Rob Prince's Blog, page 45
April 9, 2020
How to respond to Covid-19 like Jesus
Fact One: The best expression of God for us is Jesus.
If you want to know what God thinks, how God works, how God responds to humankind look to Jesus. Jesus, fully God and fully man, shows us what God is like and what humans can be.
Fact two: We are living through a worldwide pandemic.
Fact three: There have been worldwide pandemics before.
The Spanish flu outbreak in 1918-1920, saw a fourth of the world population, 500 million people, infected and estimates from 17 million to 50 million people died.
Fact Four: The church has lived through such pandemics and plagues.
Historian Andy Wood wrote: that influenza killed Florida District Superintendent Homer Goodell, as reported in the Herald October 23, 1918, p.15. Kentucky District assembly was also postponed in accordance with statewide “quarantine.” Likewise, the Little Rock and Peniel assemblies were postponed per General Superintendent Goodwin. The following week the Herald of Holiness (the official publication of the Church of the Nazarene) editors reported that multiple employees at the Nazarene Publishing House were out sick, and that government mail service was “especially uncertain.” They urged correspondents to “keep patient and keep sweet.” (Information provided by Dr. Dean Blevins)
Given the facts above, how should the church respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic with its 24/7 news coverage, social distancing, unemployment, stay-at-home orders and on-line church services?
As always, follow Jesus.
Jesus was not a giver of disease, but a healer.
“Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.” (Luke 7:21). At no point does Jesus give disease. Jesus heals. Let’s keep pointing people to the Greater Healer.
Jesus was not a fear inducer, in fact just the opposite.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). We are people of hope not fear. “Perfect love drives our fear” (See 1 John 4:18) is what John wrote in the first century. it still works in the 21st century. Our world desperately needs to see the perfect love of Christ in us.
Jesus used the circumstances of life for God’s glory.
Do you recall the story in John 9? As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed.” (John 9:1-3) After correcting the bad theology (that blindness was somehow the result of the sinfulness of the man’s parents’ or his own sin while in the womb), Jesus took this man’s terrible plight and healed him for the glory of God. Could God use this pandemic for his glory? God already is. God’s people have always met the hurting with the grace of Jesus (the unmerited love of Jesus) and the peace of Jesus (the unmistakable presence of Jesus). Let’s keep it up!
Maybe the best advice for dealing with a pandemic came from the Publish House during the Spanish Flu pandemic as it urged its patrons to “keep patient and keep sweet.”
P.S. Check out my daily Quarantined Quotes and Quips through the month of April.
April 8, 2020
April 6, 2020
April 4, 2020
April 3, 2020
April 2, 2020
Totally OUT OF CONTEXT Bible Verses regarding the Covid-19 Crisis
Regarding Social Distancing:
Separate yourselves from this assembly—Numbers 16:21
Come out from them and be separate– 2 Corinthians 6:17
Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— Philemon 1:15
Regarding Frequent Washing of hands
Jesus said, “Be Clean.” –Luke 5:13
Those with Clean Hands will grow stronger—Job 17:9
Wash and make yourselves clean—Isaiah 1:16
They must wash their clothes and bathe themselves and they will be clean—Leviticus 14:9
Wash your hands, you sinners—James 4:8
Regarding wearing PPE
When Moses finish speaking to them, he put a veil over his face—Exodus 34:33
The king covered his face—2 Samuel 19:4
The chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths—Job 29:9
Who wants out of context Bible verses?
Here are Totally IN CONTEXT Bible Verse regarding the Coronavirus and everything else:
Regarding God’s Power
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your sins and heals all our diseases. Psalm 103:2-3
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:14
Regarding Prayer
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Regarding God’s Social Distancing Practices
Come near to God and he will come near to you. — also James 4:8 (see above)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
March 25, 2020
Ten Commandments for the Covid-19 Stay-at-home Order (King James English version).
1. Thou shalt wash thine hands.
2. Thou shalt not toucheth thine mouth nor rubbeth thine eyes. Even if they itcheth greatly.
3. Thou shalt not call thine doctor after every sneeze you hear, but thou shalt say, “God bless you.”
4. Thou shalt not hoard toilet paper, paper towels or hand sanitizer.
5. Remember the Sabbath day and keep your computer logged onto thine fine pastor’s message at 9:30AM.
6. Thou shalt not leave thine home if thou art sick. Neither shalt thou congregate in large groups, for ifth thou does, thou shalt surely die.
7. Thou shalt not kill thy children even if they left thine milk out on the kitchen counter all night and hath turned their bedroom into such a state of dishevelment that FEMA has declared it a national disaster.
8. Thou shalt not steal thy children’s yet-to-be-given Easter basket candy.
9. Thou shalt not lie about what happened to the last cookie from thine cookie jar.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s supply of toilet paper. Neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor’s paper towels nor thy single neighbor’s quiet house.
March 23, 2020
How to ensure you will have a post-coronavirus church?
Is anyone else wondering what will the church look like once this coronavirus emergency is over. Before I go much farther, let me state (like Amos) I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet. These are just a few of observations. Of course, the longer the emergency lasts the greater the toll on the church and just about every other entity in our lives. Are there steps we can take to ensure, a healthy church when we return?
1) Is passing of the peace a thing of the past? And all the introverts in the crowd shouted, “Yes, Please!!”
2.) Is one cup chalice communion also done? Or communion by intinction when you break bread from a common loaf? Or even passing the communion trays or offering plates down the aisle? Will we all be germ-a-phobes when this is over?
3). What you are probably worried about: Finances. Finances. Finances.
People who were faithfully tithing before all of this craziness, will still faithfully give. Of course, many in your congregation may be laid off or not receiving their full salaries. Tithing even among the faithful will most likely go down (people can’t tithe if they aren’t earning anything). Many Boomers who are now receiving retirement or social security will continue to give (although they may not be comfortable giving on line. Remind them that sending in their tithe or dropping it off at the church is very welcomed). In the event the government sends stimulus checks, don’t remind people to tithe on it. Those who are accustomed to tithing will tithe. Those who don’t tithe when there is not a crisis likely won’t start tithing in one. As always, thank people for their generosity. And as you have always done, trust that the Lord will provide!
4). What you should be worried about: Connectivity. Connectivity. Connectivity.
Just because people are joining your Facebook live or Livestreaming of your service does not mean that they are connected. Pastors, imagine stepping in and out of the pulpit without communicating to anyone coming or going. If the pastor just preached and went home, she/he wouldn’t have a congregation for long. We need to know our people. On a typical Sunday that happens as the pastor interacts with people before and after the service. Now to likewise intermingle with the congregation will take effort— a weekly, consistent effort. Phones calls. Texting. Personal Letters (yes, you can still send notes). Social Media interaction. Some of these things. All of these things. Work very hard at connecting with your people. Failure to connect while your congregation is isolated will only remind them they don’t need the church (or at least your church) when they can move about once more.
5). Be thankful for technology. Anyone with a phone and Wi-Fi or cellphone service can Facebook livestream a service. It might not be the high-tech production of a mega church, but the people that attend your church aren’t looking for a megachurch. They are looking for their family. Technology doesn’t have to be expensive. Use zoom.us for a free prayer meeting or Bible Study. Five years ago none of these tools would be available to us. Now they are, so use them and be thankful.
6). If not in a complete lock down, use this time for healthy volunteers to deep clean the church. Most churches could use a little extra cleaning. Families will be wanting to get out of their homes. Ask for volunteers to help. When regular services start back, welcome folks with a sparkling clean church.
7). Prayer matters more now than ever. Pray is last on this list, but it should be our first priority. The pastoral prayer time is more important than ever. As your service is streaming over Facebook, pray (by name) for the homebound sick or those in the hospital who are watching. Immediately it sends a message that they are loved and cared for by their church family. People love knowing that their faith community has not forgotten them. Pray for the community leaders and medical professionals on the front lines. And of course, pray for a swift end to Covid-19. Pray. Pray. Pray.
HINT I: If your church wasn’t healthy before the coronavirus, don’t expect it to be miraculously remedied after the coronavirus emergency. Generally, crises shine a spotlight on the problems, they do not solve problems.
Hint II: Be faithful. Be Bold. Be confident of God’s working. All storms come to an end. This one will too. Do everything to make sure that your local church weathers this coronavirus storm.
