Giving My Take on the Closing of Our Churches

     Christians, and non-Christians, are attributing our Country’s closed churches to a deadly virus.   My personal, and preferred, choice is to spread a different way of viewing this.   Most declare our brick and mortar worship structures were closed to combat a health enemy.    I discern the closure of our houses of collective worship as a reminder that not church architecture, but each member of the congregation, is meant to be the home where God reigns and is praised.   Our lives, not a building, need to be the open door where God, and all humanity, can peak in and see the gift of God’s blessings and sustaining strength.

     Too many Christians trust that showing up in a building for a Sabbath day church service not only labels them eternally saved but, also, fulfills their payback to God for His payrolling their happy ever after.   God doesn’t call us to a weekly church schedule.   He created us, and commands us, to continually praise Him throughout each and every one of both our good days and our bad nights.    We were given breath to praise God not just in a building but in our every breathing moment – even if we are fearfully panting our way through a life suffocating pandemic.   “The people whom I formed for Myself that they might declare My praise.”  Isaiah 43:21 (ESV)

     Now, by no means am I implying God sent this deadly disaster.   What my “always find a positive message” pencil is trying to write is I view our church buildings being put to sleep as a wake-up call for all us Christians.  

     Great community, inspiration and deep hope grow from us coming together as ecclesiastical family in churches around our Nation.   Unquestionably, yes, this is great praise to our sovereign Lord.   However, in a time when many falsely think Sunday church is the percentage of praise God calls us to, then churches being shuttered is a way for us to have the blinds raised and realize we owe God more – in  fact, ALL.

     Thus, on the bright side of this dark time, since sitting in a straight row of pews is temporarily off the calendar, let’s welcome God back into the family circle of our everyday lives.   While barred from the buildings where the Cross of Christ triumphantly hangs, may we all be upheld by the hope-filled armor of Christ’s arms, once more, stretched out for us and carrying the cross of this deadly coronavirus.  

     Yesterday, from within the walls of our churches, our voices joined in choruses to praise our Almighty Father.  Today, each of us stands outside the closed doors of America’s churches.   However, we cannot feel excused from praising God because the choruses have fallen silent.   Instead, we must stand solo and raise our voices in praise and petition, knowing God hears and embraces our every word.   Herein, lies the way to the tomorrow that will re-open all our churches.