March 20
DebDay 6 of social-distancing.
My friend Caleb (Radiant MatSu) compared our present isolation to living at 50 degrees below. The first week or so the choice to stay home and be warm is actually reassuring if not fun. But after a few weeks, the novelty wears off and everyone just ignores the cold and goes outside. I think we're all waiting for the novelty to wear off.
I sat in on a webinar yesterday. Ed Stetzer (Wheaton College/Billy Graham Association) and Jeff Christopherson (SEND Canada) had some helpful insights for me:
We are presently in Phase 1 - "Pause and Innovate," meaning, we're trying to assess and create work-arounds. In this, technology is a method; it is not the answer. (Side note: I don't want our church to do anything simply because everyone else is doing it.)
Phase 2 is "Plan and Prepare," related to how will we function in the next 3 or so months? This relates both to Radiant Juneau and all of society.)
Phase 3 is the full manifestation of the crisis, (which the CDC estimates to be 3 or more weeks out.) Will we see wide- spread sickness and deaths (like Italy)? Or will present isolation efforts cause the threat to subside? Who really knows? (I know Who does!)
Phase 4 is the inevitable recovery and re-emergence of society back to "life as we kind of knew it." How this phase plays out is dependent on Phase 2.
For just about every church in North America, the present question is "How do we gather?" However, the REAL question should be, "How do we equip and mobilize our people for gospel ministry to our neighbors and others in our respective spheres of influence?"
I think that kind of equipping and mobilization starts now, even while we're isolated from each other. It starts with each of us, all of us seeking the presence of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 16:8-11 says...
"Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! SEEK THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH;; SEEK HIS PRESENCE CONTINUALLY! (Emphasis mine.)
On the webinar, the question was asked, "What are the things we pastors should not do?" The response? Anything that has not been decided or started without first seeking God's presence.
We all now have time on our hands, time to seek the face of Jesus.
-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau
