The seats are empty and there’s a hollow echo in the auditorium of the church. The coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic has left the parking lot vacant and the choir loft silent. But the church is more than a building. I recently saw a sweatshirt that said, “The Church has left the building” and that’s exactly what God calls the church to do. In fact, the church does its best work when it’s left the building.
So how can we can encourage the body of Christ during this pandemic?
Aside from taking the proper health precautions and being in prayer amid the coronavirus, we must remind the church that its purpose has not changed.
The mission of the church is this:
- Glorify God.
- Build up other believers.
- Share the light of Christ to a broken world.
A national crisis shouldn’t sideline the work of the church, it should refocus it.
Our resolve in God’s purpose for us should intensify.
Throughout history, it’s always been the body of Christ that rose in times of fear, lighting a path of hope for those who are suffering.
When plagues and oppression came, it was Christians that ran to the aid of others. When Romans discarded unwanted children and the dying, it was the followers of Christ that showed compassion, caring for the sick and adopting the unloved.
In The Rise of Christianity, author Rodney Stark outlines how the early church grew exponentially during the devastating plagues of the second, third, and sixth centuries because of the compassion Christians showed unbelievers and the ill.
We can be that kind of church again, but only if we embrace our daily mission in Christ to glorify God, build-up other believers, and reach out to a lost world.
On a day we can’t predict right now, the crisis will be over. And if the body of Christ joins society in their anxiety and uncertainty, the world will surely find its way back to normalcy.
But if the church is willing to become something greater; if we’re willing to become a transformed reflection of who Christ truly is, then we will see transformed lives, restored marriages, and a renewed hope in our communities.
We must not surrender to fear or complacency as a body.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)
When the bubonic plague threatened the world, Martin Luther called on Christians to stand their ground in faith without fear, representing Christ’s light to a terrified culture.
This I well know, that if it were Christ or his mother who were laid low by illness, everybody would be so solicitous and would gladly become a servant or helper. Everyone would want to be bold and fearless; nobody would flee but everyone would come running. And yet, they don’t hear what Christ himself says, “As you did to one of the least, you did it to me” [Matt. 25:40] … If you wish to serve Christ and to wait on him, very well, you have your sick neighbor close at hand. … If you do not wish or care to serve your neighbor you can be sure that if Christ lay there instead, you would not do so either and would let him lie there.
Martin Luther, “Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague.”
Yes, we must take health precautions.
Luther himself advocated that in the same tract, but we must find the courage to put aside fear and serve others with a consuming compassion.
We must again let our love for others become the banner of the Christian faith.
How do we encourage the church during this pandemic?
We remind them why we’re here.
In the darkest days of humanity, the church is called to bring the power and love of Jesus Christ to a broken world.
At least for a short time, it shouldn’t matter that we can’t meet in large groups.
It shouldn’t matter that the choir can’t practice.
It shouldn’t matter that our favorite ministry has been postponed.
The proper view of our church isn’t a social club we can’t live without.
It’s a training ground for deployments into a broken world,
so we might introduce the hurting to the God they can’t live without.
Well, now we’ve been deployed.
What are you doing to glorify God?
What are you doing to encourage other believers?
What are you doing to serve those in need?
Any organization can do charity, but only a heart transformed by Christ can reflect the compassion and hope of a living God—an eternal hope that goes beyond the circumstance of this world.
We’re not here to go to church. We’re here to be the church.
The church doesn’t need a call to action.
It needs a call to purpose.
Pastor Josh what a well written blog full of truth and wisdom. We have always been called to be the church and our mission was to spread the word of God’s love, grace, forgiveness and salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. This pandemic didn’t deploy us, it is making us think in creative ways to share that love. I pray we are up to the task.
I think that’s a great perspective, Barbara. You’re right, we should have heard the calling to be deployed long before the virus interrupted our lives.
Yes and Amen, Joshua!
These words speak volumes, “A national crisis shouldn’t sideline the work of the church, it should refocus it. Our resolve in God’s purpose for us should intensify.” May our eyesight refocus and our resolve intensify.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
I love the visualization of deployment. God does call us to be the hands and feet of Jesus during difficult times. Thanks for the reminder to step up!
I loved it and shared it on Twitter and Facebook.
Thanks so much for your encouragement
Yes, the church is so much more than a building. The church is love in action. I’ve been heartened to see churches in my area putting this concept into practice more than ever during this current plague on our land.
I love hearing that, Candyce. My prayer is that all churches will embrace their mission in Christ during this crisis.
I love the distinction you make. Loving and serving others; this is our purpose and calling.
Thanks for calling us to action and to be the hands and feet of Christ to those around us.
Thanks, Joanna. I pray we’ll all seek what God is calling us to do as individuals and as a body.
What great insights. My adult daughter took my anxiety away when she said, “Mom. Look at history. These things happen. The Spanish flu was a hundred years ago, yet here we are. It’s crippling to some, but it won’t devastate everyone. Just keep praying.” Smart words to treasure and share.
Thank you, Molly Jo. We have a tendency to see everything through the “lens of now” without the context of history or the wisdom of the future. That’s why it’s so important to to be rooted in our trust in an omnipotent God.
Thanks Josh l appreciate this l look forwards to hearing from you
You Gina and Franklin bless me
Praying my Be safe
Love prayers
Jevia Lyn
Thank you, Jevia Lyn. My family and I appreciate your prayers. Blessings to you.
You’ve given us a challenge, Pastor Joshua–a loving challenge, but one nonetheless. Are are we going to be church in times such as these? Those we reach out to will know we are Christians by our love. How are they going to see Christ in us? You have pointed out that the time is now, for us to make a lasting change in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with a hurting world. Each of us has a part in that mission. I hope and pray we can rise to the challenge.
Praise God. I think you said it better than I did, Katherine. Thank you for your encouragement and wise words. May we all challenge one another in the purpose God has for our lives.
These statements caught my attention: “A national crisis shouldn’t sideline the work of the church, it should refocus it. Our resolve in God’s purpose for us should intensify.” Thank you for reminding us of our God-given mission.
You’re welcome, Jeannie. I’m so grateful the Lord gives us the opportunity to represent Him when people are struggling.
Such a great read on this rainy Monday morning! Absolutely loving it. Thank you for sharing this Josh. After having no power from Saturday night 10pm to Sunday 1pm, all I can say is no matter where we are, what we don’t have that we take for granted, we can still minister to others, be kind in the worse situations and be forever grateful for this time. I can’t wait to hear the stories on, What did you do during this time?
Yes. I love this, Priscilla. I’m excited to hear all the stories of how God worked through this too. May we not take our opportunity to serve Him for granted, and serve others with a heart of gratitude.
This is spot-on. The church isn’t a place but a people and exists beyond any walls and boundaries. Now is a wonderful time to be God’s church in the world.
I couldn’t agree more, Jessica. May the Lord shake up the church to be His people, being His ambassadors to a hurting world. Thank you for your encouragement.
Wow, Joshua. This is a powerful article full of truth. Love your reminder that our mission has not changed. The body of Christ is meant to fellowship with each other, but also NOT to stay inside the walls of the church. Meeting together inspires us for our mission to go to the highways and byways to reach and love people with Jesus as our model. So, yes, this shouldn’t sideline the church but refocus it.
Very well said, Karen. Thanks so much for your encouraging words. I pray that the church will come together as one body to make a difference for the Kingdom while people are struggling. We have to break out of our comfortable Sunday morning lives.
Well said Pastor Joshua. Too many churches have not only closed their buildings, but closed their hearts. Long before the orders to limit public gatherings were issued, churches and individuals allowed fear to lead them to shun certain members, to make decisions about who could or could not be a part of worship services. They looked for ways to exclude rather than include (e.g. they could’ve used a separate room to view and listen to services rather than being told don’t come to church, you’re not welcome). These kinds of panic and reactions to worldly fear go against everything I believed Christ’s church to be. It broke my heart my friend. Thank you for speaking life back into our lives sir.
Your words are so true that they break my heart, J.D.
When you wrote, “Too many churches have not only closed their buildings, but closed their hearts,” you were exactly right. May the Lord break the heart of the church for this broken and frightened world.
Well said. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Diana. Thank you for commenting.
Thank you Joshua for the reminder of our purpose during the storm. This is an opportunity to share kindness and hope to those around us.
Thank you, Dawn. May we see the needs of others through God’s eyes instead of our own.
Joshua, I love this: “The proper view of our church isn’t a social club we can’t live without.
It’s a training ground for deployments into a brken world,
so we might introduce the hurting to the God they can’t live without.”
Yes!! Let’s help one another to keep of focus.
Thank you, Joshua. Inspired words for these trying times.
Thank you for your kind words, Jeanne. May we encourage one another to good works in gratitude.