Musings

I have been working on plans for emerging from sequestration when the time comes. It’s harder than you think. Social distancing is more than just an inconvenience. It is certainly not an infringement upon personal liberties (the first of which is “life” which for some is only preserved by reliable, responsible social distancing). Not killing someone should not be seen as a burden but as a kindness I can extend to those I love, respect, worship with, and in my case: care for.

Be that as it may, we hope that within a few weeks we can begin the process of gathering again for worship. If we are to do it within the next few weeks-say the first week of June-that requires preparation. And like I said to begin this post it’s harder than you might think it is. If space keeps people healthy and safe, and gathering reduces that space then the thing you are replacing space with had better be as good at keeping the virus from infecting someone. Wow! What a sentence-I don’t care if the grammar police flag that one-it’s staying! We are reacting emotionally to this thing because we have been emotionally compromised if not infected by the virus of solipsistic isolationism. In other words-we are selfish and we want our way; to go to church, go to the store, go to a restaurant without a mask, without space, without any protection at all.

Here is something Paul once wrote which I think is pretty relevant.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3 ESV)

The wide road to hell is paved with the words “I’m not gonna.” I’m not gonna comply. I’m not gonna wear a mask, I’m not gonna stay inside, I’m not gonna be responsible. But make no mistake;  "I’m not gonna" is the motto not of the heroic but the selfish. Imagine where we would be if Jesus had said “I’m not gonna be born, I’m not gonna go to Jerusalem, I’m not gonna go to the cross.”

It’s hard because the “I’m not gonna’s” are louder than the “not my will but yours.”