“We walk by faith, and not by sight,” St. Paul declared to the Corinthians, and so we, too, have walked over the last few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The June/July issue of The Lutheran Witness begins to ask questions about recovery. What have we learned about our response as the church? How did we — and how do we, in the future — continue to witness during government shutdowns?
How should we respond to these government mandates? How do we balance the command to be obedient to those in authority with St. Peter’s declaration that we must obey God rather than men?
COVID-19 is not the first plague the church has faced, and it will not be the last, pending our Lord’s return. In this issue, we seek to place our response within the historical context of past plagues and pandemics.
In the end, we do not trust what our eyes see, but what our Lord declares. Faith clings not to a vision of a perfect, glorious life here on earth, but to the One who died to destroy sin and death. And so, while the world around us frets and worries, we do not fear. Christ has overcome death and brought life.
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Posted June 15, 2020
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The balancing act regarding being obedient to those in authority and following God’s commands seems to be better applied when the government seeks to HARM the church, not protect its citizens. How many times have we been told, in response to an act of God or an act of violence or other crises, that our faith, love, church is in our hearts and not a physical building? Uniquely qualified to answer the call to find innovative and creative ways to reach members and non-members alike, the history of the LCMS with broadcast media is an opportunity to bring the Word to more people more frequently in more ways than a once-a-week service. There is also no reason to not get creative with parking lot communion and open air services in a meadow, seaside, or on a hill top. The things we need to keep in mind are government orders are not aimed specifically at churches, a vaccine which could be available by the end of the year (let us pray for that so more lives will not needlessly be lost), and we are incredibly creative when we are quiet and let God show us the path to take. Surely, that is walking in faith.
PRAISE GOD FROM HUM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!