There is a pandemic

I am bewildered by those UK churches with their own buildings that could very well have begun formally regathering from 05 July but did not and still have not done so. I am also confused by the tendency toward over-compliance, bending over backwards to obey things that are not legally demanded or even in some cases even suggested. Responding to non-legislated, binding, or enforceable government guidance with, “Is it even worth gathering at all” is nothing less than bizarre. The lack of a driven pastoral work ethic, clear vision, or creative problem solving is a terrible indictment on the state of spiritual leadership in our nation. These are problems in the UK context that must be addressed. But there is another ditch that we daren't fall into, which seems to be more appealing to those who already share many of my aforementioned concerns. 

UK Christian friends, especially those in some form of church leadership, please do not be sucked into the partisan posturing of anti-pandemic/lockdown voices coming from the USA. It is not edifying to your congregations or encouraging to your communities in quite the way you perhaps think it is, and beyond the superficial, is seldom even about what you think it is, sadly. On the specifics of this, I will say no more here or even by private correspondence. My phone numbers are easily found online if you want to discuss, and I welcome visitors if you would rather meet face to face.

Definitions matter. Consider this helpful article on the words pandemic, epidemic, and endemic: https://www.dictionary.com/e/epidemic-vs-pandemic/ . However you slice it, whatever you have heard, and whoever you have heard it from, there is a pandemic, and there is nothing remotely prophetic about saying otherwise. To deny something objectively and definitionally proven is to embrace the dishonest, dangerous, and thereby quite wicked conspiracy theories of QAnon, Plandemic, the David Icke/Piers Corbyn demonstration in Trafalgar Sq last week, and others who peddle in paranoia about 'hoaxes'. Our understanding of how this particular pandemic works, how fatal it is, and how it can be effectively battled continues to grow, but epidemiology and containment measures are frankly outside the jurisdiction of the church. In any case, denial is not essential to the necessary de-terrorisation of the British public, and those members of it who are also members of your church. 

There is a pandemic. We should have absolutely no problem affirming that and should give no platform to those who deny it. Pandemic denial does not in any way help us, and may in fact hurt us. But as surely as there is a pandemic... 

There is healing for the sick. 

There is help for the hurting.

There is hope for the believing.

You don't have to be afraid.

You don't have to deny the pandemic to be faithful and true.

You don't have to act uniquely victimised - all people, of all backgrounds, beliefs, and behaviours have been impacted by this all around the world. 

You can/should still proactively love your neighbour. 

You can/should still worship God personally, and congregationally as able (if a city or nation is locked-down, physical congregational gatherings are affected by good and necessary consequence, but mitigations should be pursued, and gatherings resumed as soon as possible). 

You can and should take this time to join the world, and in fact lead the world, in reflecting on fragility, mortality, and eternity. 

Don't diminish your credibility by embracing patent lies and partisan lines.

Don't miss this unique moment to portray the Lord, picture his light, proclaim his life, and pursue his likeness. 

I'm sorry, but I don't want to be known as "that COVID-denier" or marginalised because I am "that conspiracy pusher", but rather if I am known and even marginalised, I want it to be as "that Christ proclaimer" and that "Christian practitioner". If anything, it is in the darkness of a pandemic that such light shines brighter.

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