As I think about the church and about each of you and hear various reports or stories about how current restrictions and practices could bring possible changes in the way we live in the future, I try to make some determination about what that might mean.  Could the fears of COVID-19 continue to cause what are predominantly temporary changes into permanent changes in the way social community interacts?  It’s possible I guess, but uncertain as to what that might be.  The more significant question for me is how will it affect the church, the family of God in how they interact?  My prayer is that it will not have any drastic impact on how we relate in our church family community, but the reality is, that it is possible for there to be some effect on the body of believers.

At this point it is all conjecture and may prove out to be very moot concerns.  But a concern that is not moot is the question for us as a body of believers, is what can our current experience teach us about how we are to live out our faith through the body of Christ?

We are a small church that likes our routine, we like everything to stay the same in how we worship, how we minister, and how we share Christ with the lost.  It is understandable to have this mindset.  In the current situation we have had to make major adjustments in how we function as a church, it is extremely different.  Yet maybe in this experience we can understand what it is like for brothers and sisters in Christ in other nations where being a Christian is illegal, or gathering in groups is illegal?  I am not inferring that it is the same but maybe we can have a little more insight about the persecuted church that exists all around this world.  Could it be a taste of what future generations of Christians in our country could face?  I do not know.

What I keep thinking about though is are we as a church truly committed to be the body of Christ?  Part of that answer is in Jesus’ instruction to the disciples before ascending to heaven, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mt. 28:19-20

If this is the mandate for believers and disciples of Jesus, then it must be the mandate for the body of believers as the body of Christ.  My challenge during this time is in evaluating how well do we reach people for Christ? How well do we disciple new and maturing followers of Jesus?  This is a priority concern as we look to gather as the body of Christ once again, as we seek to carry out the commission to share Christ and disciple believers.  Will this time create an urgency for EBC in doing intentionally and purposefully the things that matter most in God’s Kingdom, even in a different manner?  It is my prayer that we will seek God to hear His voice in aligning our church to His purpose and plan so that we are eternally different in all we do.  Think about it, and pray about it.