Sunday Thoughts....Church and the Pandemic

I don’t really share much about my faith in venues like this for a multitude of reasons, but I’ve had a gnawing in my heart for weeks about the reality that church doors are closed to the public right now. I have many Christian friends who correctly say that a building is not the church and that is a fact...however it leaves me wondering.

I believe it’s because I didn’t grow up a Christian. I found my faith by following a yearning I had in hard times that led me to the church building. I didn’t have a group of Christian friends I could turn to...because I wasn’t one and didn’t hang around them. I was that girl who walked into a service and sat in the back row by myself and listened and then left. I did that for a long time while I was searching.

That’s what troubles me about keeping churches closed. My heart breaks for all of those searching now...with no where to turn. I know you can log in and watch, but it’s no where near the same. When I sat in the back row I could see people who looked different than me, and some who looked like me. I saw elderly people, worshiping, continuing their long walk in their faith. I saw single people, married people, I saw successful people and those on a long run of bad circumstances. I needed to see what it looked like to be a person who believed in God as they walked through life.

A pastor on a stage is one thing, but watching folks who go to work and school and walk through the world with faith is different. I am sickened at how many people are suffering in this pandemic...with fear, job loss, illness, depression and the list of pain goes on and on. AA meetings, churches and in person counseling have all been at various times shut down...but as a society we’ve allowed many other things to continue. I’m ok with marijuana stores and bars being open...I’m ok with protests too...but we can’t lose site of humanity...the realities of the hardships of life and that individuals have emotional and spiritual needs that aren’t being met. It’s dangerous and can have generational implications.

For those of you walking in your well established  faith I don’t doubt you miss church but also am fairly confident that your walk with God is probably going fine without...but for those who are searching...where do they go? Literally how do they find hope?  Although it’s fine that they’re open...hope is not found in a liquor store. 

I know opinions vary on this topic, but I couldn’t help but put the notion out there, that some are looking for answers in this very strange time and may only find those answers when the doors of the church open.