The month of March is coming to a close, and let me just say... wow, what a crazy month it has been! We are all for sure living through an unprecedented time now... with quarantines, closed schools and buildings, public events and large gatherings such as concerts and sporting events postponed or cancelled, and apparently even a very limited supply of toilet paper!
As for me, this month of March began quite normally. In fact, it began on a great note... as March 1st was on a Sunday and it just so happened to be the 22 year anniversary of my first ever visit to Calvary Baptist Church, a church family that I am still a part of today and still love dearly. And I was in church at Calvary that morning (and evening too!) and it was a fantastic all around day!
Twelve days later, on Friday the 13th (our third one of those within a six month period, a rare occurrence due to this being a leap year)... the coronavirus had just begun to take control of our worlds. The concern for containing the spread of infection (something I really didn't care to be bothered to think about up until this point) had businesses, schools, and even churches making the decision to temporarily close doors left and right.
But our church wouldn't do that, right? No, in fact at 4:00 on that Friday afternoon I received an email announcement from our pastor that Sunday activities on the 15th would continue as normal, and that they (meaning the elders) would meet early that morning of the 15th to assess the situation and determine from there whether or not to suspend services moving forward beyond the 15th.
Excellent plan, I thought! Knowing that we might not be meeting again in person for a few weeks, but at least this Sunday we were good. About four hours later, I got another email announcement. The pastor and elders had decided to get together and reschedule their Sunday morning meeting for... well, that Friday afternoon the 13th instead. And... they reversed their original decision!
I'm not proud of my initial reaction. My immediate reaction to the second email was one of shock, disbelief, and betrayal... and then anger followed, and I didn't even try to hide my feelings. I'll never be able to unsay the things I said that night, as much as I wish I could.
Never the less, I still held onto those feelings for a day or two. The devil wants those church doors closed. He knows if he can get God's people apart, he can destroy the church and its people. Or, at least... that's what he thinks anyway!
But something else happened instead on Sunday morning. And the following Sunday as well. I found ways to worship God and connect with my church family through social media. Facebook. Post the lyrics to some popular worship songs. Google hangouts. Virtual Sunday School. Calvary's website. Our pastor's blog.
The movie "The Grinch That Stole Christmas" comes to mind here now. At the end of the movie, when the grinch realizes he was unsuccessful in ruining Christmas... he reflects and says "maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store... maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
Well, my friends, to paraphrase the grinch... maybe the church isn't just inside a building's doors. Maybe the church, perhaps, means a little bit more.
Matter of fact, when you look in the Bible... you'll find the "maybe" clause is not necessary. The church, God's Church... IS more! 1 Peter, Chapter 2 says in verses 4 through 9...
As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
We, as God's people, ARE the Church! We are a "chosen race" and a "royal priesthood" Be encouraged by this. Does the temporary closing of a church building strengthen your faith? Or does it weaken it?
Now more than ever, we need God's people to be the Church, as He has called us to be. Until we meet again, and then after we meet again too!
For the church isn't just inside a building's doors. The church, God's Church, is so much more!
Blessings,
Mike Kinnaly
