Passing the Blame

It's hard to argue that COVID is not a thing. It's not really possible to show that COVID is not causing problems. It takes a conspiracy theory extremist to go there. On the other hand, I am quite certain that there are unintended consequences in this COVID response that are potentially devastating, and the COVID pandemic is masking them.

Not least of these is the unmasking (pun intended) of an underlying theme in America. When restrictions went into place, "nonessentials" were shut down. Included in the nonessentials were social gatherings. We could do without those for awhile. Included in those things that weren't absolutely necessary was human touch. Avoid that at all costs. Included in the things that were nonessential was church. Specifically, church attendance. These kinds of things, however, are not nonessential and I think we're paying a price we didn't anticipate. We are normalizing these kinds of things.

Most disturbing to me, however, was that last item. Christians nodded and said, "Yep, gathering as believers is nonessential, at least for the moment. We'll certainly comply." The reason it disturbs me is that it tells me that Christians don't seem to get "church." If anyone should, it should be Christians because it's our thing. As time has gone by, a relatively few have pushed back, but more have totally succumbed. "You know," they're saying, "this remote church thing is just fine. We can get the music and the preaching and stay comfy at home." And we've missed it entirely. Christians -- not all, but many -- consider the gathering for fellowship as nonessential. "An approximation is just fine."

It is, I believe, this kind of thing that has been largely responsible for bringing America to her moral knees. Oh, no, not directly. That would be Satan's work. But in the past Christians have stood strong. When Christians form a biblical gathering with biblical teaching and biblical fellowship and the underlying, foundational love that Jesus said marks His disciples, there is an impact on those around. As we've receding into the background and given up those strong positions, the limiting forces have been removed in our society. Yes, the forces of evil are to blame and human sin is the problem, but I think we Christians, failing to make disciples and love one another and be a living temple, have contributed by our blind withdrawal. We are not guiltless in the current American moral climate when we can't hold to the beliefs and actions a biblical worldview calls for.