Maybe you’re thinking things seem a little scary right now. Maybe you are getting email after email from businesses and companies that are sharing their plans for functioning in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and so you can’t think of much else. Maybe you hear the word pandemic and you want to crawl into a bunker and wait it out.
Remember a couple weeks ago when we talked about Stark’s book “The Rise of Christianity?” Yeah, that seems ironic now in light of events (it’s in my highlights if you need to catch up). I’ve been reflecting on that a TON over these past few days as the number of confirmed cases rise. I keep coming back to the idea of who it means to be a believer in the midst of things that make people want to run, hide, and hoard. As Christians, this should be a situation that highlights our community as one that is unified, filled with peace, and known for our love for one another.
In Acts, we read about a church that was characterised by their community. They were led by the Holy Spirit, they prioritized teaching the gospel, meeting daily as a community in breaking bread together.
There are two major things we are called to today:
- We are called to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- We are called to maintain community.
Wouldn’t it be powerful if this was our opportunity to share the love of Christ? To walk in the confidence that we have because of Christ?
I’m not saying not to “prepare.” Sure, go grab some toilet paper, but maybe with the motive in mind that if your neighbor runs out, you can share a roll and then maybe a meal together. Let’s care for each other in a radical way, that we might be known by our love (Jn 13:35).
Caffeinated Theologian 