We have learned a lot during this time of social distancing. It will be interesting to see what our world looks like once this is all over. There are many predictions that things will never quite be like they were before the COVID-19 outbreak. Many believe that some changes will be permanent, or things will at least be different on some level. I believe that there is opportunity in most crisis if we look for it , a chance to come out better, or stronger, or to learn new lessons that we would not have otherwise learned.

So that got me thinking about the church. Churches have also had to close or to extremely limit “business as usual” during this pandemic. Many have gone to online services, or Zoom meetings, or podcasts or some other platform to continue as church. I think we have learned quite a bit about what church really is during this time period, and maybe, just maybe, there is opportunity for the church to experience something of a new reformation, and a new way of doing business. To quote an old cliché, maybe God is up to a new thing.

So what are some takeaways for me about the church? The most obvious is that the church is not a building or just a building. We have discovered afresh that the church really is the people and similar intangibles– and it’s definitely not about the building or meeting place. Jesus was never about buildings.  He, in fact, showed some disrespect in the Temple on a few occasions.

Let’s take this thinking a step further:  The gospel is not about the church anyway! Jesus’ message was about the Kingdom of God, and what it meant to be to be citizens of that Kingdom.  Maybe it’s high time was learn what that citizenship looks like for us.

I think the next insight for me is the fact that as a citizen of the Kingdom, it is not about “us” but it is about “them.” Jesus ministry was always other focused– it was never intended to be egocentric as many Christians and churches are today.

As citizens of the Kingdom of God it really is not about judgment something that organized religion specializes in, but the Kingdom message was about forgiveness, first, last and foremost. Why can’t we just learn to forgive as Jesus so forgave us?  It is hard to do, but it is the core of the Kingdom message. Maybe our misguided sense of self-righteousness gets in the way.

The truth is, the gospel of Christ is not about piety, at least personal piety, but about servanthood. Jesus’ Kingdom message was about being a servant. He said that the greatest in his Kingdom was a servant to all. So maybe whatever our churches look like in the future, servanthood ought to be job one.

If you’re with me so far, you know the next step for the church has to be about giving away and not hoarding resources or money for ourselves. Our job is to give away the Kingdom of God. Our job is to meet needs. Our job is not to see how much we can spend on a new building, or greater facilities, or any programs that simply benefit our membership. In this time of social distancing, so many people and organizations are doing so much good for people who are hurting. Shouldn’t the church lead the way in this outreach? We are to give away-we are to let go. We are to serve the least, the lost, and the last.  It’s as simple as that. 

Giving to others will open the door for Reconciliation. We should be about reconciliation because that is what Jesus was all about. Is there anything more divisive, more sectarian, more splintered than modern churches today?  There are 34 different kinds of Baptists in Arkansas alone (according to the Handbook of Denominations).  Maybe 35 if you count whatever type I am!   I doubt Jesus would recognize today’s institution we call church.

And finally, the church should not be about the “law” but should be about love . Jesus put people ahead of rules over and over in the gospels, and it made the religious establishment hopping mad.  The law of love should rule our hearts and minds. And we should own that greatest commandment to love God with all of our hearts, all of our minds, and all of our souls.  And while we are at it, we should strive to love our neighbors as ourselves.  If we learn to do that, the church will come out of this time of social distance as reformed, even reborn, and it will look like very Good News to a world who is trying to find it’s balance once again. And socially distant or not, we will be one in the Spirit. Thanks be to God!