A Call for Christian Fortitude

The Covid-19 pandemic proved to be a test of many of the foundational structures of our society. The American Church has failed that test. With a few notable exceptions, when health officials announced their arbitrary lock-downs in March of 2020, American churches closed their doors and, to a great extent, abandoned their purposes.

Most churches were able to leverage technology and continue with online virtual services. “Worship” became well produced, lyrics-captioned, split-screen music videos; pulpits were moved to offices, homes, or studios and included new formats with interviews and dialogues; and we sat on our couches whenever it became convenient to partake of our weekly “church” service. Our pastors assured us that we would only return to normal worship services “when it is safe”, but we needed to wait until health officials determined when that will be. And so, we cowered in our homes and failed to do the work we were called to do.

Christians in China, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East continue to meet. These churches are under constant threat of actual persecution. If caught meeting, church members are subject to torture and even death. Worldwide, there are thousands of Christians martyred every year by totalitarian regimes and religious extremists for simply professing their faith. But in America health officials deemed it unsafe to gather, and churches closed because of a virus.

Over the years we’ve all heard sermons on “ecclesia”, the importance of fellowship, the necessity of gathering together, and why we should be in community. The Bible explicitly says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…” (Hebrews 10:24-25). But in America health officials deemed it unsafe to gather, and churches closed because of a virus.

We are blessed to live in a country that recognizes our God-given, inalienable rights. Rights that “cannot be infringed” because they are beyond the scope of the power that the People have ceded to our Government. The first of these recognized rights ensures the free exercise of religion, and the right of the people to peaceably assemble. But in America health officials deemed it unsafe to gather, and churches closed because of a virus.

The American Church has effectively deemed itself non-essential. At the time when the world has gone seemingly mad (watch the news) and people are desperately searching for answers and hope, we shut our doors, abandoned our ministries, and failed in our mission. Grocery stores, liquor stores, and hardware stores were considered essential and remained open throughout the pandemic. But in America health officials deemed it unsafe to gather, and churches closed because of a virus.

We, as believers, can never allow this to happen again. We are not called to fear. We are called to make disciples, take care of the needy, to love one another, and to love God above all else. We were blessed with a test of our resolve and we failed miserably. But in great failure comes the potential for great learning. The lessons here are clear; the Church is essential, the Church must gather in community, the Church must minister to the world, and the Church must act on our mission. Even when our leaders fail, even when the authorities proclaim a crisis, even when all hell is breaking loose around us, the Church must be the Church. It is up to us to ensure that it is.