So today is Easter Sunday, the fourth Sunday that my church, Maple City Baptist Church, has not been able to meet as a corporate group to worship. I will admit that today I got teary when the roomie and I sent a video praise to Pastor Mike for the fantastic online service he, Pastor Beau and others put together. Was it the same? Nope. And you know what? That's okay!
I've been dealing with COVID-19 intensely since mid March. When you are in the field of public health, you see and hear way more than you can imagine.
Over the course of the past few weeks, many pastors have been trying to navigate the stay at home guidance (executive order in Illinois) and what that means for their church body. It's been hard to balance the loss of human contact with the need to keep folks as safe as can be during this pandemic. I've spoken with several in various communities who were weighing how to meet the very real needs of their flock, continue to preach the gospel, and again, provide safety. I applaud the very hard questions you've asked. I applaud the prayer you've put into this effort. I applaud those that have made hard decisions to close their doors out of an abundance of caution and as an example of Romans 13:1-2. I praise you all for the innovative approaches using technology to reach your congregations through Sunday morning services, praise and worship services, small group meetings, Sunday school lessons, etc. It's been so sweet.
I just want to take this post and give the Lord praise for my church's response to this. I know the pastors and leadership weighed these questions heavily. These leaders are some of the most innovative, bible believing, gospel preaching people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. They challenge me to get out of my comfort zone of safety and follow Jesus in risk taking. That being said, it isn't done foolishly or with a lack of discernment.
At the end of the day, it's about Jesus. I've seen that in the way a whole host of folks from my church have been asked to provide teaching on their quiet time with Jesus. We've been challenged ourselves to find ways to reach out to the lost around us. We've been encouraged to be biblical in our responses, to lead by example, and to love and encourage each other during this time. It isn't about our Pastors having to be in the spot light, but about Jesus being in the spotlight. That is true leadership and I am eternally grateful for that in my life.
Truly, for many believers, this Easter Sunday is like every other day. We celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus daily! We live to make Him known. We walk in relationship with Him every moment that we take a breath. So, while Easter is a wonderful celebration reminder that the tomb is empty and that Jesus is who He says (God in the flesh), I am thankful to be celebrating it in the quiet of my own home. Yep, I miss the hectic, loud family dinner with the Ewings. I miss the hugs and laughter with them and my MCBC family. We will all survive this interruption of what we normally do.
I believe the Lord is gifting us with just quietly being with Him and thanking him for what He did on the cross for us. Maybe He is removing all the man made traditions to allow us to really see Him? Adapting the words of Dr. Seuss from the Grinch Who Stole Christmas... "Maybe, just maybe, Easter is a little something more..."
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:6
