I’ve been puzzled by how quickly a culture of fear has become the norm in the land of the free and the home of the brave.  We have successfully adjusted to many other dangers far worse that the Covid19 virus over the years.

For instance, the experts tell us that an estimated 606,520 people will die in 2020 of cancer.  559,265 will die of heart disease.  Accidents will claim 167,107 victims.

And Alzheimer’s will take 122,018.  Pneumonia and the flu will kill another 59,118.  And then we kill ourselves (suicide) at the rate of 48,344 per year. And finally, over 600,000 babies were killed in the wombs of their mothers through abortion in the past year.

Now we have a context for the 240,000 deaths so far in 2020 from the Covid19 virus.  For many years people have been dying all around us from a multitude of diseases in far greater numbers that from the Covid19 virus. Nobody was sheltering in place or wearing masks.

Nobody was blaming Presidents Trump, Obama or Bush for the deaths.

Nobody but hypochondriacs have lived in fear over the reality of deadly diseases in the past.  So why this mass hysteria now with this flu pandemic? 

Before I go further, I assure you that I am aware of the contagious nature of Covid19.  Please don’t blow me off as if I was “anti-science”.  I am probably more data driven than most because I love to read and research.  My question is legitimate because a social aberration has risen that I have begun calling pandemic panic.  It has taken on a life of its own and even been weaponized for political purposes.  FEAR has been embraced very much like a new religion.  It has its high priests in medical experts and media pundits.  It has its standards of righteousness in “virtue signaling” and judging and shunning based on mask wearing and social distancing.

If you come down with the virus you are judged for not being careful enough or being around irresponsible and dangerous people.  People who attend churches are judged and disdained by far more rigorous standards than protestors, rioters and looters.  It seems that new religions are just as riddled with hypocrisy as ancient ones. I digress.

My point is I am not a believer in the religions of fear or white supremacy or systemic racism.  If it looks like a religion and acts like a religion; if it has a belief system of absolutes and demands complete loyalty: if it shuts down all dissent and disagreement…it is in competition with true religion.  Followers of Jesus Christ must never bow to lesser gods.  We believe “there is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” I John 4:18

I am well aware that there must be balance here.  Yes, we are commanded in biblical Christianity to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Can’t that be expressed in mask wearing and social distancing?  Of course, it can.  But not as an expression of fear!  Under President-elect Biden we will be coerced by a national mask mandate.  It will be fear based not love based.  It will feed the pandemic hysteria to the place where the American people could be willing to place “church-going” Christians in detention.  I’m thinking internment camps like the Japanese Americans suffered during another time of fear-based hysteria during World War II.  Fear drives people to do things that they later realize were shameful and terribly unjust.  Let’s not go down that fear driven road again.

I write this because I suspect that the same people who tolerate violence in the streets, riots, destruction of businesses and looting will be irrationally intolerant of the peaceful gatherings of Christians.  I do not think that’s a stretch because its already happening. 

Friends, it’s time to stay true to our religion of love.  “We love because He first loved us.  I John 4:19

“And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” I John 4:21

I’m writing this blog on election day November 3^rd, 2020.  The whole world is literally holding its breath as the remaining votes are being counted amid charges of election irregularities and fraud.  Everyone seems to be agreed that the kind of nation we are and will become is at stake.  We have been subjected for weeks, even months, to the worst kinds of fear mongering on both sides.

The result?  We are more divided by animosity and even hatred then ever before.  I decided that before I know whether Trump or Biden won this race for the presidency, I would take a deep breath and acknowledge my deepest conviction.  I believe with all my heart that God is indeed sovereign over the affairs of men and nations.  He alone understands the complexities of human history and He alone can do anything about the future.

My Bible tells me that Jesus Christ is Lord, whether he is treated as such or not.  He is going to win!  His Kingdom will come and He will accomplish His plans and purposes on earth as He does in heaven.  In the end the forces of darkness, deception and evil will be destroyed and creation will be restored to its original perfection.

My responsibility today is to trust Him. This year, I once again voted my biblical values and convictions and encouraged many others to do the same.  I am not at all sure of which way this nation’s politics will turn.  What I am sure of is that Jesus Christ will eventually put all his enemies under His feet, establishing His Kingdom for all eternity.  First Corinthians 15: 24-28 tells us that in the end, He will hand the Kingdom back to God the Father as an act of loving humility.

The greatest of all leaders will not be up for election.  He is God’s Elect!  We become elect along with Him when we choose to install him on the throne of our hearts by faith.  He is the leader we can trust to do what is good, right, loving and just…100% of the time.  I love His leadership and can hardly wait for the day when He takes over permanently.

I Cor. 15: 57-58

“But thank God!  He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immoveable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

Challenging events and circumstances have impacted God’s people for 2000 years.  In every age there have been difficulties to overcome, heresies to confront and adversities to endure. Our day is no exception.

In 2020 we have been blindsided by a worldwide pandemic that shut down public gatherings including church services.  Sports stadiums, concert venues, movie theatres, weddings, funerals, and school classes have all been shut down.

The difference between other kinds of public gatherings and church gatherings is the fact that we have a constitutional guarantee of non-interference from the state.  Yet, very few Christian pastors have objected or resisted the closure mandates of governors, mayors, or judges.

So, we have gone to the internet streaming our worship and bible teaching services.  We have used Zoom and Skype for personal communication and small group bible studies.  Has it worked?  Have we managed to survive?  At this point we don’t really know what the shutting down of normal church functions has done to us or our children.  We think our people are still with us.  Money is still coming in but, now that is starting to decline.  All we know for sure is that we are in a desperate push to survive the restrictions.  A tremendous amount of work has been demanded of every pastor and church leader.  We have had to learn a whole new way of doing church…often without adequate equipment or training.

The result?  Exhaustion, discouragement and a growing desire to quit trying to do an impossible job.  We are an institution created by Jesus Christ that is designed to operate relationally.  Personal relationships are foundational to us and without the ability to be with each other, see each other, hear each other, hug each other and minister directly to each other we are finding ourselves unable to function as the “Body of Christ” the way we used to.

If you are a pastor, a pastor’s wife, a lay-leader, a church member or a church shopper…discouragement is a very real current issue.  Yet, this is where the apostle Paul’s instruction in I Corinthians 15: 57-58 is so important.  We are called to endure, persevere, and overcome in spite of difficulty.

I am reaching out to you today with encouragement and hope.  It is tough to lead a church this year and Covid19 doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.  But, for the sake of our Lord and His Kingdom don’t give up.  Keep your eyes on Him.  Draw strength from His Word and grace from His Spirit and stay faithful to His call.  According to Revelations chapters two and three, our eternal rewards will be given on the basis of our faithfulness in “overcoming” whatever degree of difficulty we are facing.