Church is Canceled
Written by: Kevin and Dominique Middleton
Edited by: Laura Kay
The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19 - for the fancy folks), has swiftly and conclusively altered the world as we knew it. Beyond just America, it has canceled schools, weddings and funerals, closed gyms, theaters and restaurants, made most work remote, caused chaos in grocery stores, at Target and on Amazon, and has brought down the stock market to the lowest drops since the 1980’s. But, WORST OF ALL, the Coronavirus has disrupted and dismantled the church, as a sign from Hell and an act of demonic forces that are ripping and running through the earth. It is our single job to band together in our churches, gathering as tight as we can to pray Heaven down and demand God to release his angels and heal the land. major sarcasm.
I believe in the supernatural, unexplainable power of God. I believe God uses our prayers to conduct His will throughout the world. I believe God can snatch the Coronavirus in an instant, right here, right now if He so chooses. I believe in demons and I believe they steal, kill and destroy. I also believe in the gathering of the local church, in the community it creates, in the sanctity it holds. But, one thing I believe above most things is that God is sovereign (Supreme Ruler), omnipotent (All Powerful) and omniscient (All Knowing). With that belief, I am assured He has plans for this virus, not simply to stop it, but to use it for whatever He has next for His people and this Earth.
When the church began, there were no “churches.” The church, as it was then and as it is now, are the people who are disciples of Christ. There were no buildings to meet in and due to the persecution that the early church faced for following Jesus, they met in homes. In their homes, they would eat, they would drink - wine (that’s for another day), they would sing, they would teach, they would strengthen each other. They held each other responsible for their growth in Christ and accountable for each other’s lives and actions. When Paul wrote Colossians in the 1st century, 100 years before the first physical building deemed a “church” was erected, he instructed them, and us, to be full of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, to forgive the faults of others, to love and bind ourselves in peace, to let the message of Christ fill our lives and be a representative of the Lord Jesus in all we do and say. When Hebrews was written in the 1st century, 100 years before bricks were formed and people made their way to this new architecture called “church” and they were reminded to assemble, to continue their worship meetings, as they had been since Jesus’ life - intimate, yet effective. When the record of the Acts of the Apostles is told today, from your wide pulpits and adorned sanctuaries, it recalls a small room, with few people, praying and waiting for the Spirit to speak.
I think it’s time to cut the nonsense. I think it’s time to put down the pride. I’m sure it’s time to rethink our response to what the Coronavirus has done to “the church.”
God has called the church to care for the community, and right now that quite literally means caring for the health of all of our members, the cities and states that we worship in, and most of all, the elderly (a large majority of our gatherings) and the immunocompromised. That care does not come in the form of gathering for the sake of looking spiritual, shouting demons away or laying hands for healing that can happen if you’re 2 inches away or 2 miles away. Distance does not matter to God, “In his hand are the deep places of the earth. The heights of the mountains are also his.” Your local gathering matters much less to Him than your prayerful heart, generous demeanor and considerate nature. It’s time to pray. It’s time to give. It’s time to care.
It is not time for church as usual. It’s time to allow God to use us outside of the walls we’ve built for ourselves. God is moving, and you may be too busy worrying about your physical service to hear Him trying to walk through your house.
You opening the doors to your church building only contributes to the silent spread of this virus. You ranting on Facebook about your need to be in the assembly and not caring about the regulations to limit gatherings only shows the world your lack of compassion. Your refusal to see the possibilities of God’s influence in the middle of all of this displays your religiousness, not discipleship.
Most of the posts I’ve seen on social media have included a bunch of scriptures about the power of God and His ultimate word, but none have quoted Romans 13:1-2, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.” 🙃 The Bible makes clear the sin of rebellion and the cost of testing the Lord. When the Devil led Jesus to the top of the temple and said, “‘Throw yourself down from here. For it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully’”…Jesus answered, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Luke 4:10-12). Don’t let your disobedience to your officials be your test of God.
This virus is not a game. This is not a joke. This is not the devil. If you are honestly unaware of the impact of the Coronavirus, I want you to understand that we are practicing social distancing as a precaution to limit the spread of a virus that hospitals physically cannot handle, and if it continues to spread we will inevitably reach the height of mortality. The jokes are funny, I’m laughing and I’ll continue to laugh, but I am so serious about how we move forward in and from this pandemic. God is watching NOW. You were predictable when you “knew” Him sitting, singing and shouting in service every week. Now, He’s watching your open heart, your generous hands and your concerned spirit - He’s waiting for you to be His church and show His grace.
and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Matthew 16:18
I can understand the feelings you’re feeling. This virus has caused fear, anxiety and uncertainty - even if we don’t want to admit it. In times like these, we have historically run to the church. After 9/11, we, and everyone else, knew to find ourselves in a church, we knew to check on our neighbor, we knew to be aware of our role, responses and responsibilities. But what do you do when the church doors are locked? What do you do when the “church” is no longer the sanctuary? Here is our hope: Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” He says that in moments of turbulence, we can remain encouraged because he has already overcome. Here is the challenge of the Church: resist the temptation to fall into paralyzing anxiety and continue to be a beacon of light to the world. In the Bible, a metaphor given to the church is “The Body of Christ.” We are his hands and feet, his eyes and ears—his mouthpiece. We need to touch people that no one else wants to touch. We need to take our feet to places where no one else will go. We need to look at things that are too hard for the average person to see. We need to open our mouths to say what NEEDS to be said during times like these.
More than 95% of Jesus’ miracles were done outside of the synagogue. Therefore, the Church is best expressed, realized and manifested in our works outside of the four walls. So when the government suggests that gatherings of over 10 people are discontinued, we see it as God’s guiding hand of love and a challenge to His people. Love is not getting any other of our brothers and sisters sick. Love is finding engaging, creative ways to minister. Love is not pride, arrogance, ignorance or devotion to tradition. Love is being a witness to God’s hand and movement. Church history reminds us that the church has not only survived during times like these, but has indeed thrived in times like these. Whenever the church got comfortable or complacent, God would “shake things up” and scatter his disciples, prompting them to make moves. Before He ascended into Heaven, Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” God keeps his word. Even if it means using a virus to do it, He will shake things up again, He will scatter His people so that they can bring His message of love to the ends of the earth.
Maybe God is setting up a way for the nations to hear the Gospel, digitally, reaching people who may have never walked into a “church” building. Maybe God is using your obedience to our local, state and federal governments to heal our land. Maybe God is sending you back to your homes to pray in a way you never would have prayed among others. Maybe God is rebuilding the church family, establishing pathways for us to get back to gathering in homes, becoming responsible for each other and creating true disciples. Maybe God is stopping our offerings and redirecting our money to community outreach services that need it more than Con-ed for our edifices ever will. Maybe God is showing us that we don’t need tarry services to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but we can ask in our heart and receive out of our mouths, by ourselves, still for the encouragement of the church. Maybe God is forcing us to spend time with our families, re-prioritizing how we manage our time. Maybe God is redirecting a generation to their Bibles. Maybe God is slowing pollution, healing our seas. Maybe God is restricting travel to disrupt terrorism. Maybe God is inciting a baby boom to refuel the economy. Maybe God is restructuring our health care system. Maybe God is restructuring our education system. Maybe God is canceling “church” so that we can again become the church. Maybe God is showing the most powerful nation the most powerful being. Maybe God is preparing our hearts for His return.
Maybe He is much much sooner to come. Maybe not. But if He is, what would you rather Him find you doing? What’s more important? Being in church or being the church?
Follow Christ.
Pray. Give. Care.
“When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, ‘Don’t be afraid. Only believe.’”
