Wisdom for troubling Times
The news these days is unnerving. New cases are of coronavirus are being diagnosed on an almost hourly basis. Markets are in a free fall. Travel to foreign countries is being discouraged and banned. The NBA stopped playing games and the NCAA is not allowing fans at its tournament. Employees are working from home. Students are coming home to do all of their studies online. I haven't seen anything quite like this in my lifetime. Maybe you haven't either.
With all of that said, I want to remind you of what's true. God has not changed. He is still good. He is still sovereign. And he is still our refuge when nothing else is safe. He came near to us once in Jesus Christ, paying the full price for sin. This God who has not changed has made us a promise, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." Be encouraged, dear Christian, you are in good hands. He has never once failed us and he will not fail us now. This too will pass, but his love for us will never change.
I want to share some pastoral encouragements as we live in these coronavirus times.
We are the salt of the earth. We are different and not led by fear because we have a great God. Now, more than ever, I call on you to be salt. Wouldn't it be amazing if the world noticed that you are different in the middle of this? Throughout history, Christians have been such amazing ministers and servants in the middle of pandemics. Tomorrow during Bible study we will discuss together ways that we can be servants to each other and to our community during these days.
Let the Word guide your response to coronavirus more than the media. For example, you might better spend your time by reading Psalm 46 than checking your newsfeed repeatedly. God has many great and precious promises for us. So, learn about it and be wise, but let God’s Word be the primary guidance in your response.
Use the wisdom that the Spirit so freely gives. This will mean washing hands, looking out for the elderly, and making wise choices about mass events. It also will mean wisely preparing while not hoarding.
Please don't begin to see the world through the eyes of race. Fear often leads us to simplistic views of the world and people.
If you do get sick, please, please let us know (and not just from coronavirus). We want to be able to give pastoral care anytime you are in the hospital. This will also allow our leaders to make wise decisions about group gatherings at church.
At this time, I am not aware of anyone in our community of believers that is sick with coronavirus. If that changes, we may decide to move our gatherings online. We will certainly actively let you know if someone does get sick. I am also in touch with government leaders. If it becomes unwise to hold our gatherings, I will consult with our leadership team and we will share that information publicly. Our sermons are always posted on our website: theMountMKE.com/sermons. You can listen or watch there if you are unable to come to church.
When you do come to church, no one will be obligated to hug or shake hands. If that's not something you want to do, just do a kick greeting or stick out your elbow.
We will plan to have communion on our regularly scheduled Sundays. We will continue to keep everything clean for you.
Finally, at a time like this, I do hope that you continue to come to worship until together we decide it isn't wise. We need to come into the presence of God to hear his Word. That need now is as great as ever.
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way..." Psalm 46:1-2
Pastor Nate
PS: When Martin Luther was dealing with The Black Death plague, he wrote these wise words that can help inform the way we approach things happening in our world right now.
“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash no foolhardy and does not tempt God.” ”