Insights Into The Covid-19 Church Era –Part XXXXV
“But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5)
Mandating that our church buildings be closed to prevent the contagious Covid-19 from spreading was an eye opener for most Christians. If we couldn’t “do church”, what were we to do? Because we had gone “to church” for years, church was our social life as we embraced American Christian culture. We listened to Contemporary Christian Music, Christian radio, watched Christian television, attended Christian concerts, loved Christian worship, etc., etc., etc. You got the picture!
Engrossed in their culture, Covid-19 exposed that Christians had no idea what to do when their church doors were closed. They had lost touch with the outside world. To them, evangelism meant bringing a non-Christian to “church” to hear the “good news” professionally delivered by an evangelist.
Historically, John Wesley questioned George Whitefield for witnessing to miners in England at the end of their shifts. He felt evangelism should come from the church pulpit until he personally saw Whitefield work his magic in those minefields. Impressed, Wesley repented, and began having outdoor “Camp Meetings” for the sole purpose of evangelism which changed history.
In my youth, I was always too busy “doing church” to evangelize. I attended Sunday School and Sunday Morning Worship and returned for a Sunday Evening Service. Prayer meetings were on Wednesdays, Choir practice on Thursdays, Youth Group on Fridays, and Men’s and Women’ groups on Saturdays.
Like Wesley and so many others, I felt I needed to invite people “to church” to hear the gospel, not personally take the gospel to them. If the church building is closed, sermons streamed, and parishioners self-quarantined, how are you to spread the gospel? No one stands on a soapbox with a bullhorn or hands out tracts anymore. The wine of evangelism needs new wineskins. Let’s think out of the box, away from the building and be creative.
Today, most people don’t know their neighbors. A couple took on their neighborhood by baking pastries, cookie, breads, etc. and placing them on neighbor’s porches during the Covid-19 pandemic. People, looking out their windows, waved in thanks before retrieving their goodies while practicing social distancing. As restrictions were eased, they met the couple at the door, masked, and verbalized their thanks. As mandates eased, people received their goodies while sitting on their porch, masked, and still social distancing. Discussions over how the pandemic affected them were shared; relationships were built. Today their neighborhood interacts with one another and is receptive to the original bearers of “goodies” and those who tell them about the “good news.”
As shown in an earlier blog (June 4, 2020) my 4-year old granddaughter sent home made cards, glitter and all, to anyone and everyone, then receiving cards back. It opened doors of communication, which could open doors for evangelism.
If you can’t go “out” for diner, “exchange” home made meals with neighbors. You eat in the safety of your own house, but you eat someone else’s cooking! Your “favorite dish” soon becomes someone else’s “favorite dish”. When restrictions and mandates are lifted, inviting one another over for a meal or a cook out comes natural, and opens another door for evangelism.
“Friending” someone on Facebook is a big deal, because it means acceptance. You are accepting them as a trusted person to communicate with you. You build relationships through those communications. Through various forms of social media you expand your platform of communicating. When they passed from acceptance to trusting you, then you can share the “good news.”
We should never be too busy to share the “good news” of Jesus with anyone. Since lifestyles have been slowed down by Covid-19, lets find new innovative ways to share the gospel.