Right now there are a lot of people arguing about the social distancing rules, especially when it comes to church gatherings. At a political level, I hate what is happening. However, as a person who knows that this virus poses a grave threat to the really young, really old, people with heart or lung issues, people with cancer, and many others…
I really don’t think God wants us to put others at grave risk, especially when there are so many other options.
The first Christians did not have big buildings with steeples on top. They worshiped in people’s houses.
We can’t worship in big groups right now, but if it was good enough for the Christians in the Bible, house churches are good enough for us. We can find people who are willing to host Bible studies of 9 or less. The pastor can even e-mail his notes, or send online video messages to each of the small groups. Jesus will be there!
Matthew 18:20 New King James Version (NKJV)
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
James 1:27 New King James Version (NKJV)
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Worship also occurs when we serve people in Jesus’ name. There are elderly and sick that are afraid to go to the grocery store or the pharmacy. There are people who through no fault of their own are currently unemployed, and don’t know when they will get back to work. Calling people who may need your help, and offering to help them, is also a form of worship.
Set up a Facebook or Twitter page where people can leave prayer requests, and regularly check it to see if someone needs prayer or even a need that you can personally take care of like going to the grocery store for them.
There is more than one way to worship God, pray that he inspires you with a way that fits the needs of your community, and your talents to worship him and serve him.
