Pandemic Persistance
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” are the words to us from Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel. These words have been on repeat in my head over the last two years. Sometimes they come as an encouragement and other times as a rebuke. If the pandemic has done anything, it has pressed society closer to the point of exhaustion. Physical, mental, emotional, relational, spiritual – if it is an adjective describing humanity, then we have probably felt some weariness in that area of our lives. This is particularly true for those of us who have undertaken the job of leading the church in these difficult times. Hopelessness and fear reign supreme for some while defiance and dismissiveness mark the camp of others. Regardless of side, division and tribalism are rampant in the cultural and sadly, in the church. In such waters we find ourselves trying to navigate, offering a gospel life-raft to any who will take it. The question is – how do we go on from here? With many congregations growing smaller in the last two years, how can leaders in the church mark a path forward that is adorned with hope and health? Again, the words of Jesus must guide us – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden.” Now, we just need to find out where He is.
“How do I empathize with someone who is suffering deep sorrow while simultaneously encourage someone to get to church who is obviously withering spiritually?”
As we have led through the pandemic, one of the great difficulties has been knowing where our people are, much less where they are with Christ. One week a family is here, another they are gone. Did they dislike something? Are they once-a-month folks? Did the whole family get COVID-19? The unrelenting guesswork is maddening. Should I call? Should I give them their space? What do these people think politically? Are they mad that I had a mask on? Are they mad that I didn’t have a mask on? Should we have used prepackaged communion? Should we “live by faith” and act like the coronavirus isn’t real? How do I empathize with someone who is suffering deep sorrow while simultaneously encourage someone to get to church who is obviously withering spiritually? The questions are unending, but our energy and emotional bandwidth is finite. In the past two years, our church has lost people because we were too political, not political enough, too concerned with COVID-19, not nearly concerned enough, didn’t have childcare, had childcare. Again, I say…it is maddening. However, in this unending chaos, our God has been faithful and has slowly begun to change me and our church in beautiful ways.
Much like our God has always done, beauty is beginning to grow, even from the ashes of a global pandemic. Though we are smaller now than we were before, God has been at work among His people. Like Elisha’s servant in 2nd Kings chapter 6, my eyes have been opened to much of the beauty that is happening even among the uncertainty and pain. Men and women are learning to trust Christ, children are being discipled, and churches are still being planted. In short, God is still powerful to save! It pains me to write that as if I needed reminding, but if I am honest, my soul needs a constant reminder. I have to build little mental “ebenezers” everywhere to remind my soul that thus far the Lord has helped us. But in building these memorials in my heart, God is clarifying His presence and His power in His Church. He has not left us nor will He. However, we must heed His words from Matthew 11 and come to where He is. Our God is able to lift heavy burdens and give glorious rest, but He will not offer rest to the one who will not admit their need. Rest only comes to those who are tired enough to change. But what does it look like to confess the sin of self-sufficiency and walk in the rest of Christ?
Over the past few months, our church has been walking through the Gospel of Luke and something has been made clear to me – Jesus sought solitude. Now, I know that I have read this multiple times, but these short verses littered throughout Luke’s account have begun to reshape me. Jesus sought time alone with His Father. I say this because, as leaders, we are tempted to think that we will find Jesus in the work that we do. The sermon prep, the taking of the communion elements, the corporate singing, serving the children – all these things are beautiful expressions of worship and fellowship with the living God. However, if we aren’t careful, we will externalize what should be both external and internal. In some circles, you hear it said like this, “you must minister out of the overflow.” The saying amounts to this – what we hear in secret, we must go and shout on the rooftops. But what if we never go to the secret place? You see, one great danger of the last two years has been this – the external fix of religious patterns was interrupted, leaving a church desperate for God, but not knowing where to find Him. Church leaders, we must rediscover the secret place…and we must tell others of its beauty.
The fear, hopelessness, and division of our day will not be eradicated by a new program, better sermon graphics, or a more (or less) liturgical way of doing things. —Justin Honaker
Our God has glorious plans for His Church. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that He crafted us for this moment, that we might walk in the beauty of gospel proclamation and kingdom advancement. But God will not be mocked nor trifled with – He desires that we minister to His people out of the overflow of nearness to His presence. We must be found in Him. The fear, hopelessness, and division of our day will not be eradicated by a new program, better sermon graphics, or a more (or less) liturgical way of doing things. The answer to what ails us is found in the secret place. Church leaders, we must find hours in our week where we are unplugged from society, whether that be taking a walk in the park, getting away to the woods, or finding a quiet room to sit and pray. There must be a time when the likelihood of intimacy trumps the likelihood of interruption. In a day filled with distractions, the Church is desperate for God’s presence, whether they know it or not. Leaders, we must reorient our lives toward God, discover and enjoy His presence, and teach others to do the same. We have great reason to hope, for our God still stands with open arms saying, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Join us for Ministry in a Pandemic | One Day Gathering on Thursday, March 3rd from 9 AM - 2 PM. Hosted by New Heights Church and sponsored by Acts 29.