I wish we could talk about something other than COVID. I’m pretty sick of this stupid virus occupying the center of my thoughts and conversations. I’m a little concerned that our obsession with COVID-19 is a violation of commandment number one.

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

– Exodus 20:3 (Also, Deuteronomy 5:7)

I’ve not spent much time worrying about violating the first commandment. It always seemed to be an easy one to keep. As long as I wasn’t bowing down to statues, I figured I had it covered. Worshiping other gods required me to intentionally sing songs to Horus or burn incense to Vishnu. It never occurred to me that I could accidentally put other gods before the Lord.

But I’m pretty sure I need to repent of breaking the first commandment because of COVID.

It’s the word, “before” that bothers me. The commandment says that God is to be my top priority. So, how do I recognize the important priorities in my life? It’s pretty easy. The important priorities are those that affect my behavior. I make plans according to my top priorities. I CHANGE MY BEHAVIOR for the most important priorities.

In the early days of COVID, before anyone knew that most people survive it, I was okay with shutting down weekly church assembly. Even though God says we need to fellowship, I had no crisis of conscience when we closed the church. It seemed like the responsible thing to do.

The problem is that we changed our understanding of what it means to be in fellowship. We started watching church service on YouTube. We said stuff like, “social distance is not spiritual distance.” We even suggested that removing ourselves from Sunday morning gatherings was the best way to love our neighbor. We did all of this because of COVID, not because of scripture.

I’m not trying to start a fight but I can’t escape the nagging thought that changing the way church functions because of a virus is prioritizing COVID over God. I just can’t pretend that my faith in God’s providence is legitimate while I’m simultaneously encouraging people to avoid fellowship “for their health and safety.” I’ve got to choose. Do I trust God or “the experts?” The first commandment won’t let me worship them both.

And I can’t pretend that I’m not worshiping “the experts” when I allow their words take priority over God’s. God says fellowship. The experts say quarantine. The message that dictates my activities is my religion. If I claim to be a Christian, I cannot put “the experts” before God.