April 29, 2020

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:35

As followers of Christ in America we face a myriad of issues on a regular basis. Because we have a right as American citizens to speak up, vote, and make an impact on aspects of our society, we have the responsibility to approach each of these situations with a Biblical perspective. Sometimes this is a cut and dry decision and sometimes it is complicated. But I believe if we earnestly seek to understand God’s Word and proceed with the proper motives, God will guide us.

I cannot remember any other point in my lifetime where Christians have been as divided on an issue as they are on how the Church should respond to the current COVID-19 crises. Some believe that we should submit to all authority and take every precaution. Others believe we need to stand up in the face of those who wish to have authority of the Church and take away our rights. Although a good argument can be made for both perspectives, more often than not I hear less-than Godly motivation behind these choices. As Christians, we cannot make our decisions based on fear or defiance. If we proceed with any motivation, it should be the motivation to show Jesus to a lost and frightened world that is struggling through an incredible trial. When it comes to this, the Bible does give us clear guidance on how to proceed. If we allow our opinions on how to respond to this virus drive a wedge between us as children of God, then we have failed in our mission. If we want the world to see our Savior in the midst of all this, Jesus’s words are fairly clear: we will show the world who He is by the way we love one another. So, stop spending so much time worrying about how much or how little people leave their house or who wears a mask and who doesn’t. Instead, begin to focus that energy on how you can show grace and love to one another as a frightened and confused world looks on.

Father, fill us, not with fear or defiance, but with pure, powerful, and active love for one another. Let the world know without a doubt that we belong to Jesus because they clearly see His love lived out in our lives.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon