It's OK to NOT go back to your church during COVID...or after.

Churches are opening up during COVID--but it's okay NOT to go.  I know what you're thinking--how could a pastor say that?  I can say that BECAUSE I am a pastor.  It's in my heart to care for people.  No, I'm not currently serving a church, and many may discount what I say because I don't have "skin in the game" in terms of making sure that the institution keeps running.  But I served churches for over a quarter century and I still pastor people's souls--so here's why I say that YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK right now.

Maybe you're immunocompromised, or you have family members who are, and you don't want to risk infection.  Maybe you're not immunocompromised, but you realize that you regularly come into contact with other human beings--and Jesus has put so much love in your heart for them that you'd like to save their lives,if possible, by not becoming an asymptomatic carrier.  Whatever your reason, it's okay to NOT go back to your church during COVID.

Now, I know, there are a lot of intrepid souls out there who value church gatherings to the extent that you're willing to risk your own health for the sake of your own worship experience, for the sake of participating in fellowship and service.  I get that.  Many churches are opening during COVID for the benefit of the people who feel just that way.  I'm not saying you shouldn't go.  What I'm saying is that if someone is telling you that you need to go, no matter the risk, you should consider THEIR motive.

There are a few false messages going around that are telling you that you need to go back to church.

1.  "Jesus died for you---you should be willing to die for him."  Wait--what???  Yes, I've actually heard pastors say this in relation to COVID.  While I do believe that there's a time and place for martyrdom, this is not it.  Maybe God will one day call you to enter the pearly gates through the martyr's path, but that would involve a person or persons murdering you for the sake of your faith--not falling victim to a disease that doesn't care what your religion is.  

2.  "The church could die unless we open back up again." No doubt whoever says this is thinking about the church's bottom line.  They're thinking about money.  Because  It's true that some churches will see a drop in giving due to COVID-19.  Many Christians forget to give their tithes and offerings when they're not physically present in the building, and don't generally make it up once they return.  It's also true that your church has expenses that don't go away, simply because they're not having services.  Salaries still neeed to be paid, as do mortgages, et cetera.  But your church can trim its budget to all but the bare essentials during this time.  Maybe this is the time your church needed, to reexamine its priorities.  In any case, if your pastor or anybody else says they need to reopen church in order to bring in the money, this is a clear indication that they HAVE reexamined their priorities, and PEOPLE'S LIVES are not the priority.  

3.    "Church is too important to give up, because it's an exercise of your freedom."  Really???  Did you actually hear what's embedded in those words?  If that's your reason for going to church, then you've placed exercising your freedom as the top priority, as the end goal--and you've made churchgoing simply the means to the end.  If you've elevated the flag to this position, you've diminshed the cross.  Your exercise of your freedom isn't worth causing someone else to get sick and die.

4.    "Fellowship, worship, and giving are so important that you need them for your spiritual health."  Okay--to me, this is the best argument for going back to church during COVID.  But it still doesn't convince me.  It's true that church on YouTube and small group through Zoom aren't quite the same as participating in them live.  But they're not so bad, and they're a whole lot better than risking your life or someone else's.  Our ancestors have had to put up with a lot more hardships than having to use awesome technology to keep in touch with people during a pandemic.  We can do this!

If someone has used any of these arguments to convince you that you MUST go back to church during COVID, then you've got to examine THEIR motives, and wonder whether they've placed their own desire for you go return to church, over your own physical needs.  

After you wade through other people's motives, it's tiime to examine your own.  You might think that worshiping together is worth YOUR risk of getting sick.  But what about the risk of you infecting the oldest member of the church--somebody's grandma who's well-loved?  Are you willing to risk getting her sick?  I hope that you'll give this some consideration before you return to church during COVID.  Time and time again, the Bible encourages Christians to put the needs of others over our own desires.  Maybe living out your faith means staying home just a little while longer.

It's okay not to go back to church during COVID.  It's also okay not to go back to your church after COVID is done.  No, I'm not saying you should give up church altogether.  But I am saying that maybe during the pandemic, you've been checking out a few other churches through their Zoom meetings, YouTube videos, or other online resources.  If your church has handled this oubreak poorly--if the leadership has shown that their first priorities are church finances or defiantly exercising freedom--then maybe it's time to find a different church.  It's okay for you to spend this time that God has given you to thoughtfully and prayerfully consider whether you should return to the same congregation, or find another one.  Because Proverbs 13:20 says, "Those who walk with the wise grow wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."

If you feel like maybe you shouldn't go back to church just yet, here are a few ideas to BE the church, even if you don't GO to church:

• Start a small group of like-minded believers and meet in the park where you can socially distance.
• Find a service project that you can do with other people.  Instead of a worship-service, think about what service-worship would look like.
• Connect with other people using social media.  
• If you have extra time on your hands during COVID, call your pastor and ask how you can volunteer.
• If you're concerned about the church's budget, conider increasing your giving during this time of financial pinch.

Remember, the church isn't a building where you meet--it's a group of people who follow Jesus no matter where they are.  Just because you don't return just yet, that doesn't mean you aren't faithful.  It just means you're giving yourself, and others, a little bit of breathing space.

"Church_2" by planetirony is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0