Skip to main content

Now that Lockdown is Over- What now Church?

For the most part here in the UK, lockdown is over and people are coming out of their self made bunkers and breathing in the fresh air. They are according to the media trying to live in the "new normal" and get their lives back on track.

 Getting back on track for them may mean losing the weight they have accumulated over lockdown, or staying fit now that it is over. It may mean relief to shell shocked parents who can at last know that their children will go back to school in their lifetimes. Children can now go wild, knowing that they can see their friends again while silently admitting that they have missed school. For many, sadly, it can mean they can now publicly grieve the loved ones they have lost.

 But what of churches and Christians? What does their post lockdown world look like?

  Churches are not yet able to meet as they did before lockdown. Christian Leaders are trying to interpret the government guidelines and protect their flocks at the same time. People, for the most part are tired of meeting on Sunday morning via their iPhones, laptops and TV's, they have developed technology fatigue. They want to meet with people, interact, see body language and express themselves,-at a safe social distance of course. They don't want to see their friends from the shoulders up anymore on a small screen.

Some churches are thinking outside the box and having meetings of up to 100 people all nicely socially distanced, having live music but not having the congregation singing. At the same time they are live streaming to those that couldn't make it. These churches are asking church members to book on line and register their family groupings, this to ensure everyone stays within their own family/social bubble, and to ensure that they don't exceed the designated number.

Larger churches are having multiple meetings throughout the weekend, starting on a Friday night. Other smaller churches are meeting together in smaller groups in their buildings, with all the necessary COVID 19 protocols in place.

 Sadly some churches are still too afraid to meet for fear of their older congregation members contracting the virus. This is sad because many of those older people have been shielding themselves, self isolating. This has left them lonely and sometimes depressed.

The Bible says that God has not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit of love, joy and a sound mind, in other words common sense. If we use our common sense and our ability to think through things then there is no reason why we can't meet together and "not neglect the fellowshipping together of the saints".

COVID 19 should not be feared, respected yes but understand that we have to live alongside this virus, not in fear of it. Only then can we get back to the "new normal" that people talk about.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Part One of The myths of following a Christian Leader.

Christian Leadership disconnects. When I look to a Christian Leader to be my covering, I look for four things; are they biblical and scripturally sound? Do they have a vision? Are they good motivators? And lastly, can I trust them? On the face of it you may see, these things are obvious and self evident. I am not so sure though, sometimes I find a disconnect that is not always so obvious. Don't get me wrong, I want to sit under a great leader no matter what size their church. I want to know I am being taught sound doctrine and biblical and scriptural principles. I want to follow a great vision that is full of direction, purpose and passion. I want to be motivated not just by words but action and deeds. I also want to be able to say that the person I serve, I trust. As Christian leaders we have to accept that the world we live in is becoming more and more complex. We deal with issues that our New Testament counterparts say little, if anything about.   It is no longer g...
Post a Comment
Read more

Manifesto of Intentional Christian Leadership.

Manifesto: We Promise to do the following- with intent, when in Christian leadership: 1) People Matter. People are our purpose. People are not a means by which we can create our own ends. When we reach out to people they are our objective. 2) We will help people think. If people are our objective we will not get bogged down in the process. We will help people to think through our process in order to recognise our objective rather than just getting them to do and blindly follow. 3) Create great environments. We need to help people become great, not just fix their problems. We do this by creating great environments by which they can grow and build their relationship with God. 4) Create opportunities for initiative. People need to see and experience a spirit of excellence. They need to see opportunities where they can succeed rather than just avoid errors. 5) Be curious. As a leader you don't need to know everything even though a little knowled...
Post a Comment
Read more

Playing well with others.

Today's rambling. Looking over some of my old school reports the other day and was amused at how some of the comments, that teachers made about me have shaped my life and in many respects made me who I am today. One teacher wrote that I didn’t play well with others, I was 5 at the time maybe I had an excuse. Another teacher in my high school years, the wood working teacher or wood shop teacher for my American friends wrote; “If you value your life you will keep him away from power tools and other dangerous equipment. I can’t remember why he wrote this, obviously I did something that made him fear for his life. Today as an adult I have to say that I don’t do well in committees, for most of my life I have been self- employed. I have steadfastly stayed away from power tools and other wood working equipment, basically anything that can cut something off and is a danger to life and limb. Over the last 10 years I have been looking at and teaching about Emotional Intelligence ...
Post a Comment
Read more