How Frustrated are You?
I have the luxury of looking at the Church from a more objective perch that I've had in a long, long time.
When you are pastoring a local church, you tend to get deep down into the weeds of people's feelings, procedural changes, balance sheets, personnel issues, there are a thousand things that grab your attention. Only once in a while can you climb Mt Perspective and overlook the big picture. However, retirement from the lead pastor's position affords time to consider things once pushed aside by the urgent. Now, I have the luxury of looking at the bigger picture.
These past ten months' events have created or intensified dynamics that are somewhat different from what I've seen before. Some are good, and some are not. For example, consider the undesirable and even destructive aspects of life that have slithered their way into the culture and personal experiences.
People are fed-up after months of being told what they cannot do.
Officials say that good citizens wear masks, and everyone must wear masks. Then we must wear masks. Restaurants, theaters, and sporting events are deemed dangerous. We must take care when we enter the grocery store, buy a nut and bolt from the hardware store, and fill up our gas tanks. Pastors are between a rock and a hard place. The government says attending Church is dangerous, and attending without wearing a mask is verboten. Some members of the Church agree and avoid attending in person. On the other hand, other members say that COVID is a hoax; wearing masks is caving into the government's overreach and limiting the size of a gathered congregation is unbiblical.
People are pushed to the boiling point, frayed, and just plain fed-up. What happens in times like this? There is a substantial impact on families. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that there is a "surge" in child abuse directly linked to the effects that COVID is having on families[1]. The incidence of anxiety and depression is increasing. "This is the perfect storm for depression and anxiety," reports Dr. Robert Leahy of New Youk Presbyterian Medical Center.
The Church is taking it on the chin. Pressure, stress, and other issues are ultimately expressed somewhere in some ways.
Unfortunately, all too often, the Church seems the easiest place to lash out. There are several issues about which I hear pastors expressing concern.
One is that they are enduring a significant increase in criticism, threats, and pressure. In many cases, church attendance is substantially dwindling.
Is there an answer to all of this? I certainly do not know all of the answers, but there are some things that we need to do right now.
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4:8–10, ESV)
James calls us to purposefully draw near to God by repenting of our sins, bathing our minds in the truths of his word, stop trying to hold the world's values, get serious with God, and humble yourself before him. Stop listening to yourself and choose to listen to what God has to say.
Take a good long, in-depth look at your attitude and actions. Are you bitter, resentful, unforgiving, critical, cynical, or unusually negative about your home life, Church, or friends? Realize that you are under a heavy burden of the pandemic, nasty presidential election, and economic insecurity. You aren't you right now. Stop, clean up the mess you've made, and help others dig their way out of the muck.
Next, and I realize that I'm walking on thin ice here, get back to faithful church attendance. If you have a condition that puts you at risk, talk to your doctor before resuming in-person church meetings. If you honestly do not feel comfortable about gathering with the Church, don't. However, don't go out to eat, to the movies, or do unnecessary shopping either. God commands us to gather with other believers; he hasn't said a word about Walmart shopping. You need your Church, and they need you.
May the Lord bless you and help you live for Him in difficult times.
August 18, 2020
