I imagine you have noticed in the news the recent spike in COVID-19 cases again across the United States. In addition, several states have begun to shutter down various activities, businesses, and social gatherings. Multiple states have suggested limiting Thanksgiving to just a few people or possibly canceling any celebrations with anyone other than your immediate family.
All these things together put pressure on individual families, churches, and pastors. The questions so many strive to answer include, “What shall we do? What is wise? What is best? What is legal?”
Just yesterday my own family thought through various scenarios related to these questions. Yesterday, I talked with a pastor who sought to do what was best for his congregation. In addition, I also talked with two other families seeking to make wise decisions as well.
This is what was true in every instance yesterday. Each individual, family, pastor, and church sought to answer these questions according to what they believe is best with their unique circumstances. They each desired to honor God, love their neighbor, be sensitive to special circumstances, and recognize the health situation as they perceive it.
Mutual Care in the Body of Christ
As you interact with each other today as part of the family of God, let me encourage you to keep these verses in mind:
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. …
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. (1 Cor 12:12-31)
In this text, the Apostle Paul reminds us that we are all in the body of Christ together. God graciously makes each one of us different and allows us to serve each other and the body of Christ in various ways. Each one in God’s gracious plan is important. Each one needed.
Notice how Paul emphasizes that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all the members suffer.
Over the years, this truth has encouraged me as it is lived out. At Sonrise, I have witnessed it so often, heard testimonies about it, and lived it alongside so many. Mutual care. Suffering together. Serving one another. Dwelling together in unity. Individuals sharing the love of Christ with each other.
Mutual Care Creates an Empathetic Heart
As you think about all the decisions individuals, families, pastors, and churches must wrestle through in light of individual circumstances, government mandates, government recommendations, health concerns, and other situational particulars, make sure our commitment to Christ and the body of Christ rules our hearts. Our own particular opinions related to the virus, government, or other objects of our passions should ride shotgun to the greater commitment we have to mutual care and seeking to serve each other.
More specifically, our desire to serve each other through mutual care as part of the body of Christ should create an empathetic heart. Our personal opinions should be shelved as we consider those around us. In humility, we recognize we do not know all the pressures, situational concerns, and other issues surrounding other individuals, families, pastors, or churches. Instead, our mutual care for each other creates an empathetic heart for the other person’s situation.
On This Sunday…
Let me share three different scenarios to consider:
- Some will go to church while others stay home and watch church online.
- Some churches will choose to meet today in person where others will worship together virtually.
- Individuals and families face difficult choices this week. Some will meet together for Thanksgiving celebration. Others will choose to limit their gathering to fewer people than normal. Still others may choose to stay home and only celebrate with those who live in the same household.
All of these decisions are personal wisdom choices.
As individuals in each of these situations make their choices, please don’t forget that all of these choices are wisdom choices. Each person considers his or her choices and situational pressures as they make these decisions. In each instance, the person seeks to do what is best as that person evaluates it. These decisions are very personal and no doubt produce personal stress and relational stress.
Assume the very best toward others.
Whenever there are choices to be made, your choice and another person’s choice may not be the same. What you will do versus what someone else would do, or what you would do versus what the other person chooses to do may be quiet different. That is okay. We do not all have to do the same thing for the same reasons. But, as we hear of those choices and make those individual decisions, this is what must be true of each of us. We must assume the other person has every good, wise, and loving motive as we. We can all want the exact same things (honoring God, loving our neighbor, seeking to do what is wisest in an individual situation as best as one can) and still make different choices. Therefore, assume the best and seek to have a sensitive heart toward others in their own situational pressures.
Therefore, on this Sunday and throughout this week, as we each seek to love God, our families, and each other, let’s strive to serve each other well in grace, tenderheartedness, and mutual care. Where we can help each other, let’s strive to do so. When we hear of someone doing something different than us, let’s immediately assume that person or church also made the best decision for the same good reasons as we. Further, through it all, may we pray together that God would grant us wisdom and protection along the way.
Image Credit visuals
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together