death is overwhelming, but the stories of tracking and tracing; the truth about how Covid spread, where, and by whom, are conveniently omitted and considered irrelevant and confidential. No one wants to talk about it when it’s obvious that people put themselves in danger by continuing to gather. More and more I see “long illness”, “undisclosed illness”, “pneumonia”, and requests for privacy, but the truth is never discreet or quiet no matter how we try to spin it.

Death is sure. Preventable death is a shame.

Miss ‘Rona is not playing.

We’re still not getting it.

We’re still not listening.

We’re still thinking we’re invincible and not considering the most vulnerable among us. We still want to do what we want, and we’re paying for it in lives— primarily our seasoned citizens.

People are dying for many reasons, the saddest of all is stupidity as a result of selfishness, apathy, stubbornness, restlessness, and the mangling, misunderstanding, and misuse of the Word of God.

God is not a fool. Wisdom is available for the asking. Many of God’s self-proclaimed representatives are being foolish and unwise, and gullible people are following their lead.

It is clear that many cannot and will not be still. Their habits, plans, and need to be seen, won’t allow it. The show, commonly known as church, must go on. People have spent years becoming addicted to their role in church performance, but clearly learned nothing of an intelligent God. Too many are itching to get back to the activity, noise, displays, and songs. The show had nothing to do with God’s glory THEN, and is even more weak, performative, ridiculous, empty, and deserving of mockery NOW in far too many cases when broadcast virtually. 

No. I don’t want to see people in an enclosed, poorly ventilated space, spreading and sharing droplets with others whose weekly habits and contacts are a mystery to them. I don’t want to see people maskless, gloveless, and shouting and spitting all over the food they’re  distributing to the poor. I don’t want to see non-socially distant groups or crowds rejecting safety protocols. 

I’m a church kid, but I don’t want to see it.