Separation of church and Church

The secular world is seeing its desire come to fruition--cracks in the fabric of the Church. Centuries of division among Christians is evidenced in the numerous denominations that have formed around differing doctrines. For some reason, the current pandemic, as labeled by government authorities, has opened another rift that secular society will exploit.

For months, churches have shuttered their sanctuaries out of fear of catching or spreading a dread disease

For months, churches have shuttered their sanctuaries out of fear of catching or spreading a dread disease, sending Christians underground to either watch online sermons or to gather in secret meetings, creating a pitiable modern incarnation of Roman catacombs. Granted, the metaphor may be a little overboard but the foundation of fear of discovery by law enforcement is the same. After governors, who abrogated the First Amendment by ordering churches to be closed to begin with, relented to permit worship centers to open with restrictions, then did many pastors allow their congregations to enter the sanctuaries. But it was under the edicts given by government, not the authority of God. Restrictions include (and still do in most churches operating at partial capacity) sitting apart, forbidding handshakes and physical contact, requiring masks be worn, and disallowing the use of hymnals because germs might be spread. In many instances, churches are only holding drive-in services to make certain individuals don't interact any closer than hollering to each other across parked cars. Some churches are still closed, refusing to hold services. The question comes to mind as to who is being edified by this behavior, bullied by fear into submission to the State. What brought this subject to a head were observations made by friends. The first was this image, from a minister who shares daily studies and inspiration, and what he asked of himself and others:

… "This morning the Holy Spirit gave me a picture… of a church with people all sitting apart throughout the sanctuary. The main entry door was open, and Jesus was welcoming everyone inside the church, to come out and respond to the needs and hurting people outside the doors. I could see so many people through the door that were sick, hopeless and hungry. All surrounded by flames.

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"However, the people inside the church were just sitting in the pews complaining about how long it was taking the pastor to get there, and how the church was "essential." "Have you served somehow in the last 1 1/2 months? Have you spent more time in prayer? Have you figured out how to spend time with other people even under the current circumstances? "The Church is being deployed! Have you joined the Lord's Army?" (emphasis, mine)

Two things that struck me was his accurate vision of congregants being separated by space because of fear even though they purportedly came together for corporate worship to honor and praise the Lord whom, apparently, they didn't trust to keep them safe from pestilence. Secondly, that the churchgoers were more focused on receiving a message for themselves without consideration of how it could and should inspire them to reach beyond the church walls to serve the "hurting people outside." If there is anything that has been more blatantly self-serving throughout this coronavirus "crisis" it has been how much Christ's followers have been consumed by worry for their own wellbeing, even to the point of subjecting themselves to unconstitutional and unwarranted dictates.

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At the center of it all is fear. Pastors standing isolated before a camera in an empty sanctuary or one half-filled with prudently spaced congregants wearing masks, pontificating on boldness and faith in a time of artificially induced hardship aren't exuding power from the pulpit. The message and the image are at odds and the non-believing world can perceive the conflict. Despite general submission to self-enforced house arrest, there have been Christians who continued their obedience to their calling disregarding possible repercussions. These dissenters, who could be fined or jailed for challenging the authorities, would have an ironclad claim and subsequent case against those detaining them. Disregarding church hierarchies' bidding them to avoid going into public or travel, they went out to provide assistance to family and strangers or gather to share the Word rather than depend on an internet transmission. They weren't cowed by government and media's disproportionate scare tactics but trusted God to protect them in their business and in their service. The pandemic has been a sterilizing process, creating a separation between church attendees all too willing to conform to government's divisive standards, and Church members not intimidated by threats. This disconnect weakens the Church. How limiting contact in a sparsely populated sanctuary edifies the congregation is debatable amid a demonstrable lack of faith. Especially since the foundation of Christ's church is "faith rooted in love" without which nothing can be accomplished to His glory.  Ultimately, the question is, where is faith deposited? Is it in the "wisdom" of government or in God's Word that inspires action?

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The Church is acting schizophrenically, professing faith in God but unwilling to remove a mask that can't guard against a .15 micron Covid-19 virion

Consider how Jesus sees the conduct of the congregation and in whom or what they place trust. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," Joshua 24:15. What house is referred to here... a single family's and/or the house where supplicants gather? And, in either place, whom are we really serving or obeying in our actions that speak louder than words? Another friend made this remark, "Don't be scared of knowledge." That is exactly what the secular world runs from because knowledge is the "truth [that] shall make you free" – and ignorance is bondage not bliss. Of what, indeed, are professing believers frightened? It's questionable whether the Church can convince nonbelievers of faith when what is displayed is doubt that God is greater than an overhyped virus, when worshippers are more afraid of sitting together and defying government than showing reverence for Almighty God. Do Christians think their confession will be taken seriously after closing their churches for months because of fear? The Church is acting schizophrenically, professing faith in God but unwilling to remove a mask that can't guard against a .15 micron Covid-19 virion because even the N-95 mask only protects against particulates down to .3 or .25 microns.

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The Church must be more cohesive in following God's Word

The Church must be more cohesive in following God's Word, both what is written in His book and how Jesus imparts His spirit to believers. One last point that another Bible teacher shared as I was writing this column. If believers are called to do what Jesus did and even "greater" (John 14:12) then why is there fear of catching a disease when we read that He touched a man with leprosy and healed him?  Luke 5:12-13. Two things occurred here, the fearlessness of Jesus to physically touch a person with a highly infectious disease knowing it would not come on Him. Perhaps more importantly, He laid His hand upon someone who probably had not experienced human contact for years. The person-to-person touch is healing in itself. Fellowship is as necessary as going into the world to share the Word. Hebrews 10:24-25, "and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." "Essential" church occurs both in the sanctuary as well as among the Church and other people outside those walls. How believers practice their assembly speaks volumes to onlookers, and themselves, about faith.