Trouble After Lockdown
We should wear masks.
We should not wear masks.
We should sing.
We should not sing.
We should meet physically now.
We should not meet physically yet.
It was the best of times.
It was the worst of times.
— Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
As if lockdown was not challenging enough, reopening could be worse. Why? People are deeply divided on how (or even if) the lifting of restrictions on meeting in person for worship should take place. Part of the problem is that the arguments on both sides of the divide have merit. What are we, as the Church, to do? What are your elders and minsters to do? How can we keep the peace and gather for corporate worship at the same time? Thankfully the New Testament has the solution to this Gordian knot.
Regardless of the issue at hand, the New Testament lays before us a wonderful avenue of love. We are to love one another with a greater love than we have for ourselves. We are to bear with one another; we are to lift up the weaker brother (whomever that may be — or maybe it is all of us). The Lord’s Prayer, ‘forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,’ should be our guide.
It is a joy to look forward to meeting together for public worship. Let us rejoice in God’s goodness toward us. Let us also exemplify charity to and with one another. The world is watching. The Church has been put under substantial strain during this unprecedented time, but it has adapted well to the challenge of providing ministry in an entirely new context. Now it faces an even greater challenge - how to move forward in unity and love, resisting the worldly danger of being fractured by disagreement. Lockdown has been a struggle for many, and it has taken its toll on all of us. Returning to public worship is not going to be easy; yet it will be good.
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
— The Apostle Paul (Gal 6:2)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
— The Lord Jesus Christ (John 13:34)
Regardless of our position on the way restarting public worship should be handled, let us ‘walk by the Spirit’ (Gal 5:16) and exemplify the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-24) and so fulfil the law of love, loving those whom Christ so loved that he gave himself for them (John 3:16-17).
