Faith and COVID-19 - Part I -

ZK Pahru Pou *

This article is dedicated to all my friends who are missing Sunday worship services due to COVID-19 pandemic. We are facing an unavoidable circumstance that compels churches to halt community worship services. I know the kind of feeling that many of you are going through at this juncture.

It's not possible to gather in church to sing, pray and listen to the word of God. Some of you might be feeling bad with church leaders for suspending the worship services.

Why cancel services when God is in control of every situation? Is canceling worship services not equivalent to surrendering to the devil?

Have we lost faith in God? Should COVID-19 destroy our relationship with God? Are we not showing bad example to people of other faiths by closing down church?

Even if all other public places are closed down, Church should be kept opened for prayer and seek God's help.

Therefore, it is best to continue Church worship services despite the danger of life posed by COVID-19 pandemic. These are some of the concerns that I want to address in this article.

Well friends, please take a short moment and think beyond our Sunday's church worship life to everyday's life-based-faith.

Our faith does not end up in Sunday worship services. At times we could be wrong thinking that God dwells and can be worshipped only within the four walls of Church building.

This Church-based-faith can lead to the development of different lifestyles: one inside the church and another one outside the church. Everyone tries to be at their best during worship services believing that church building is the abode of God.

We feel God will answer our prayer only when we pray in the church. However, the belief of limiting God's presence to within the church building alone negates the very concept of God's omnipresence.

When David attempted to build a Temple for God to dwell, God said that God does not reside in human made building but God was staying and moving around with the people (Israel) in the tent and ark (II Samuel 7; I Chronicles 17: 1ff; cf. Acts 7: 47). This is the same God 'in whom we live, move and have our being.'

Having said that let's look at the two broad definitions of the church. Firstly, the word church refers to a building where Christians gather together to worship God. Secondly, the word church is represented by Qahal (Hebrew) and ekklesia (Greek) both refers to the called out community.

In other sense, church is understood as a chosen community of God with purpose. Each one of us (believer) in this sense is a church. Wherever there is chosen people (cf. I Peter 2:9), there is a church.

Didn't the Bible say that 'you are the temple of God'? (II Corinthians 3:16).

We often give much importance to worship services inside church building and very less importance to ourselves as the church. We have to transform 'church-based-faith' into 'life-based-faith.' We are the salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13).

We ourselves are 'church' and our daily life demonstrates what kind of faith we have. Therefore, cancelling few Sunday worship services for greater common good cannot be equated with surrendering of faith.

We can't just leave God inside the Church and freely live outside the church as if God is not there. God is with us (Immanuel) everywhere and our faith should remain the same wherever we are be it in office, field, institution, home, or church. Wherever you are, be the church there, living out your faith and witnessing Christ.

At this time of COVID-19 pandemic, we will be on the safer side if we avoid coming to church building for community worship or even prayer. If COVID-19 spreads from Church because of congregational worship, then we may bring bad name to our God especially among people of other faiths. God is Spirit.

If we worship in spirit and in truth, God will certainly hear our concern even outside the church. Faith matters. Paul and Silas prayed and praised God from the prison (Acts 16: 16ff). Early Christians had conducted worship services in their homes.

Make use of this lockdown period to read Bible personally and meditate on the word of God. Have family worship service which is very important. Use social media to spread Gospel message even though churches are closed down.

My dear brothers and sisters, don't come to church and put at risk your life and the life of others. Cooperate with the state and take lockdown seriously. The church building should be officially locked down till it is safe to open for corporate worship. This is for the safety of everyone.

However, DO NOT TAKE THIS ARTICLE as an excuse to escape from attending Church worship services even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Corporate worship is part of Christian life and ministry.

Well friends, thanks for reading this article and stay tuned for Faith and COVID-19 (Part II) that deals with self quarantine as obedience to God.