Church: The Most Essential Service

During this Covid-19 pandemic and in any other trying time, there is one main thing that everyone seems to lose, and so everyone seems to be looking for it - HOPE.

Uncertainties and difficulties occasioned by this pandemic have driven many to the edge. As scientists are working around the clock looking for a vaccine, people in the world are losing hope. If we don't fix the hopelessness then the vaccines may not have anyone to be injected into. Therefore, all measures deployed against the Covid-19 pandemic rely heavily if not entirely on hope. And this hope can only be found in one place - the church.

The Current Situation

Even a small kid now knows about the Covid-19 pandemic because it has affected everyone and it boasts a wide media coverage. The situation today, the noon of the 29^th of July 2020, is that the world has reported nearly 17M cases and over 650K deaths. These are not just numbers but human lives either lost or in danger of being lost. The sick brothers and sisters are in dire need of hope. Their family and relatives at large, their friends and country-people are affected by such news. In Kenya, over 18.5K cases and about 300 deaths are also scary. Apart from the direct effect on lives, livelihoods have also been affected. Many people have either lost their jobs or have had their salaries cut. People in the hospitality industry have been the worst hit. Board of Management (BoM) teachers are also a very affected lot. Whether directly or indirectly, everyone is affected in one way or another. Under these conditions, there is a lot of despair, hopelessness, anxiety, and uncertainties. Domestic violence, suicide, and crime rates are reportedly increasing and this trend is likely to continue for a while. This shows that even if the vaccine is found now, the effects will still take long to clear out.

Governments have implemented a raft of measures to try and curb the spread of the pandemic and save lives and livelihoods. Different businesses have been labelled essential or non-essential to determine whether or not they can be opened now. However, I feel that the church has not been given its special place in terms of how essential it is. Therefore, I seek to describe a few points that depict how essential the church is in these and similar times. But first, we need to understand why it was important for the church to shut doors at first.

Why Churches Had to Shut Doors

According to the book of Romans 13, Christians are called to be obedient to the authorities. This call goes up to the point where the authorities defy God in their directives. The head of the church is Jesus Christ. He is the final authority. When the pandemic first hit, no one knew enough about it and the authorities felt that closing down all public gatherings including places of worship would safeguard the people. This decision was not against Christ and it was safe to do so. Months later, the same authorities started reopening various places after learning a lot about the disease and knowing various protective measures. This is where we are. This is where I am calling for the reopening of churches with minimal restrictions and the following reasons support my call.

1. Church preaches hope

I am very keen not to talk about places of worship but the church in this because of the specifics of what church preaches. I don't know what other places preach in terms of hope but the church preaches the most blessed hope of all - the hope of eternal life. Every Christian's journey leads them towards eternal life. The church reminds Christians of this hope and urges them to live in a way that will lead them there. This encouragement takes Christians to their Bibles to read more about Christ and him crucified and the prize that this has for us, Christians. This hope shows us that there is more than just these daily issues we go through. It shows us that there is more in store for us. It gives us the courage to push for the higher mark. It gives us warmth and power to press on and worship our Lord and Saviour. This hope gives us confidence in life and will make people respond against the pandemic with a different kind of zeal.

2. Church preaches purpose

When there's something to achieve at the end of a process, those participating in the process feel that they have a purpose to keep fighting. If you're running a marathon and gold awaits you at the finish line, you give your all and keep running knowing that at the end you'll smile. But if there's nothing to gain at the end you can as well give up. For Christians, something better than gold is lying ahead - eternal life. Knowing that there's something to work towards gives our lives purpose. The church preaches this purpose. People then get a reason to push on. They don't give up. No suicide to report. People push on.

3. Church preaches sovereignty of God

Surely this should have been the first and main point. God is sovereign - He does what He wants, when He wants, how He wants, where He wants, and to whoever He wants. That's simply what sovereignty means. Everything happening in the world is not a surprise to God - whether good or bad. He doesn't have to consult us. He is in charge. So whether we say it is natural or man-made, God knows about Coronavirus. Read about Job in the Bible. A mighty wind crushed the house where his sons and daughters were and all of them died. It looks like any natural disaster but we know that God knew about it. He allowed it to happen. Later, Job, instead of blaming God like most of us would, he praises the name of the LORD.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.^[a]
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21).

This then means that even this pandemic is no surprise to God and this gives me and fellow Christians a lot of hope and confidence. I know that He is in charge and everything happens under His watch. That gives me peace of mind. When churches are fully opened, Christians are reminded of this fact and so given this peace.

4. Church preaches joy in suffering

A Christian is not a cry-baby. We are not called to be weak and cry every time we face a challenge. Job faced more but still praised God. Christians are called to be joyful even in suffering. The story of Job and the letters of Paul emphasise this critical aspect of the Christian life. Times are tough, yes. But our God is in control and He is teaching us to fully rely on Him. We must remain hopeful in Him. After all, the challenges we face are not new (1 Cor 10:13). Let us be strong in the Lord.

³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4).

5. Church preaches obedience

Christianity is not a moral system of rights and wrongs, but there is a behaviour expected of believers. Obedience is one of them - the main one. The church obeys Christ and teaches Christians to be obedient as well. The church obeys authorities and teaches Christians to do the same. Disobedience is a sin. The church is based on obedience to the word of God. Christians all over the world are expected to be obedient. Currently, many people are defying government directives against Covid-19 leading to the spread of the virus. The church will preach this obedience to people.

Conclusion

There are many ways in which the church supports society, so the above are just a few but very critical. Even as the authorities continue to work on the vaccines and the regulatory measures, it's important to work hand in hand with the church in this. Through the preaching of hope and purpose, cases of suicide and despair will subside. The sovereignty of God reminds people that all is not lost and that God will eventually bring this to an end. Preaching joy in suffering encourages Christians to wipe their tears, get up and continue working and doing everything enabled by God to survive and provide for their families in this and other similar times. Teaching obedience reminds people to follow government directives (unless when they're against Christ) and to live by the law. Crime rates will then go down. Therefore, open the churches and allow more people to enter. Ask the church leaders to implement necessary safety measures like social distancing, washing of hands/sanitizing, wearing of masks, and not holding services for too long.

Scientists and medics also need hope. I've watched videos of some nurses holding prayers every morning before they begin their work. They also need hope. Every Christian should join in praying for the world. Let us come together to pray. I know we can pray alone and it's okay, but the Bible says that two are better than one to show the need for fellowship. With all safety guidelines followed, let us have these fellowships and pray together.

not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25).

Find a way to ensure churches are always open. This is the most essential service upon which the rest stand.