IT’S TIME TO RETURN TO CHURCH

It’s time to return church. It’s hard to believe that a statement like that can sound controversial. The last few months have put many believers and their church families in some unprecedented situations. Church services were closed to the public. People were holed up in their homes for weeks. Some still are. But many things have slowly begun to change as people adjust to a world where the virus doesn’t seem like it’s going away any time soon.

So it’s time to come back to church. Yes, I understand that opinions about the virus and the health risks associated with it are across the board in our congregation just like everywhere else. I also understand that there are different comfort levels for different activities. But I am writing this to encourage you and remind you of God’s promises in his Word. As members of the family of believers and the precious Body of Christ, you and I have many blessings and responsibilities. Some of these are best received and best carried out in God’s house and in fellowship with other believers.

Through the pandemic and its aftermath, we need to remember who the real enemy is. What is our biggest threat? It’s not a politician or health official. It’s not a government leader or neighbor who holds to a different view. Our greatest threat is the devil. The devil will look for every opportunity to attack and divide Christians. Like a prowling lion, he is pouncing on and devouring Christians. He hates crowds of believers. So like a lion pride, he will try to disperse the crowd and go after the weakest among us.

We are stronger together, not in isolation. My concern is that some believers are allowing the fear of a virus to isolate them from their brothers and sisters in Christ and from his precious Word. If that isn’t happening to you, praise the Lord!

Satan can easily convince my sinful flesh that I may be risking my life and the lives of others by attending a public worship service or other gathering with believers. So in the name of “essential needs” we may enter stores and restaurants, but in the name of virus dangers we may neglect our greatest need of hearing God’s Word and gathering for mutual encouragement. Another danger may be complacency. It’s just easier to stay dressed down and comfortable on the couch on a Sunday morning. I can click on the video feed and get some other things done while I listen too. Make no mistake, the devil doesn’t want us focused in our worship.

We know Jesus won our victory over sin, death, and the devil, but we still need to fight the good fight of faith. Our battle is against temptation, apathy, laziness, worry, self-indulgence, and everything else that comes from this world. Take comfort that God gives you the tools to fight this battle. He gives you his Word, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. These are essential in the life of every believer. Are you hearing the Word? Are you remembering your baptism? Are you receiving forgiveness, life, and salvation in the Lord’s Supper? (If you’re not attending church in person, I will gladly meet with you privately to share God’s Word and give you the Lord’s Supper.)

There’s another tool God gives us that we often forget about or neglect – the Communion of Saints. God has united us as brothers and sisters in Christ to comfort, nurture, and encourage one another in faith. You are not alone! When God baptized you, he designed you to be together with other believers. Your church family is here to advise and admonish you in the way you should go. When you are isolated it is much more difficult to do this.

Your church family is here to comfort you. “God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Cor. 1:3,4). When people are isolated, it is so much harder to know when a brother or sister needs comfort. Your church family is here to build you up in love. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more, as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:24,25). It may be easy to receive God’s Word and grow in faith by worshiping online. But when you are isolated, it is difficult to receive mutual encouragement. When we try to walk in faith alone, it becomes more difficult to carry out the functions of the Body of Christ. Not to mention the lack of opportunity to serve one another in love.

The devil hates crowds. He would like nothing more than for the church to disperse and scatter. So find strength in the salvation your Savior Jesus won for you. Use the Word and Sacraments. Utilize your gifts and abilities to serve, support, comfort, and build up your fellow believers. And gather if and when you are able to allow them to do the same for you. If you are already coming to church, do you know someone who needs this encouragement? Please approach them and ask what their church family can do for them during this difficult time.

Coming to church is still a risk to our physical health. Remaining isolated is a bigger risk for our spiritual health. We work hard to reduce the risk to your physical health. We will work even harder to reduce the recent risks to your spiritual health. I can never guarantee that you won’t get sick if you come to church, just like I couldn’t guarantee that you wouldn’t get the flu or some other illness in the past. But God’s people at St. John have been worshiping in person for three months (a month and a half without a mask mandate during the height of the pandemic). We have endeavored to make the church as physically safe as possible and God has blessed our efforts. While past history is no guarantee for future results, the blessings given and received in those gatherings outweigh the health risks involved. Trust that God will guard and protect you in every way, even if and when the virus enters into your life.

So return to church if you’re able. If you’re not ready for in person worship, then connect with a smaller group. Invite one other family to your house to watch a worship service. Find someone who will read the Word with you and pray with you. Give yourself the opportunity to serve others and give them the opportunity to do the same.

No matter where or how this virus goes, trust that Jesus has overcome and won the victory. He has numbered your days and desires to bless all those days with his grace and mercy.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Peter Sulzle