Should the church reassemble or not?

Rev. Dr. I. David Byrd

There is a heavy weight of responsibility on the leadership of each Church relative to their decision on reopening. We wrestle with what to do at this time. What’s safe, what’s wise is on all our minds. In an effort to offer families both options of either attending in-person services or streaming online, churches are holding conversations with trustee boards and medical professionals about ensuring the church is deep cleaned, removing chairs so that the social distancing actually happens, checking temperatures, ensuring adequate airflow, entry exit processes, gloves, mask and other safety protocols.

COVID-19 has exposed a deep divide within the Church and the way we are willing to treat and speak to and about each other. It has exposed political, racial, ethnical and locational divides that the unchurched world is watching and scratching their heads. There is wisdom in Romans 14, “Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother”. Churches should model honoring people on both sides of the narrative. If we sacrifice our self-interest for the interest of other, which is fundamental to the Christian walk, we will come to an understanding that respects each other’s point of view. Opening or not opening does not demonstrate a deeper faith or lack of faith.

I miss the assembling of the saints and look forward to the day we can fellowship again. We should take Hebrews 10:25 seriously which says, “we ought not neglect meeting together”. We should feel the ache of what is lost when we only meet virtually, and every Christian should long for the day when we reconvene. But we must respect those challenged by all health and governmental models that range deaths from 1% to 4%.  In real numbers that’s still a life for every 100 people.  Is that a risk worth taking? In other words, is our church willing to have 1 person die for ever 100 we assemble. Those statistic also assumes all attendees follows all the social distancing, cleaning, and individual health practice (mask, sneeze & cough in fold of arm, wash hands 20 seconds, etc.) guidelines. Are you knowledgeable of the percent of your members that do or do not fall into any of the six at-risk categories when it comes to this airborne coronavirus disease?

What is behind the need to reassemble now?

⁃    Lower financial contributions,

⁃    need to preach to a crowd,

⁃    political defiance,

⁃    belief in the mystical presence of Christ in the assembled community, especially in the bread and wine shared in the Eucharist,

⁃    privilege that requires you be able to do what you want to do,

⁃    nothing can replace the act of physically coming together,

⁃    the assumption this pandemic is not real,

⁃    members request to fellowship,

⁃    the urgency of the 20% of churches that Barna research says won’t survive

⁃    God will protect you

There may be other reasons I missed.

In John 5:1-15, Jesus healed the man by the pool of Bethesda and later found him at the synagogue. For 38 years he waited, with others, to be healed. Did he ever go back to the pool to help others or stay around the synagogue? The building is closed but the church is still open. There is more work needed in the mission field than in the building.  COVID-19 is causing all churches to pay closer attention to what’s happening in the world. To better understand the conditions of people. I hope we have not lost our prophetic imagination to be the church without the bricks and mortar surrounding us. The time, money and energy being committed to opening the buildings might be better spent in service to the least, the last and the lost. Most of Jesus’ ministry was done in the streets not the synagogue.

The President named Houses of Worship essential as a political maneuver. Please use wisdom in making your decisions about this airborne disease.  Church leaders should know their congregation better than any state official. They should know the general age of the people who attend, they may know the number of Covid-19 cases in their community, they may also be familiar with pre-existing health conditions of those who attend their church. Then prayerfully take a more measured approach that is in the best interests of their faith community. The main part of our faith is showing love for one another which means doing whatever we can to keep each other safe. The risk of returning to your buildings too soon could literally be a matter of life and death. N.T. Wright summed it all this way, “We must, as Jeremiah said, settle down into this regime and “seek the welfare of the city” where we are. But let’s not pretend it’s where we want to be. Let’s not forget Jerusalem. Let’s not decide to stay here”.

“ I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.”    Proverbs 8:12 (ESV)

Rev. Dr. I. David Byrd is an ordained minister who brings my ministerial calling and corporate experiences into a union of service to the body of Christ.  He serve as a preacher, adjunct professor, author, mentor, coach, and workshop facilitator for those seeking to engage in critical conversations on the most pressing issues facing individuals and the Church. His ministry and teaching have impacted lives across denominational, generational, and cultural boundaries. His research and ministry focus on the effects of cultural practices and norms on identity development in different social locations. He is a nondenominational servant with a Pentecostal upbringing. He has served at mega and small churches as Youth Pastor, Sunday School Teacher, Men’s Ministry Facilitator, Prayer line, and Baptismal team member. He also possess over 30 years of corporate leadership experience, converting strategy into effective execution for achieving operational excellence in the private and public sectors of Fortune 50 to small start-ups.  Receive his inspirational bimonthly e-newsletter, The Journey, by texting  IMPACTDESTINY to 22828