For me, as a Christian in the midst of a pandemic the act of going to church has been one of waking everyone up on Sunday morning, snuggling with the kids in my bed and turning on the television screen to watch church. It’s been different, though somehow I can still manage to get to church late even when I’m watching it live from the comfort of my home.
As churches begin to gather in person again there are pastors, church leaders, deacons and even volunteers agonizing over what church will look like while trying to keep their congregations safe and healthy. At the forefront of many discussions has been singing. When we go to church, we sing! Unfortunately, with covid-19, from early on, there has been evidence that suggests singing increases the chance of spreading the virus more easily. But church, without singing?!?!? It’s too hard for many to even say “for safety, we won’t sing.” This week the governor of California made the decision for the churches in his state; he has banned singing in religious services. My social media feed is up in arms about the state taking away our religious freedom. I’m not getting political here, but when it comes to being unable to sing in church, how do we respond? When we can’t safely go to church, how do we respond? What can we learn from scripture that relates to today?
I think we worship. We pray. We remember that we are the church, not the building, not the places we gather, but that each individual Christian is a piece of the church. We are the church and we can worship and praise Him anywhere. I don’t have to sing with the congregation to praise Him. I don’t have to close my eyes, raise my hands and sing out in the middle of a crowd to worship Him. The Bible says over and over again, sing. We praise Him through singing, but we don’t have to do it in a group. He wants to hear you sing and He wants you to do it from right where you are. Sing to Him. Sing to Him during your quiet time, sing to Him while you are cooking dinner, join with your children and sing to Him as you start or end your day. No one can take away our ability to praise Him. Even if we are silenced in our buildings, no one can take God away!! No one can take away your ability to worship Him, even in the middle of a storm. “Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.” Psalms 96:1-2
Lastly, James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Consider it joy!! We are living through something very few living have lived through before and those still living that lived through the spanish flu pandemic probably were too small to remember it. So now, we are living socially distanced, wearing masks, losing jobs, wondering if we’ll be able to get toilet paper at the next grocery stop, some worried about putting food on their table and unable to go to church or unable to sing when we do. This time is a trial for us all in some way. Everyone is facing something during this time that is testing them. The way we respond, the way the church responds will speak volumes.
Be a Blessing ❤️