Pastor's article

I am so excited that as August comes I hope and pray that things start to look more and more normal. As we begin opening church, and resuming activities, I wonder if you are as excited about it as I am. We often take things for granted until we don’t have them. During the Corona Virus, I have learned three things about church. First, we are truly blessed to be able to live in a country that allows us to worship freely and we are blessed. Second, we need each other. The most difficult thing about not meeting for church is how lonely and different it is when we are unable to see, hug, and talk to one another. Third, the church is truly needed today, as much as ever before. 

The COVID 19 scare has shown us that our lives can be upended quickly and our habits need to be changed every so often. As the excitement of coming back together, also makes me wonder how long that excitement will last. I remember after September 11, churches were packed for about three weeks and everyone went back to “normal.” I wonder if after all of these weeks, will people realize how important church is to our well-being, our families and our country. I am reminded of several parables Jesus told to highlight my point. In Matthew Jesus tells of a man who sells everything to buy a field and another to buy a pearl. But the parable found in the Book of Luke about a man preparing for a great banquet may be a better illustration. Luke 14:16-24 says

16 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' 19 "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' 20 "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' 21 "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' 22 "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' 23 "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"

Recently, Barna Research found that one in three practicing Christians have stopped attending church during COVID-19. They found that 32% say they have neither attended nor streamed church online during all of these weeks.1 The conclusion is that people that would be considered “regular” church attenders have dropped out of church. While I know most of “us” are excited about church, there will some who have become comfortable in staying home or finding free time. there are also those, who are excited to return, but honestly, I wonder how long the excitement may last. The passage in Luke highlights, “But they all alike began to make excuses.” We are all guilty of making excuses to why we can’t serve the Lord. But the work of God will continue according to the passage. In verse 23, the master goes out and still seeks people to have his house full. This indicates that God is big enough to get his work done, the question then becomes “Do you want to be a part of God’s plans?”

As our church begins again, we will be moving forward with big plans. This pandemic shows how fast things can change and we need to be ready for anything that comes our way. Our church not only is necessary to the community, but it must to be ready for everything God has available for it. As we begin services, Sunday School, Wednesday night activities we need to realize it may not be like “it has always been” but it needs to be something that God will include us in His plans. Are you ready? Are you ready to be a part of the NEXT BIG THING, God is about to do at First Baptist? Begin to pray that God prepares us, God protects us, God provides for us and most of all God participates in us. 

I look forward to seeing you in church Sunday.

In Christ,

Brother Alan 

1 https://www.barna.com/research/new-sunday-morning-part-2/