COVID-19 and its effects have been described in many ways. A trying time. An unprecedented global pandemic. A hoax. An opportunity. An economic disaster. Much of what is said depends on one’s vantage point—where one lives or the information to which one has access.
Common to every experience of the last several months, though, is the experience of obtrusion. Every one of us has had rules, dangers, and circumstances thrust upon us that maybe we never expected, and certainly never asked for. Some have met the challenge with grace and agility, others with confusion and reluctance, but all have had to face up to it one way or another.
This brings to mind what the Scriptures teach us about Jesus’ second coming: every knee shall bow, every tongue confess; as lightning flashes in the east and is seen in the west, so the Son of Man will be seen coming; the ready and the unready virgins both will hear the bridegroom’s call; all will be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye; there will be wars and rumors of wars and famines and earthquakes. In other words, when Christ returns, everyone will know, and no one will be able to avoid the ramifications of His arrival.
Everyone has been affected by COVID-19, and everyone seems to have different opinions about what we—as a nation, as states, as congregations, schools, etc.—should do or not do in response. As Christians, we believe the Spirit Who unites us in baptism harmonizes our different opinions, even when we don’t always see how. The strong learn to delight in waiting for and supporting the weak, and the weak rejoice in submitting all things into God’s hand, which upholds them mightily (Romans 14). But our differences do not divide or separate us from one another; we Christians refuse to be driven to adversarialism and discord. But when we are, we repent, asking God and neighbor for forgiveness. Christ’s promise to return and judge all people frees and forbids us from harmfully judging one another.
Instead, we live in love, to the best of our abilities. The pandemic has made that difficult, and yet examples abound of individuals and congregations enacting the love of Jesus through Word, Witness, and Wellness all over our Northern Illinois District.
In June, the NID office surveyed congregations on how the shutdown had affected their ministry. Among the challenges, many blessings also came to congregations.
“People appreciate being together all the more, even socially distanced outdoors. We are learning how to apply our theology in different settings and are loosing [sic] our grip on so many things that we once felt were ‘essential’ to being Christian, but were only traditions or buildings. This will serve us well into the future.”
“There is a strong yearning for the community of the church to be back together. With this pandemic, our members have turned to the Word of God in the Bible and read it.”
“True joy in receiving the Lord’s Supper.”
“More of a focus on the priesthood of all believers. An increased awareness of the need to develop disciples.”
Our physical distance from one another has been a kind of imposed fast, the result being deepened faith, redirected focus towards the essentials, and a blossoming of gratitude.
The survey also revealed how, in many congregations, the elders have taken up more active roles in caring for members and helping pastors with their responsibilities. Often the work of church elders happens in the background, but COVID-19 has brought into focus the blessing that elders can be to a congregation.
Almost universal during COVID-19 has been the move to provide worship services, Bible studies, and meetings online. In many ways, this was felt as a great loss. Face-to-face communication cannot be recreated online without significant loss of detail: sharing the same physical space, the freedom to move away from a camera, physical touch, and more. Even so, the Word of God remains powerful, whether spoken, written, or digitally transmitted. Just as the printing press was a revolution in accessibility to God’s Word, perhaps the recent necessity of using the Internet will show us that we are able to access God’s Word in fellowship with other believers much more than we ever knew.
Fellowship ran in short supply during the days of the stay-at-home order. In addition to daily routines being interrupted, most people found they could not see friends and loved ones or even workmates with the same freedom or intimacy they once could. For church workers, whose primary task is the spiritual care and nurture of God’s people, this presented an immense challenge. The NID office hosted over 300 Zoom meetings with over 4,200 individuals from March 21 to July 21 in order to provide these church workers—including pastors, principals, teachers, DCEs, administrators, and others—with a space to share ministry concerns and solutions, and to pray together. We know that Christ promises to be present where two or three come together in His name, and we trust that this promise holds true whether we gather with meters or miles between us.
Though some programs have had to be put on hold during the pandemic, by and large, congregations have not slowed down in their community service and witness. Food pantries and meal delivery programs; online and take-home VBS programs; and Easter door art and yard signs were seen across the district. Acts of love and service, motivated by the love of Christ, continue to show that we are His disciples.
The future is anything but certain, as far as the details are concerned. Could there be another stay-at-home order? How long will mask-wearing be a regular practice? When can we sing together again? On these questions, we must remember Jesus’s words that tomorrow will worry about itself. For today, we know that God is working all things together for our good, and for that we thank Him.
