This morning I heard something I was hoping I wouldn’t live to hear. Our pastor said, “We are going to do everything we can to keep the doors of the church open. We do not know week to week what we can do, but we will gather in some way”.  He suggested that those who watch the service online invite others to their home to watch together in order to avoid isolation and separation from other believers.

I have so many emotions welling up inside. Anger because I find it hard to respect my state government who applies laws vastly differently to different sectors. Casinos can have 1000 occupants in a room, but churches may have 50 per room. Hundreds of protesters can congregate shoulder to shoulder for 66 consecutive days. Restaurants and bars can have many people in one room, but churches can have only 50 people no matter how big their auditorium is and how far apart the chairs are. Confusion because I don’t how far we can obey the law and still obey God who commands us to gather for fellowship, worship, and teaching. Then fear rears its ugly head. If we have to defy the law to meet, how many of us will be jailed? This is taking the situation to the extreme, but it’s now in the realm of possibility. So our pastor has to stand before us near to tears and beg us to gather in some form even if it has to be in our homes in small groups. May God help us, our country, our world.

My mind drifted back to the New Testament accounts of a powerful government and it’s interaction with Christianity.   The Roman government reluctantly cooperated with corrupt religious leaders who were so jealous of Jesus’ popularity that they wanted him killed. Altho the governor knew Jesus wasn’t guilty of breaking the Roman law, he decided to avoid political trouble by going along with the mob and sentenced him to a Roman execution.  Expediency over justice.

Later, when Peter and other disciples were hauled before the religious court run by the leaders who had perpetrated Jesus’ death, he responded, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross.  Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. . .We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 5:29-32)  Peter knew this court could pressure the government to execute him as they had Jesus, but he refused to be intimidated. He knew he wasn’t in violation of civil law. So Peter continued to preach.  He was imprisoned briefly before a miraculous angelic deliverance from prison.   The Roman government did at times persecute the church for political gain. King Agrippa had James, the brother of John, killed in order to curry favor from that same influential group who opposed Jesus and his disciples.  Expediency over justice.

Paul, also, taught in spite of the opposition of the religious establishment. The Romans hadn’t forbidden him or opposed him. He was taken to court by religious leaders multiple times, but the government defended his right to speak about his beliefs. Yet, this man who wrote some of the New Testament and planted many indigenous churches eventually ended up being imprisoned by the Romans. He spent four years detained while he awaited a trial regarding charges which had been brought against him by those same jealous religious leaders. Yet he had written, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.  For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. . .  The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.  So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.” Romans 13:1-5.

Finally, the Roman government sentenced him to death.  We assume this because Paul, while under house arrest awaiting trial, wrote to Timothy asking him to come to him quickly because, “The time of my death is near.” This was followed by comments about his first defense in the court in Rome inferring that there would be further court proceedings. Scripture doesn’t record the details of his death; we can only surmise.  Peter, when he was old,  was also martyred.  We assume he was killed by the Roman government because Jesus’ prophesy about his death seems to point to being crucified.

So, in the face of adversity, I think I need to get better at some things. Maybe you do, too. I need to get better at talking about spiritual things in conversations with others. Paul, even while awaiting trial, under house arrest, and only able to talk to those who came to visit,  was eager to tell people about Jesus and teach those who believed. In fact, during his final two years under house arrest, he wrote four teaching letters which are four books of our New Testament. He used every chance to let others know the Good News about Jesus.  I wonder how many soldiers who guarded him and how many officials who heard his defense in court put their faith in Jesus?  I don’t want to waste my opportunities to talk about the Lord. It shouldn’t be awkward or forced to talk about God with like-minded friends or with those who don’t yet believe. I have to swallow my pride and not worry whether someone thinks I’m trying to be super-spiritual or a freak. And I also have to be humble enough to listen as others teach me and share their insights and experiences. Husband and I have a friend who I admire because he always brings up a spiritual topic in the course of conversation. He is genuine and sincerely loves to discuss topics about the Bible.

I need to be a careful listener so I know when my brothers and sisters are hurting or happy. We’re told to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn, so I need to be tuned in to the signals others are sending in order to adapt my conversation to their needs. Being happy-go-lucky and too upbeat in conversation when my friend is in emotional or physical pain isn’t helpful. Or dwelling on negative things in a conversation when a friend is celebrating a happy event isn’t helpful, either. Feeling with them in their happiness or pain marks me as a true sister.

I need to be reading and meditating on God’s Word like never before. Last night when I couldn’t sleep, I got up and read Scripture to ground my swirling thoughts. Like dear Husband reminds me about my blog, it may be the only Scripture someone reads this week. Now I must realize that my conversation may be the only spiritual input someone may get this week.
Let’s buy up every opportunity to have conversations that build others up in their faith or gently explain faith to those who don’t yet believe.

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