The Post COVID-19 Church: What Options?

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The Pandemic has not only claimed 170 million fellow American lives and still counting, but also shuttered the doors of one of America’s sacred institutions: The Church.

At the wake of the pandemic, churches continued holding services thinking it would soon blow over. But when the pandemic persisted and the church started noticing deaths among its members, it had no option but to shut its doors.


The state soon stepped in and passed laws that limit the number of congregants that are allowed to assemble at one time and as the pandemic raged and death toll climbed, churches were asked to close their doors.Some states have allowed for some form of re-opening but with a tight lid on the number of worshippers and an enforcement of the safety protocols that prescribe masks and social distancing. Some states have even banned worship songs for fear that the aerosol that carries COVID-19 is spread through singing.

Most of these rules are antithetical to the essence of a church as a place of refuge and encouragement. The Bible in Hebrews 10:25 says,” not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Effect of Shutdown on Congregation

The effect of the shut down of churches has been devastating on the body of Christ. By body of Christ, I mean every Christian who has professed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Master irrespective of color or nation. It has been less devastating in some countries than others depending on the severity of the pandemic.


Most worshippers feel disenchanted that they can not go to their churches and get inspiration from their Pastors and Leaders as they used to. After being buffeted by the harsh realities of the world, worshippers look forward with expectation to their Sunday morning service when they will get words of encouragement from their Pastors and their spirit will be revived. Some of the congregants would wait after service to be prayed for and others would be counseled to prepare them for the week ahead.

Thank God for platforms like Facebook, Youtube, Zoom that allow for online worship service, congregants can still enjoy a facsimile of their worship service but they have long found out that it is not the same as the in-person service. If you allow most congregants a choice, the majority would go for in-person service because of the human factor that is missing in an online service.

However, most congregants are not in a hurry to return to their churches if the result of a survey carried out recently is anything to go by. In a survey sent out by a church, a predominant majority would prefer not to return to church until next year when there is a vaccine in place. The idea of wearing masks in church and observing six feet distance is not exactly attractive to quite a number of congregants that were polled.

Effect of Shutdown on Pastors


Pastors are beginning to be discouraged because they can not see their flocks as they used to. Show me a shepherd who will be encouraged if he can not find one of his sheep. There is some symbiotic relationship between the Pastor and his worshipper in an in-person worship service that is totally lacking in an online version. The excitement the congregation feels is reflected in their body movements and reflects back on the Pastor. Pastors are encouraged by the message just as the worshippers are.Not same in an online worship service where the Pastor can not even gauge the impact of his message

Effect of Shutdown on Church Finance.

A consequence of the lack of attendance at churches is the sharp fall in giving of tithes and offerings that is used to meet the needs of the church. Worshippers are more inclined to give their tithes and offerings during in-person worship services than when they are sitting at home watching their Pastors on the screen.

This defunding of churches as a result of the shutdown is causing financial hardship for small churches that are struggling to survive even in the best of times, While the big churches are able to weather the storm for a longer period of time because of their investments in other areas, the smaller churches are doomed to closure if the shutdown continues for any length of time.

What option for the Church?

In my opinion, the best option for the church is to go the way of schools: a hybrid option that comprises an in-person and an online worship service. Most churches now have an online presence in place as a result of the continued shutdown of churches. That’s really no problem.


The problem that I can foresee for churches when they are fully reopened is how they can convince their members who are now used to attending service by hovering over laptops in their pyjamas in the comfort of their homes to don their suits and Sunday bests and drive miles to church for a Sunday service. That will be the challenge.

I predict there will be many more online worshippers than in-person giving the church a new technology-themed identity.

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Recent Comments

18

Hey Brother,

The verse you quoted about not forsaking the gathering of yourselves together doesn't specify the number. It is currently interpreted to mean going to church service. However, it can also mean much smaller gatherings. Small groups of 4 or 5 meeting in a home or at a park for Bible Study, worship, and prayer. It can even mean two brothers or sisters in Christ sharing together and praying.

In addition, while I understand that new believers NEED the fellowship and encouragement. Older believers should be able to get along through their close relationship with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. This is essential in my opinion. Look at Paul. He was the only mature Christian in a town miles from others. He maintained. Modern day pastors and missionaries face similar circumstances with no one to really share their concerns with because of their position as a leader.

I encourage all believers to learn to hear the voice of the shepherd. That still small voice in your mind which is the voice of the Holy Spirit. I encourage everyone to pursue an ever deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. It is this kind of relationship that allows those cut off from fellowship to not only survive but thrive as God becomes there all in all.

When believers take that relationship seriously and yield their lives totally to Jesus Christ. When believers learn to obey the Spirit of God no matter what. Then we will see revival on a massive scale. For only massive revival will turn the World from its downward path to destruction.

Thank you for your helpful comments. They are spot on. The Bible says in Matthew 18:20 "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there will I be." As long as you are not alone, you have fulfilled the requirement.
We need a coast to coast revival that will bring every man and every woman to their knees. We pray that God will bring leaders who will initiate this revival.

Nicely thought through article... You've addressed many aspects very nicely.
Because of on-line services now being available via Zoom, Facebook, etc. from one's own church (church of choice), many elderly people who were not able have been able to get to a church that they had been a member of for years have been able to go to their church again on Sunday mornings. As I see it, that's something of a positive outcome of the whole coronavirus pandemic debacle. Now that churches have gotten themselves set up and mastered on-line streaming of their services will hopefully will maintain and continue to make their services online even after in-person services are allowed to get back to normal.
Blessings

Thank you for your kind comments. I appreciate it.

Hi Dada,
Our church in Arizona has the option of allowing the congregation to wear a mask or not. This is done with careful distancing. The "live stream' continues for those who want to stay home.

The idea of continuing with pre-recorded or live streaming after the current health situation is over is a good one.

Anyone Sunday you might have a touch of this or that and staying home and being able to "attend church" though the internet is a good option. Of course not a habit you should cultivate.

Thanks for sharing.

Bill

Great thought, Bill. The problem is when a habit becomes hard formed, it's not easy to break.

Hi Dad,
You are so right about getting into a bad habit and staying there..

Thanks for your response.

Bill

When churches reopen, a few christians will find it difficult to wean themselves from their laptops streaming online service.

Which will it be serve GOD or serve man?
Jerry

We will certainly serve God, not mammon.

I've been going to church via Zoom, and it's working very well. Other than not being able to take communion--which is a big deal for many--the members of my Episcopal church actually feel quite closely connected. Besides Zoom 3x a week, we connect on a Facebook group. And one of our active members has organized Saturday "Hoot n Holler" drives, where several cars of our people drive by a home or two and wave and yes they also do hoot and holler.

New Mexico, where I live, has less serious Covid-19 because our governor got on it early. Now NM is opening up some events, with guidelines for churches There has been one Sunday service at the physical church so far. I was on Zoom and enjoyed seeing it.

You are so right, Rosana! The convenience of the ' zoom ' church will preclude us from going to the physical church when they finally open.

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