“Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)
Lessons in Lockdown
This time of global lockdown ought to make us all think: What really matters? What do we really need? What is the Church? What is important in church life?
This is an unprecedented time of shaking, bigger than all the previous tremors. We need to come out of it a stronger, purer, better-prepared Body, because this time serves as a warning for what the future holds.
Now is the time to learn to be content with less – content in our homes, content in being church without church buildings. Now is the time to be fully confident in the gospel and its power, and to be unafraid to share it at every opportunity. Now is the time to learn to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit so we are guided and protected from needless danger. These are vital lessons we need to learn, ready for the final curtain.
Going Viral
Until now, we have been comfortable and complacent in our cosy churches, too casual and reticent about reaching out with the gospel - but this is a new day. Church buildings have been forced to shut, but the true Church, of course, is not a physical building but a virtual structure made up of believers in Jesus, with him as the cornerstone (Eph 2:20).
Despite our enforced isolation, we can still meet over the phone or online to worship, study and pray together. Furthermore, the work of getting the gospel out is now firmly in our hands – it’s not the minister’s job to spread it, it’s ours! Let’s go viral with the gospel!
What’s So Mega About Church?
If the coronavirus crisis changes anything, it is that the day of the mega-church may be drawing to a close. At Prophecy Today UK and Issachar Ministries, we have been noticing for some time the growth of small groups around the country meeting in homes. These groups will now come into their own if they can move online using video-conferencing software. If not, then the principles learned in those groups can still be applied within households.
Stay in the Ark
Now is not the time to wander away from the flock. Stay connected, reach out to other believers, obey the word of the Lord and listen to the Lord of the word. This is the safe place, the ark of protection to see you through this time. Meanwhile, throw lifelines to all you can by sharing the gospel.
Church buildings have been forced to shut, but the true Church, of course, is not a physical building but a virtual structure made up of believers in Jesus, with him as the cornerstone (Eph 2:20).
Church Online
Churches are live-streaming services, meaning you can now ‘visit’ any live-streaming church in the world on a Sunday morning. This is wonderful for those serving overseas – missionaries serving abroad can visit their home church virtually. Last Sunday, two of our mission partners joined our service – one from the Far East and one from central Africa – and greeted us in the live chat that ran alongside the service. Normally, we would see them once every two years on furlough. We all ‘gathered’ in our minister’s front room!
Most of these services stay on churches’ websites so you can watch them again during the week. If you have ever wondered what services are like at another church, or in another country, you can now find out - although without congregations these services are far from typical!
House Church
This could also be the time to start your own house church. It is entirely biblical and Hebraic to worship in the home. Think of Passover (Ex 12) with its instructions for every household to prepare its meal. In Jewish tradition, festivals are celebrated in the home with special family meals, as well as services in the synagogue. The father of the family becomes the priest in his own home, teaching his children God’s word.
The late Dwight Pryor1 said that today’s mega-churches had become places of entertainment and used to point out that the man’s domestic role as priest had been handed over to the Pastor. Now is the time for men in particular, and parents generally, to step up and assume their priestly role within their own homes. This is the time to form new habits in the family of worship, prayer and study.
It is also important in a buzzing family to find time alone and to set good spiritual rhythms. Each person should have a space, however small, that is just for them where they can retreat without being disturbed to have their own quiet time.
Psychologists have talked about the importance of developing a routine during this enforced confinement. Don’t sit in front of the TV or listen to the radio all day being overwhelmed by each new wave of bad news. Find new rhythms - biblical ways of organising time. Fix your eyes on Jesus and remember that the Lord is in control.
No Internet?
If you do not have internet access, it is unlikely you will be reading this! However, if you know someone who does not use the internet, you could suggest that they arrange a Sunday morning call with others who are isolated, or be available yourself for such a call. You can conference call on some mobile phones.2
If you are a technophobe, it’s time to face the fear! Keep on reaching out to other believers in whatever ways you can. Offer to pray with someone else over the phone, or read a passage of the Bible aloud and discuss it.
Why not start a spiritual journal? Or finish that study on the names of the Lord, or whatever it is that you have been meaning to do! Catch up on reading: Canon J John is offering a 50% discount on all his books.
This could also be the time to start your own house church! It is entirely biblical and Hebraic to worship in the home.
Other Resources
There are many great worship and prayer resources available online. The Church of England has a page of worship and prayer resources. Premier Christian Radio is holding a live worship service every Sunday. Alternatively, this could be the time to dust off your guitar!
Celebrate Passover
Never in living memory has Passover been so significant – raging plague and the angel of death passing over are entirely real during this pandemic.
On the evening of Wednesday 8 April, Jewish people around the world will begin the celebration of Passover with a festive meal in their homes. Why not join them in the celebration with a simple communion service in your home? Exodus 12 says that a great many other people left Egypt with the Children of Israel (Ex 12:38). Gentiles joined with God’s people on the journey of redemption. Similarly, in Messiah, believing Gentiles join with the believing remnant of Israel (Eph 2:11-22).
The Last Supper was a Passover meal. Jesus took the simple elements of unleavened bread and wine and revealed their hidden meaning: his body and blood as the ultimate Passover Lamb (2 Cor 5:7).3
A Time to Remember: A Simple Service for Passover and the Lord’s Supper
Have to hand a glass of red wine or grape juice, and bread without yeast - water biscuits or similar crackers will do if you cannot buy Matzos.
1. Read Matthew 26:17-30 aloud eating the bread at verse 26 and drinking the wine at verse 29.
2. You may also like to read aloud as a declaration regarding the blood of Messiah our Passover Lamb: “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” (Ex 12:13)
3. Declare Psalm 91 aloud. You can also change the pronouns to make it a prayer.
4. Give thanks to God for his deliverance from sin and death through Jesus the Messiah.
5. Intercede for:
- unsaved family, friends and contacts
- the Church worldwide
- governments and nations of the world
- God’s Spirit to work powerfully in Israel and among the Jewish people
It is the custom for Jewish people living outside Israel to celebrate Passover for two nights, so this could be repeated on Maundy Thursday. It would, of course, also be appropriate for Good Friday.
References
1 www.jcstudies.com and study materials via Christian Friends of Israel.
2 Call the first person, then there is usually an ‘Add call’ option giving you the opportunity to dial another person and then there will be an option to link the calls.
3 Read more about finding Jesus in the Passover in this study.