From Virus to Violence, The Middle of A Test
Introspection:
Is it possible that God has sent the Church in a tailspin in 2020? First from stoppage of church as usual (CoVID) to now a clarion call for justice so to shake up the old guards? That the Church was on a standstill then thrusted right into this season of stand-for-something for a self evaluation?
I wonder if God is causing us to be introspective on truly what’s important. Properties or people? Buildings or bodies? Life or lifestyles? Like is God saying: “Look, I’ve given you a chance to clear your mind, cause I’m bringing you through a test of heart”? I mean isn’t it interesting that the curve flattened and now we have racial protests and riots? From virus to violence? From social distancing to social justice? From financial concerns to family conversations? From worrying about whether or not we’d live through a pandemic to whether or not our cities would make it through protests? From preservation of families to preservation of communities. It’s like material versus immaterial. The invisible versus the visible. Too coincidental to be one.
I’m also wondering whether the pulpit has done God’s work for the pews. God emptied out the pews and gave the pulpit a chance to just be about the word—no need for extracurricular activities. At the same time, God gave the pews what it said it needed to serve Him—more time. Did it result in what people said they’ll do? I mean people didn’t even need to get dressed to hear God’s Word weekly. Did they take the time to listen? Did the result validate the reasons or did we find out they were just excuses?
Right now our world is hurting. People are broken. Our response? Just my thoughts here: So far ... a good amount of bickering that’s revealing the conditions of our hearts. Considering that God called us to do like He did which was to “seek and save the lost,” this bickering is exposing who we really are.
Think about it: How can we win a divided world when we are stretched for unity? How can we tell the world Jesus loves them when we are having a hellish time loving each other? How can we win the world for Jesus when we are losing each other? Sides! Sides. That’s all it seems to boil down to. The test is set to find out whether or not we’d actually love like Jesus loved, hurt like Jesus hurt and sacrifice ourselves for a broken world. He gave us a head start with the death of Kobe—mourning someone we personally don’t know; then CoVID—respecting something we personally have not experienced (though many had/have); and now deaths of innocent black Americans apparently under the hands (and knee) of racism—God putting mourning, respect and empathy together. And right now, the answers some are giving are probably not making the grade.
So maybe we can try these, not just statements, but a condition of the heart:
“I don’t see it, but if you’re hurting I’ll bear your pain. I may not rally your cause, but I’ll champion your right to heal. If you say you’re broken, I won’t dismiss it. As much as it is in me, I’ll sacrifice my personal point to ease your overwhelming pain.”
Maybe by exhibiting empathy and grace towards each other, we can still piece together the remains of 2020. And maybe, just maybe, revival is on the horizon and the glory of God will light upon us; because, I don’t know about you, I want to go from virus to violence and onward to victory and nothing less.
