Life on the Pasture

The following headline was on the Miami Herald website on March 23: “Churches Across US Continue Holding Large Gatherings Despite Coronavirus Warnings.” The article quotes one pastor’s words to his assembled congregation: “Keep going to church! Keep on worshiping God! ... The church is a hospital for the sick! It’s a place of healing for the brokenhearted.” He also said, “The way to handle a pandemic is through the healing hand of Jesus.”

Absolutely positively true as long as we understand the word “church” properly (which I do not think this pastor was doing). If we are going to define “church” as the building we come to for public worship, there are times when it is appropriate not to go. Now is one of those times as we work together to stop the spread of a novel virus which has the potential to especially harm a certain demographic of worshipers.

If we are going to define “church” as the group of people we congregate with when we gather for public worship, there are times when people are not able to do that. We are all now going through what many of our “shut ins” have been going through for years. There is a great desire to “go to church,” but health reasons limit that ability. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” That’s Church in its truest sense – being a part of Christ, connected to Him by faith worked in us by the Holy Spirit. When we keep coming to Church, we keep coming to Christ who says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18, NIV) What is more, Jesus prays, “Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world.” (John 17:24, NIV) Jesus is indeed “a hospital for the sick” who offers “healing for the brokenhearted.”

The main evidence that one is in Church is the desire to be with Jesus who also desires to be with us (which is why He came to be our Savior). In that desire to be with Him we bring all of our cares and concerns to Him. That is, in fact, the best way to handle a pandemic. But He also grants us wisdom through His Spirit to make good decisions, to come up with scientific discoveries, and to live a life of true love to our neighbor.

When the time comes, we will again gather for public worship as Church, for another evidence of being in Church is the desire to worship our Lord together. But until that time comes, we’re still together as Church, connected in the Body of Christ with Jesus Himself as the Head. So keep going to Church.

– Pastor Schmidt