DEAR CHURCH: COMMUNITY

What will the Church look like After the Virus (“AV”)? We are longing for the day that we will be able to gather together again in worship and fellowship. We want to see each other and we need our lives to return to some kind of normality. However, let’s be realistic for a moment. It’s not gonna’ be the same when we get back to church, will it? 

Life will change and we need to support the change. Here's why:

As Christians, we put our lives into the hands of Jesus Christ. We understand God’s promise of Eternal Life, even to the point that a worldwide pandemic can’t take it from us. We maintain joy in life and hope for the future. However, most of the world around us does not understand the hope and joy that we experience. Most of the world doesn’t know how to view this virus through the eyes of Jesus Christ. Folks are lost. They are lonely. Many of them have lost employment, independence, and some have even lost loved ones. People crave purpose and relationship during this crisis, and after the crisis abates, they’ll be more willing to join our Communities than before the pandemic surfaced.

Which Communities will people seek? In life “AV”, we will identify at least four distinctive communities within our local churches.

The first group includes our Covenant Communities, which represents those with whom we share our most sensitive information without fear of judgement or ridicule. It is likely that we have maintained close contact with these people throughout this pandemic. They would be counted among our closest friends. These people are important.

The second group is the Internal Church Community, which represents the current congregation. These are people already connected to the church, and though they might not be our “Best” friends, they can be relied upon for service, leadership, and assistance of every kind within the church. These folks are important.

Third, we have now inherited an Online Community, which supports us in social media, online worship participation, and financial and service participation. These people know us, but a portion of them will not become members. Some are members of other churches, former members of our church, or friends and family of current members. They aren’t here but they continue to support our church when they are able. They attend functions and participate. (And yes, this group might also include new people who are just tasting our church before they commit.) This group is important.

The last group is The Greater “Community”, which represents everyone in the first three groups, plus all those who are not yet connected to the Christian Church in any manner. They may have a church background or they may not know anything about God, church, or Jesus Christ. They are called “de-churched” (those who used to attend church but now choose otherwise) and “unchurched” (the non-Christian). They are obviously important.

We should view each person in these Communities as our responsibility because they are all God’s children and all of them are (or could become) our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. However, it’s important to note that if we are only taking care of the first group, the “Covenant Community” (our best friends), we are not serving anyone except ourselves. In addition, if we are only caring for the second group, the “Internal Community” (our existing church), we are maintaining the status quo. We are not growing in number.

If we wish to grow our churches, our focus should be on the third and fourth groups. Specifically, the third group (the Online Community) is extremely valuable to our local church. They are trying to be as committed as they are able, and they represent our best opportunity for immediate and increased participation, service, referrals and even financial support.

The fourth group, the de-churched and the unchurched, should always be our primary focus because they represent potential new souls in Heaven. In regard to Faith, Eternal Life, and life purpose, they are lost. During this Coronavirus, they are trying to connect enough dots to survive, but they don’t know what to look for or where to look for it. Therefore, it becomes both our honor and responsibility to provide them with the Hope of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Remember, we base our own lives upon Jesus, and the worldwide crisis has provided us with a unique opportunity to share our greatest treasure with them!

Yet, another question surfaces: How do we connect to the fourth group, those who are on the outside of the Church “AV”? The answer to this question isn’t incredibly complicated, but it will a require a change in our perspective, behavior and attitude. The world has changed. We cannot be Experts of the Old. We must become Novices of the New. Something else to consider…

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV)