Now is the Time
Walter Bennett
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to answer everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander“ 1 Peter 3:15–16 (NIV).
Now, more than at any time in our history, people around the world are rethinking their worldview. The COVID-19 Pandemic has brought to reality what, in our lifetime, has been only theorized. While those who have studied the history of disease are well aware of pandemics in the past, never has there been one that has spread so globally so quickly. The advanced state of travel brought this virus to every country on the planet in a matter of months. Add to this the social unrest and extreme divisiveness that is tearing countries apart and you have a perfect storm.
As Christians, we were woefully unprepared for this opportunity. For those who have clung steadfastly to their beliefs in a good God, there has been a thread of peace throughout the storm. This does not mean that they have not experienced fear. It simply means that despite this fear, they have had an underlying peace that God is still on the throne. For others, they have questioned or even lost their faith in God.
The world is watching. The world is hungry for answers. The world is searching for meaning. Loved ones have been lost. Millions have suffered and recovered. The question lingers… why? I firmly believe that this entire episode demonstrates how little control WE have over events that affect us. This is true for Christians and non-Christians alike. It is an opportunity to explore who or what IS in control. We have the answer that the world is literally dying to know.
While we were unprepared for this event, it should highlight for us the opportunity moving forward. We need to first seek that peace that surpasses all understanding, and then share it with the world. People around us at work, at school, at the grocery store, in restaurants and cafes, and out on the street, should sense in us a difference concerning how we are handling what has proven to be the most disruptive influence on global society that the world has ever experienced. This doesn’t mean that we don’t grieve. It doesn’t mean that we are skipping through the streets with smiles on our faces. It means that at our core, amid pain and suffering, we are untroubled by the question of “what now?”.
If you are a leader in a church, you need to be equipping your congregation to share the reason for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Christians need to be prepared to share with others, in ways that are gentle and kind, that there is a creator who loves us deeply. We need to share that what we have experienced over the last 18 months is a blip on the radar of eternity.
"They must be prepared to share their stories of God working in their lives—not preventing any pain and anguish, but walking through it with them."
In contrast to this, I have spoken with and heard from hundreds of pastors and church and denominational leaders who are concerned first and foremost with what is happening with the size of their congregations. Are the online viewing numbers truly representative of people actually paying attention to the sermon messages? They are worried about when and if church members will come back as restrictions are lifted. There is concern over members finding other churches online that they like more and that there will be mass migrations away from their own churches or denominations. This all results in the equivalent of circling the wagons and doing everything possible to preserve what they had before COVID-19 arrived on the scene. All of these concerns are distractions from the pit of hell.
Instead of being consumed by these distractions, we should be looking at how the Church can leverage recent events for the kingdom. How can we shape our messages and teaching to bring the Gospel to those who are looking for a new way to understand the world because their previous worldview has been blown out of the water? How can we utilize the expansion of online capabilities to spread the message further? Most importantly, how can we prepare our existing members better to be released into the world with this message of eternal hope and peace? A hope and peace that will withstand any world event in the future no matter how devastating it is.
The most effective way to bring this message to the world is one conversation at a time. For those conversations to take place, the saints must be prepared. Christians must be equipped and prepared to enter into authentic relationships with those around them who are suffering loss (which right now is everyone). They must be prepared to share their stories of God working in their lives—not preventing any pain and anguish, but walking through it with them. We must demonstrate what it is to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit. While benevolent actions amid chaos can certainly model this, it is only completely conveyed when those benevolent actions are accompanied by words of encouragement and truth.
Now is the time for us, as Christian leaders, to equip and release God’s people upon a world that is seeking answers that can only be found in one person—Jesus Christ.
