There’s a church in Louisiana that didn’t cancel services during the Coronavirus epidemic. In direct violation to the expert suggestion that American citizens not gather in groups larger than 10, this church had over a thousand people on a Sunday morning.

What do you think about that?

Are you scandalized?

You’ve got a mindset that believes attending church service is irresponsible at best and downright evil at worst. Standing closer than 6′ feet to another person is an act of aggression. Shaking hands is like a lethal injection. A cough is akin to throwing a hand grenade under the pews.

If I told you last year that you would soon be scolding your fellow church members for going to church, you would have scolded me for doubting your faith.

“John,” you would say, “Freedom of religion and the right to assemble are guaranteed by the the Constitution of the United States. The Bible tells us not to forsake gathering together! Nothing will keep me from worship!”

Just a few weeks later you’re sitting on your hoard of hand sanitizer preaching to me that staying home on Sunday is the only proper way to love my neighbor. Skipping church is righteousness!

Have you thought about how easy it was to transform your mind? Let’s be honest. You don’t know much about viruses. All your information about the pandemic is 2nd hand knowledge passed through the media. Much of that knowledge is contradictory. You can’t even say with certainty whether or not you have a virus. Your diagnosis is a matter of faith.

It’s true that staying home will save lives. That was true before you knew anything about any viruses in China. The best way to keep from spreading germs to your brothers and sisters in Christ is to stay home. Your attendance at church has been making people sick for decades. Maybe some people even died!

If the responsible, righteous, loving thing to do is self quarantine then your Sunday mornings should be spent at home from now on. If you really care about protecting the vulnerable you will never again darken the door of a church building.

Are you inspired?

You’ve got a mindset that believes sitting in a pew observing religious rituals is a necessary element of Christian faith. There’s a streak of self-righteousness in you. Thumbing your nose at the majority opinion strokes your ego.

Under normal circumstances you’ll admit that “going to church” doesn’t make you a better person than me. You’ll admit there’s something Pharisaical in the notion that piety begins with the people in the front row on Sunday morning. Under normal circumstances you wouldn’t suggest that Jesus loves church attenders more than heathens.

But these aren’t normal circumstances. The virus creates the opportunity to get bragging rights just for being part of the assembly. You get credit for righteousness even if you sleep through the sermon.

“John,” you will say “I’ve got to live by my convictions regardless of the consequences. I’ll be in church until they put me in shackles and drag me away!”

Indeed. At the risk of upsetting you I’ll ask what changed your mind. You skip church when family visits from out of town…
…and when you’re out late on Saturday night
… and when you’re on vacation
…and when you don’t like the sermon series
…and when you’ve got a sporting event
…and when you’ve got a family crisis
…and when you’re working
…and even when you have a cold

What has caused this sudden conviction that gathering for church services is an indispensable part of discipleship? You didn’t care so much last year.

Are you mad at me?

If you are then you’re either “scandalized” or “inspired”. You think you’re mad at me but you’re really not. You’re bothered because what you thought was an easy decision turns out to be quite complicated. There are no simple answers to the question, “How should Christians respond to a global pandemic?”

What’s certain is that Christians should not avoid thinking about that question.