Like most other pastors and church leaders in recent weeks, I am in the midst of confusion. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has given us an ecclesiological conundrum. What does it mean to be a Church?find ourselves physically, in the midst of these fears and uncertainties, is this decision sensible or reckless?At what point are we resolved or reckless?
To increase confusion for me, I am preparing to release a book in late March, in which I unequivocally suggest that the church has always been and will always be a “analog”. A community where believers ignore the comforts of “connections” to communicate with each other in real time and up close. My criticism of using the video and church online is taking on new and unexpected colors.
In light of recent events, here are some questions to consider as we navigate to these days of anxiety.
Given the rapid COVID-19 crisis, many churches will find that directing people to online meetings is not only a viable option, but also a necessity In many parts of the world, the government’s obstacle to large gatherings requires changes in customs.
It’s becoming more and more a reality where I live and serve. The local university just closed classes for the rest of the quarter. Public schools of all sizes are starting to do the same. So far, churches like ours have received only a strong Recommendation in this direction, but the tendency is to go towards the end of all meetings where there are a considerable number of people. Social detachment appears to be the only viable solution to stop or at least delay the spread of the virus.
In temporarily directing our congregations to these online spaces, it is extremely important that we clarify this digital reality as a temporary commitment and not as a permanent convenience, our clarity in this regard, or its absence, will be formative in one way or another. . Make no mistake, it is convenient to sit in the comfort and safety of our homes to see a sermon on our TV or computer. And convenience has a way to quickly cancel long-standing discipline work. If we believe that meetings as a church, in real time and in physical space is fundamental (and this is true), our online temporal reality should be seen as a circumstantial commitment, until we can return to the essential encounter in the flesh.
When I see my wife and children through Face Time on my travels, I am grateful for this “pseudo-connection”. But what I want most is to go home, kiss and have my loved ones in my arms. This should also be the case in these times of ecclesiological commitment.
As we delve into this new digital reality, for a while we can enjoy the moment and the medium in a useful way, although we lack the physical presence of our community, during this online season, the different platforms we use offer us the opportunity to reinvent ourselves. many of our regular worship practices, so that we can connect in a unique way and emphasize our desire to truly be with each other, once this is possible again.
Most live streaming platforms include a chat option. In this online meeting season, you can preach and teach a little more dialogue than we would normally experience in a physical Sunday meeting. For pastors and church leaders, including a post-sermon topic of conversation can serve us well this season. It can help close the digital divide by inviting people looking online to lend not only eyes and ears, but also thoughts, ideas, and questions. This approach also emphasizes “live” meeting, urging people to connect at a certain time with others, which helps lessen the temptation to see the church experience online. as an accessible convenience when you want to.
A similar approach can be applied to prayer. Encouraging people to share their prayer needs in real time online is already something most online churches are already doing. Although praying for one another through the abyss of digital distance does not have the depth of the human presence, it can still be a powerful way to love each other while we are separated. At best, this can even serve as an accessible introduction among people who can then move towards a more meaningful personal connection in church life.
In most churches, there is already a large/small dynamic, meeting/scattering. Excellent? Sunday worship meetings and also sunday worship meetings?Small groups what? Divided? For our villages, neighborhoods and villages. During this unforeseen season, we can encourage people to meet in small groups, not only during the week, but also, where possible, in “live” online worship meetings. Although we cannot unite as a larger body, we can always unite as members, as small and scattered as possible.
“In love, there is no fear; rather, perfect love scares away fear. (1Jn 4. 18) should be a common refrain for Christians at times like these. Is it important to remember that the Greek word? Perfect? Here’s teleia, which means “a goal or a goal. The kind of love that takes away fear is God’s love, which directs us to our main end and God’s definitive new beginning. Here’s what we know for sure: if COVID-19 doesn’t kill us, something else will kill us. The period of Lent reminds us that we are dust and we will return dust. But Jesus’ disciples will not stay there. It’s our last hope.
And that is one of the reasons why the church continues to gather, to sing, listen, pray, to serve, to participate in bread and the cup in communion, it is a way of physically incorporating and anticipating our future hope in the Here and now. Today’s circumstances can prevent many of us from meeting physically in the coming weeks and perhaps in the months to come. We must certainly act prudently and accountably. But in the minds of the Apostle Paul, while we are separated, can we, with all the more effort, eagerly, come and see you personally (1Q 2. 17).