The visible church’s posture over the past year [March 2020-April 2021] respecting Covid-19 and the imposition of government restrictions and regulations on conduct and assembly, has certainly been varied. It has also revealed how weak, and perhaps disingenuous, the unity and communion of the saints and churches really are, both within local congregations and denominational settings. To be sure our Lord God Almighty has brought this “pandemic” [some do not like this word, but it is used for argument sake] upon the whole of the earth to humble the nations, though perhaps this is only evident to the Church that is clear on the sovereignty of God.

But to be sure as well, our God has brought this same pandemic upon the Church to humble her. I have heard many, yes many, Christians say, “God is refining the Church”, and “God is sifting His Church on earth”, and “The Church is being purified”, as well as “It will be interesting to see which churches will still be open once this is Covid thing has settled.” The end result of this Covid affair will certainly be telling, but I think not so much in who is left standing at the end of it; but what each congregation, presbytery, classis, and/or denomination is going to look like at the end.

The Reformed community of Christ’s Church has experienced significant fracturing, polarization, and disunity in responding to government intervention, and as well in responding to the guidance of the eldership of the church and courts to which they belong. Ministers are on stress leave, elders are being harassed and wishing not to serve, and members are moving around to other churches that suit their conscience on the matter of Covid; it is a bit disconcerting and perplexing. I have heard some blame Satan for getting a foothold in the church, but I fear it is not so much Satan, as it is the loss of what Paul called “the mind of Christ” [Philippians 2:5]. Note the four “if” clauses that precede this: “if there be any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy…” [2:1]. Is there evidence of these graces in our own heart and in our church? Well then “fulfill my joy in being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. [2:2] There is a “Christ-mindedness” that is to permeate the Church, which brings forth a conduct worthy of the gospel of Christ [1:27]. How do we attain this “Christ-mindedness”? Read on in Philippians: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interests of others [2:3-4]. And then we are led to Christ’s example and work of redemption for us [2:5-11]. Do you have the mind of Christ = a lowly, gentle concern for the welfare of others, that shows a conduct worthy of the gospel? [See also John 13:35].

This leads into the lesson I learned this past week. Now, I am not afraid of Covid, of catching the virus, or of the health issues that surround it. I do not relish catching it, but I am not in that vulnerable age group, yet. Neither am I defiant against, or necessarily in agreement with the many government restrictions and regulations surrounding the Church’s ability to gather for worship. Our Church follows the protocols to the best of our ability, and our congregation has for the most part enjoyed continued worship, fellowship, and service to the Lord. However, through the actions of another church that basically defied government restrictions and regulations, I came into contact with an individual who came down with Covid. Over a week had passed since our contact, which was a one on one meeting; but in that time I had both fellowshipped with at church, and visited a couple of elderly people and a widow whom I am caring for in many ways, on behalf of her family. These are aged people whose health is fragile, and who need the spiritual ministry of the church in these latter days of their lives. They are the vulnerable group who are most susceptible to Covid’s harm; they belong to that category of the 80% statistic who have died from Covid. BUT, they are also that group to which the church is called specifically to minister to: Job 31:16; Isaiah 1:17; Matthew 25:35-36; James 1:27. It struck me, how can the Church do what the Lord calls us to do in service of His name to this vulnerable group, if she is neglectful of the protocols of Covid which are to protect them?

I was met with the immediate trepidation that I was a potential carrier of the virus into the homes of those for whom I was caring. I was responsible for traveling unnecessarily [before the current State of Emergency]; yet through the actions of another church disregarding the regulations, a person visiting that church and contracting the virus, and me visiting with that person, the responsibility of passing on the virus to these sweet and fragile people was very real. Mercifully, the Lord protected me – I tested negative; mercifully, the Lord protected these elderly and the widow. While I am keenly aware that my personal experience is not the standard for all, my experience has caused me to reflect foremost on my Scriptural calling to serve Christ and His Church, which means serving His beloved saints. How can I do this if I am careless, negligent, or flippant concerning Covid?

I have heard many Christians, in defiance of the government restrictions, bring a dichotomy between loving God and loving your neighbour; that our love to God trumps our love to one another in respect of Covid restrictions and their impact on our ability to worship as freely and fully as we would like. I have heard Christians say, “My conscience won’t allow me to wear masks, or see restricted numbers for worship, or _______.” Yet, I have also heard many lament the fact that several of our seniors and widows are shut in Long Term care homes, unable to come to worship, and unable to enjoy the communion of the saints. I have seen a few of the elderly and widows who are restricted to their homes, isolated, quite lonely, and relying on the care and love of the church to minister to them. How can we serve them in their vulnerableness if Christ’s church defies these regulations?

There is no dichotomy between loving God and loving your neighbour. Read 1John 4:7-21; the clearest way we show we are born again, and that the love of God is active and real within us, is by loving one another. The evidence that God’s love is not in us is by hating our brother or sister, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? [1John 4:20] And just in case any fall back to “liberty of conscience”, I just remind you that the few passages of Scripture that teach on this, focus on the mature Christian exercising self-denial for the sake of the gospel and service of the kingdom [1Corinthians 8-10]. We don’t have to like these restrictions, but we do have to love our neighbour – especially the vulnerable that we serve. That truth hit me hard this past week.