Until We Get this Exile Right

 It has been 4 weeks since our congregation has assembled. We are not alone. There are some who quote “Don’t forsake the assembling…” and who complain about government overreach; but for the most part people who don’t like funerals are OK with how things are going. Everyone looks forward to heaven. No one is volunteering to go right now and we certainly don’t want to send people by ill-advised, perhaps toxic assembly.

So, how do we balance the value and purpose for assembly with the need to be prudent? Wouldn’t it be great if there was Biblical guidance?

Today as we swim in the exegetical ocean I think linking together the following four scriptures…two from the Acts of the Apostles and one each from the catholic epistles of James and Peter helps clarify what we can accomplish during an involuntary time of separation.  I have quoted them in canonical order which also roughly corresponds to chronological/historical order.

 “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4 ESV)

“Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.” (Acts 11:19 ESV)

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.” (James 1:1 ESV)

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” (1 Peter 1:1 ESV)

These four texts demonstrate that during times of forced alienation that the Church can and did continue to be the Church. From these texts we can conclude that whilst dispersed the early Church:

1. Evangelized. 
2. Taught. 
3. Encouraged one another. 
4. Exercised Pastoral oversight. 

Conclusions:
I think that it is easy to become overly fixated on the why of our time apart (COVID-19) the nature of the separation (governmentally “mandated” social-distancing (Mandated is in quotes because I think that most churches, led by teams who actually don’t want people to get sick and die, made the decision to meet virtually before it became “mandated” it which case the mandate served to legitimize a decision already made in good faith.)) Sorry about that last, convoluted, multi-parenthetical sentence--rather than what we can accomplish during this time.

Church! What are you doing with this exile? What are you making of this alienation? Is there evangelizing? Is the Word being taught? Do you encourage one another with the technological means now at our disposal? Preachers, Elders, Deacons-are you providing pastoral care?
Maybe we are looking at this the wrong way. Perhaps we should not be allowed to assemble again until we get this exile right.
That’s just my Bobservation.