Gathering Again is a Serious Choice

Churches are starting to meet again.  Some began last Sunday, for us it is this weekend, and others in the coming weeks.  Courts have ruled that worship cannot be limited.

So now it’s a wisdom matter, not a legal matter.  However, it is a very serious wisdom matter and no pastor or church should make the decision to regather flippantly.

Gathering together for worship has inherent risks. 

Maintaining a reasonable distance in a worship service is very difficult in many congregations.  It is hard to keep children from personal contact with others, often many others.  Children do not seem to be a risk, but they can share infection throughout a congregation fairly quickly.  Enthusiastic singing in worship can spread the virus easily.  And then, we are just physical/social people.  The impulse to affectionately greet one another is often overwhelming.

If churches meet and a second (maybe even more severe) wave of infections can be traced back to church services, we will not only have a PR problem but also face the potential of regulation and persecution. We do not want to be the church in the news for being the source of a major outbreak.

Pastors, please ask your congregations to exercise extreme caution as they regather.

We need to worship again. Our spiritual health demands it, but we also need to be wise—even extremely cautious—as we regather.  We have to assume that someone who worships with us will be infected and not know it.  Our behavior should assume this and the precautions we take should reflect it. Consult with your own medical personnel on how best to accomplish this.

Pray for God’s protection.

We must take every precaution but God’s providential care is essential as we gather to honor Him. For many, this might be a life and death prayer request.

Take regathering seriously.  Lives do hang in the balance.