Let me say right now, this one might ruffle some feathers. That's ok. I'm not saying you have
to agree with me. Plenty of people have not agreed with me before, and I'm pretty sure you won't be the last if you join them. But sometimes we need to be confronted with something that ruffles our feathers, makes us uncomfortable, and forces us to evaluate why we do what we do.
We have talked so much over the last year of the impact of Covid on every facet of our lives. As a matter of fact, I am keenly aware that all of us probably never want to hear that 'C' word again. As much as it has altered and changed things, it has also given us the perfect excuse.
I mean lets not talk 'churchie', let's talk real for a minute. If we wake up on Sunday morning and don't feel like rolling out of the bed, well there's Covid. Come to a small group, there's Covid. I would volunteer to help, but you guessed it, Covid.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that people shouldn't be careful, or that Covid's not real (put down the pitch forks and torches). What I am saying is that if we can still go to Walmart, still have date night at a restaurant, and do other things that are important and essential then do we really get to play the Covid card with church? Are other things more important or more essential than gathering to worship God?
Some of you reading this don't do Wally World, you don't go out to restaurants, you've pretty much sequestered yourself. You have made the decision that for you and your health, these are simply things that you won't do. IF THAT IS YOU, then I 100% understand you making that same choice where worship is concerned.
But if you are the 95% of us that don't fall into that category, let's call things what they are. Why is putting your hands on a 'sanitized' cart at the supermarket any safer than taking a seat in a sanctuary that has been sprayed down and sanitized? How is eating a plate of takeout that has been prepared in the presence of 6-7 strangers in a restaurant kitchen safer than being in the presence of your church family?
I get it, there are no easy answers. The answer that is right for me may not be the answer that is right for you! I know my health and what risks I am comfortable with, you have to find what fits right for you and your family. But we need to assess our choices in a fair way.
When we look at other places and choose whether to visit or not we have to think through and justify the trip or rule it out:
1) Do I go to the grocery store? Why or why not?
2) Do I go to work? Why or why not?
3) Do I go out to eat? Why or why not?
4) Do I go to parks, or shopping, or ( you fill in the blank) for fun? Why or why not?
When we look at church we have to do the same:
Do I go to church? Why or why not?
(These thoughts are mine. They may not represent the entire church or entire church leadership. They are meant to ask you to think critically and come to an honest decision, whatever that decision is for yourself. - Danny Sink)