On Monday, November 2, a member of our church staff began having allergy-like symptoms. No worries. She had simple seasonal respiratory issues in the past.
But on Tuesday, she was worse. On Wednesday, she was suffering. And on Thursday, she tested positive for Covid-19. Her end of this story is one of isolation, frustration, and sickness. After fever, aches, nausea, alarming respiratory distress, and two trips to the ER, she is on the mend. But it will take a while.
My end of the story is one of worrying about a staff member’s health, of 14 days in quarantine, and of coaching the church from the bleachers—not even the bench. It was an experience that turned the hypothetical into the actual, and an experience that I would prefer not to repeat.
This was not our first positive case of Covid-19 in the church family, but it was the first time that a person had been on site, in the church and interacting with people, when they were unaware they had the virus. Specifically, the staff had all been exposed. When the young lady called from “Contact Tracing” to ask me questions and walk me through potential outcomes, I was introduced to a side of this pandemic that had so far been theoretical. No more.
We have been practicing precautions, and I was glad. This validated our caution. But suddenly, my concern for our staff and our church family outweighed even the smallest inclination that my main goal was to be able to announce to our church we can all come back and worship freely, open classes again, hug and handshake again. When just one case of the virus disrupts routines for two weeks, shuts down the church office, cancels meetings and planning sessions, and deletes vacation days, it hones your perspective. Imagine what an outbreak would do.
The first question everyone asks is the most obvious—Where did she get Covid? Knowing provides comfort. After all, we’ll just avoid doing what she did, right? And asking implies that she is to blame. Maybe she just wasn’t diligent enough? Or maybe she is just sloppy in her routines, neglecting her overall health?
But, here’s the thing. She is routinely diligent. She is careful but not fearful, prudent but not paranoid. She is young, health-conscious, eats right, and exercises. She respects the virus and follows precautions. And she has no idea where or when she contracted Covid-19.
But that is the nature of this virus. It’s sneaky. It lingers on surfaces and dances from person to person, just as willing to ride on your cough as to stowaway on your worship songs and your friendly conversations. Clean your counter tops, wear a mask, don’t touch your face, fist bump all you want. But the virus hasn’t gone away.
So what do we do? We can snub advice from medical experts or we can undertake the best practices that we can. And Christians frequently take one side or the other, and at the same time we wrestle for some kind of consensus.
And pastors are pressured and criticized from both sides. We open too soon, or not soon enough. We are too restrictive, or not restrictive enough.
Even in the pandemic, people are mostly motivated by preferences. Including Christians. Why? Because, for most, the virus is still hypothetical, not actual. We want what we want, and we want to get it when we want it. Why doesn’t the Pastor understand that? Because he doesn’t have the luxury of providing for everyone’s preferences. His job is not to please. At least not today. Today, his job is to protect, to shepherd, and to lead.
How long will this go on? No one knows. Hopefully, not much longer. But this has been a reality check for me, and it has confirmed for me that we are right to be cautious, and it has reminded me of three indisputable and unwavering facts.
- People matter more than politics.
I have to think that somewhere in the bowels of hell Satan gathered his minions around and discussed the thick ramifications of fostering a worldwide pandemic at the same time America had its most contentious election in recent history.
Or maybe I am just giving him too much credit. But certainly the arguments over coronavirus precautions have been exacerbated by politics. So for some bizarre reason, how a person votes is now associated with whether they want to wear a mask. Really?
But for Christians, the truth is far simpler than that, and it has been the same since the Church began. The truth is that people matter more than politics. When the apostle Paul instructed Christians “don’t argue about disputed matters” (Rom. 14:1), he had in mind situations just like this. Politics and the pandemic. Christians can have opinions about both, still get along, and still serve Christ together.
That is my goal. That we serve Christ together. My goal is that our church is known not for how quickly we regathered despite the pandemic, but for how faithful we were to Christ during the pandemic, and that our respect and love for one another would be known long after a vaccine is confirmed, and the Oval Office is filled.
- Principles matter more than preferences.
I care about how people feel and what they really want. But, like all Pastors, I would be both biblically remiss and vocationally inept if I based my decisions on what people in my congregation want. What makes them happy. What makes them feel good.
We have strong feelings about this pandemic and about being out of church for months, and with no end in sight. Even so, feelings have never been the basis for wise decision making. That guidance can only come from biblical principles. Sound, unchanging, biblical truth.
And, coming out of quarantine, and knowing that I will continue to lead our church forward in this uncertain season, one particular truth is pulled into stark focus again. “Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister. . . For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you” say or do or how you treat them, “you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy” by your attitude “someone for whom Christ died” (Rom. 14:13-15).
That is, our preferences never matter as much as helping our siblings in Christ grow in grace, and that we love one another.
- And God’s promises matter more than our problems.
And His promise to be with us, to never leave us, is the reason that even though we may be cautious, we are never afraid. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand” (Is. 41:10).
I am grateful to God that our staff member’s condition was not worse than it was, and, though it will take some time, she is healing from Covid-19. And I pass along my reality check. I learned from it. I hope you can, too.
So if asked, wear a mask. Distance. Be polite. Love one another. Because that person beside you is someone else Christ loves and died for, too.
And because—trust me–this is one reality check you would rather avoid.