“It’s always rainy in Seattle,” says my Californian wife. “The Pacific Northwest is muggy, gloomy, and puts you in a perpetual bad mood. If I lived there, I don’t think I’d ever leave the house.”
Yet Seattleites see the climate differently. Because they know there’s always a chance of rain, they keep their umbrellas by the door and their ponchos in the car. They’re used to walking through light showers and waiting out the downpours. While they might experience an occasional bad mood, they never blame it on the rain. To them, weather is just a part of life.
Our lives have greatly changed because of the pandemic. It has become a part of our daily experience. Perhaps because of its life-altering effects, we have formed strong opinions on what actions churches and individuals should take (or not take) while living in this new reality.
This is actually not a new problem for the church. There have always been difficulties when it comes to doing ministry during turbulent times.
In recent years, our church’s ministry partners in China have chosen to submit their families to air pollution and religious persecution for the sake of gospel ministry. They know that life might be healthier in a more environmentally friendly location, but God has called them to that city for this time. So they check the AQI each morning and wear protective masks when they leave their homes.
The apostle Paul also faced ongoing gloom as he lived under threat of death in first-century Rome. At any moment, he might have been arrested, thrown in prison, or even executed (which eventually happened). Yet that did not stop Paul from boldly preaching the gospel, planting churches on every mission trip, and writing letters to encourage persecuted believers. “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).
Likewise, Christians today must learn to “walk in wisdom, … making the best use of the time (Colossians 4:5). We must not cease from gathering together despite a global pandemic (Hebrews 10:24-25). We must not resist the Spirit’s leading in evangelism just because that lost person might be unvaccinated (Matthew 22:37-39). We must not quit our church because the elders asked us to wear a mask or because hand sanitizer is a “mark of fear.”
In fact, the trials of the pandemic have exposed our heart idols of safety and self-autonomy (James 4:1). We are living by fear instead of walking in wisdom.
Over the last 18 months, I’ve spoken with many pastors and church leaders about the pandemic. Like most of them, I appreciate the value of masks, vaccines, and safety precautions. Yet many pastors have also shared examples of fear in their congregations.
Some members of their flock have prioritized isolation, safety, and comfort. They might dine in indoor restaurants, but refuse to be present in worship. In doing so, they have completely neglected the “one another” commands in Scripture. Others have developed a deep distrust of government overreach. They react by opposing any and all mask and vaccine mandates out of stubborn principle.
Yet in a world of fake news, social media outrage, and conspiracy theories, we must live by faith and not by fear. We don’t want to tremble before our Lord in heaven and have to explain to him why we buried our talents in the ground (Matthew 25:14-30).
So when our society tells us to “shelter in place,” we teach our church to “shepherd in place.” We remind them that “physical distancing” must not devolve into “social distancing.” When authorities ask us to wear masks, we request our church to comply (Romans 13:1-5). We design creative outreach methods and use technology to our advantage. Regarding vaccines, we encourage our people to consider the interests of others before their personal rights (Philippians 2:4). We then trust them to respond wisely in this matter of conscience (Romans 14).
Last time I checked, it still rains quite often in Seattle, and we’ll be dealing with COVID for years to come. So instead of waiting for the storm to pass, let’s step out of the boat in faith (Matthew 14:22-33). Let’s trust that Jesus will remain with us whether we get sick or whether we maintain our good health. He will be with us whether our politician is red or blue. He will be with us whether the vaccine saves our life or causes unwarranted side effects (Romans 8:35-39).
So let’s keep our eyes on eternity and make decisions based on kingdom impact instead of earthly trepidation. Our foremost consideration must not be self-protection but self-denial for the sake of Christ (Mark 8:34-38).
Of course, we’re still going to wisely check the weather and adjust our ministries accordingly. Faith doesn’t need to be a leap in the dark. For example, this year our church plans to do more “going” than “gathering” in our outreach events. We used to host a Trunk or Treat in our parking lot that would draw in hundreds of neighbors. But this year we’re moving the party to the homes of various church members. This Halloween, our front yards will be places of light in a dark world. Some neighbors who visit will certainly be unvaccinated and others will wear different kinds of masks. Yet many of them will also be unchurched and unsaved and facing eternal judgment. We willingly choose to increase our risk for the sake of their souls.
As we emerge from this pandemic, it is wise to keep a travel umbrella at our side. But let’s not be afraid to get a little wet. We may feel the discomfort of increased risk that comes with doing ministry instead of isolating at home. But that’s a risk we are willing to absorb because we know the people around us who need to hear of Christ. That first step beyond our doors requires faith-filled risk. Let us take it together.