Closed on Easter Sunday

Due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, I won’t be attending church on Easter Sunday, which of course is in two days. It will be the first time in recent memory that I’ll be home on Easter, which is in one sense traumatic because I’ve been in my church’s music ministry for over 20 years, but it — like most churches — will be shut down. (Rather, most with the technology to do so, including mine, are livestreaming services over the internet with a limited staff involvement — a pastor will deliver a message and a small worship team will provide music.)

But, sadly, not all churches.

A few rebels — and that’s what they are, rebels — plan to hold some kind of public service. Recently one pastor in Washington County, southwest of Pittsburgh, announced a big blow-out and other larger congregations in the South have decided to defy authorities and hold public worship services.

Many folks, but I don’t, believe that holding services in the midst of this pandemic is about filling the offering plate. Rather, folks simply don’t like being told what to do, insisting that government telling churches how and when to operate impinges upon their freedoms per the First Amendment. But such defiance in this case isn’t a response to persecuting the church, what they complain about; rather, it’s about saving or preserving lives.

Moreover, and more importantly, given the contagion of the COVID-19 virus, such churches are demonstrating a lack of love for God and their fellow man by insisting on holding services and thus not at all concerned about what’s best for their neighbor — which means that they don’t really love God either, especially according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. (True love isn’t selfish, proud or rude and doesn’t seek its own way.)

My church, a mega-church in an urban area, is closed for the time being, as I mentioned above. But it recognizes that it doesn’t exist simply for its own sake but to serve the LORD and the community in which it’s located, and because of the latter it enjoys quite the reputation in the neighborhood; in that context, remaining open at this time might sabotage any future ministry.

Would all churches understand the impact of their decisions to close or remain open on people to whom they might want to reach out.