Northern Light

I want folks to think more globally about a fast spreading virus among a population that is not naturally immune, i.e., coronavirus. As you consider your options for personally participating in the ongoing request for strategical social distancing, please understand that you, personally, are not necessarily the issue here. The effort seeks to reduce exposure for vulnerable people from those less vulnerable. In other words, these choices are about serving others with suppressed immune systems, whom you encounter but don’t know their risk. More simply? Don’t be responsible for getting someone else sick.

At the end of all this, we may look back at our actions and be tempted to say, “See, that wasn’t so bad. There were proportionately fewer serious complications than everybody worried about.” The response will be , “Yeah, that was the point.” That’s community preventative health.

There are several ways a society can attempt to confront the challenge presented by a highly infectious and potentially deadly disease. Social distancing is the strategy being adopted by authorities in the US. So, being mindful that governmental authority is given by God, and being personally mindful of Jesus’ command to love one another, let’s be as considerate as possible in our choices and actions.

For instance, I asked the other day at the local grocery store whether they had gotten any hand sanitizer in the shipment that morning. I was told, yes, but that one woman had purchased all of it within moments of the store opening. I don’t know her need or situation and cannot judge the validity of her action, but I can caution you to be careful that fear does not lead you to acts of selfishness.

Here’s another thought. When you consider joining us onsite over the next couple weeks at Cornerstone, would you please consider the people you will encounter after you leave, and ask yourself, if you picked up the virus in church, who would you be spreading it to after? We really want you to be people who spread grace, love, and the gospel. COVID-19? Not so much.

If you come on Sunday, please expect us to honor the requests and requirements being set before us by civil authorities. We will ask you to sanitize hands, maintain a 6′ radius, and, if you are a person who falls in the high risk category, I will probably send you home–out of love, but home.

We are learning to love and live in fearless faith. Take time in this imposed Sabbath to dig deeply in God’s word and love graciously.

Pastor Dale McIntire