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A good word from Pastor Anthony, “Observations from a Middle-Georgia Pastorate: Operation Re-Evaluate.”
In times of trouble I’m all about counting our blessings, re-evaluating, and repentance. Repentance in the best sense of the word, as in Okay Lord, so what wisdom do you want me to glean from this experience?
I’m laughing here, the quarantine hit hubby and I and it was like, social distancing has become such a way of life anyway, that not much is going to change for us. Ha! That’s a terrible truth. Hubby and I really need to get a life!
In fact, one thing that presses on me in this area we live in is that there is way too much social distancing going on. Now obviously at the moment we’re trying to protect everyone from a virus, but I mean in general as a way of life! I kid you not, families are feuding, people don’t know their neighbors, many are suspicious of one another, and divisions are rampant. It affects our churches, too.
So my hope is that we begin to learn the value of community, that we come to appreciate one another more, that we actually make attending church a priority in our lives. Maybe you don’t really “need” the church, but the church sure needs you! This is the second most secular county in the nation, so as far as I am concerned, it is all hands on deck for every Christian.
So Anthony says, “Frankly, this pandemic is going to open the eyes of a lot of people and make them ask the question: “Why do I even go to church?”
I’d like to tell you I go to church because the Bible calls us to, which it does, it says in Hebrews, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
But the real reason is because I’ve seen wolves hunt. It was awesome, it was beautiful and horrible at the same time, and it is forever burned into my brain. They work together, they pick out the weak, the sick, the young, and they herd them, they separate, divide, control, and then they go in for the kill. If you ever get to watch sheep dogs herd sheep, that’s pretty cool, too! They cluster all the sheep into bunch and no predator wants to risk being trampled to death.
Everybody needs a family, some wingmen, cheerleaders, to be part of a community, a herd, a team. We can become dysfunctional in community, but we heal in community too. So, we can all practice our social distancing right now, for the time being, I am just saying at the root of most things that ail us as a society is separation and disconnection from both God and one another.
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See, there's this thing called biology... 
I used to think I only needed a ‘support system’ because I have mental illness. Not so! We all need the support of good people in our lives.
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Thanks for the share. And what you have written is spot on. I do hope that this forced absence will make Christians realize what they have.
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We sure all do have to be protected from the wolves IB, well said.
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Seen this posted over on Brother Bruce Mills site and had to stop by and let you know it’s so timely. I’ll share with you what I told him; “Very timely and needed for today. Isn’t it sad, we always (as mankind in general) wait for troubles to take stock of where we are. Human nature sure does not want to change much, at least NOT without help from the Holy Spirit! God Bless,” ❤
All the more reason why we NEED one another as Brothers and Sisters. There is a reason why we are to watch one another's backs! God Bless for this!
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I hesitate to add a link here in your comments, however this is a sermon by Abner Chou worth listening to on why church.
https://arcadiabible.org/sermons/?sermon_id=331
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Well said, IB (especially about the wolves!). I do believe this is a time where we are re-calibrating our priorities and valuing our relationships. It’s interesting that it’s made local churches more creative and adaptable to doing things without physically meeting, but it’s also made us realize how important our meeting together is, too.
It’s great that we can still connect online while social-distancing, but nothing replaces a good hug or a shoulder to cry on. That need will never change. 🙂
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Loved the vivid image of the wolves. So true! And the contrast with the sheep dog image warmed my heart.
This past week has been a blessing. We have lived in this neighborhood for about four years, and last week while walking my dog I met and talked with four neighbors about my age that I had never met before. One was weeding her garden, two sitting on their porches, and one that I had seen walking many times but struck up a conversation with for the first time. It was easy to converse from a safe distance, and we found we had a lot in common. Kids were playing in their driveways instead of staring at a screen, and they were chatty, too. ( ❤ ) Dogs, walkers, joggers, people on bikes, everyone was enjoying the beautiful spring weather, the colors, the smells – it was wonderful. And I have at least four new friends. 🙂
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Wow! That is awesome. Making new friends from a safe distance, very cool. I have also had a pretty good week of beautiful weather and we’ve been working in the yard. 🙂
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