2 Cor. 7:2-16, The 2020 Coronavirus Plague (2)

Recently the Governor of our state declared the Easter Bunny, and some other magical characters, to be “essential.”  In these days of the coronavirus pandemic that means they are free to work, to go where they need to for the performance of their necessary service and so forth.  Of course, this was a “good will” expression by the gov; we are sure he was trying to be mindful of our children.  But the fact that he did this in the days leading up to Easter when he, along with most other governors, was denying Christians the freedom to meet for worship and fellowship made it a little hard to take, speaking personally.

Is the shutting down of churches an issue of rights?  The first amendment to the US Constitution reads thus:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

On Easter a few pastors and churches have sought to make the shutting of churches an issue, placing themselves in opposition and conflict with local authorities.  Perhaps in some of these situations this will lead to the courts and will have some lawful solutions to prevent such a thing in the future.  Or, maybe not.  There is a “pandemic” issue, to some degree or another, and many will say that churches, along with Major League Baseball and schools and the Kiwanis Club all need to respect the danger and agree to be separate for a time.  Most churches have tried to be subject to governing authorities (Rom. 13:1) and to pray for their wisdom (1 Tim. 2:1f). 

I want to see our little church begin to meet together again, soon.  But my reasons are not based in our “rights.”  Christians know that we do not live our lives on the basis of our rights.  The concept of “meekness” (a term shunned by most modern English versions; often they use the term “gentleness”) actually means to yield your personal rights and expectations to God.  Jesus did this, especially when He was on trial.  There was one injustice after another.  Paul did this.  In Philippi he did not claim his rights as a Roman citizen until after he had been beaten and imprisoned.  If you think it is different for us today you have forgotten what it means to follow Christ: it is taking up your cross daily and following Him to the place of crucifixion (Matt. 16:21-24).

Rather, my reason for wanting to be back together is based in something I saw in today’s passage from 2 Corinthians.  Did you notice how Paul was locked out of Corinth.  Well, sort of.  He just couldn’t get back there.  But he wanted to badly because he was concerned about how faithfully they were following Christ.  He had written them a difficult letter, one that reproved them in several areas.  But instead, he was engulfed in troubles in Macedonia: no rest, conflicts galore and fears within. 

So he couldn’t go to Corinth.  But he wasn’t discouraged; rather he said, I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.  Did you see why he was so joyful?  First, he says, NEVERTHELESS GOD (v6).  God did something to encourage him.  What did God do?  Paul, having sent Titus to Corinth, was comforted by God when Titus returned with a good report.  They had accepted the reproof in a godly manner and had repented of things that were wrong.  This is the church in action.

In these days it seems that church consists of preachers preaching and singers singing.  That’s why some could be happy having church on Zoom or FB Live.  You could even tune in at your own convenience.  We didn’t have to meet at the same time.

But that is not “church.”  Church is a fellowship of believers, the fellowship of Christ (1 Cor. 1:9).  Christians MUST gather for fellowship as well as worship and instruction.  By fellowship we do not simply mean the surface relationships that seem to occupy our church gatherings.  We mean relationships like what you see with Paul and the Corinthian church.  Paul’s joy depended on the faithfulness of the Corinthians.  As John put it, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (3 John 4).  It was a fellowship where reproof and rebuke were practiced.  It was a fellowship where people knew they were loved and could share their needs. 

Jesus said it: By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn. 13:35).  The reason the writer of Hebrews tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together is so we can consider one another in order to stir up love and good works (Heb. 10:24-25).  To consider one another; that means to think about each other, be mindful of each other.  You can’t do that without gathering.

For a while I hope you are making good use of the phone (at least people hear a voice; that’s a whole lot better than a text or an email).  And if you find someone has a need you can be creative in doing your social distancing while lending a hand.  But let us pray that we can be free to gather together soon.  And let us pray that the time apart will have brought about a sharpening of what it means to be the fellowship of Christ!

(Here is a link to a well known letter written by Aristides, a second century Christian and philosopher, written to the Roman emperor Hadrian.  You might be encouraged by his descriptions of what Christians were like in a time when they had no rights. http://toliveischrist.com/love-one-another/.)