Complimentary Story
Editor, Wisconsin Christian News:You may not know that “Church” is not a building. The “Church” is people who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior of the world. But to most people when they see or think of “church,” they associate it with the building they see as they drive past on their way to the grocery store.
These buildings come in many styles from gothic to modern, storefront or tent, but all are places for believers to gather and worship God. For the lost, they are beacons of hope; they should know if the need ever arises, where to go for help. The ‘pandemic’ was such a time. But instead of taking this opportunity to share the Good News, churches willingly closed their doors and hunkered down inside their homes, wondering if this was when the Lord would return.
What were they thinking? What was the world thinking? We got a little glimpse of what, when people burned down a church in Mississippi and left the words “Hypocrite,” (but misspelled). Could they have thought, “I told you God doesn’t care?” I don’t know what the church in Mississippi was doing or not doing, but the church as a whole was not thinking of lost souls, the suicidal, the broken, the lonely, the abused, forgotten, and the sick, when they closed their doors. What the church failed to do said a lot to the world. They missed a golden opportunity to BE the Church. In this, the church flunked the test.
So what happened? What made this virus any different from viruses that come every year? FEAR. It came in like a flood! Fear spread quicker than the virus. Fear paralyzed the churches. The churches that should have been on the front lines SPEAKING TRUTH in the midst of lies, spreading faith, rescuing the lost, the hurting, confused, the dying, and comforting the lonely. What did they do? They followed the WORLD and got sucked into the plan to fundamentally change the world, not for Jesus Christ, but for all those working for the antichrist.
Very little resistance was seen. Those who did resist were chastised by their brothers and sisters. Did they forget Jesus’ words about the end times? You will have persecution, your faith will be tested, there will be martyrs, family members will turn on one another, and you could lose all your worldly possessions. Did they forget His words in Revelation when speaking to the churches, that whoever OVERCOMES will be rewarded? He did not say those who hide from calamity, pandemics and persecution will be rewarded. How about His words in Luke 18:8 “…Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
The churches will tell you they were being “good citizens,” hunkering down so not to spread the virus, following orders. Peter and the apostles were told to not preach in the name of Jesus, but they did not obey. Yes, they were beaten because of it, but they considered it an honor to suffer for Jesus. They knew first hand that Jesus laid His life down for man; they were willing to lay their lives down for Him.
Now, on the other hand, maybe the Holy Spirit decided to use this ‘pandemic’ to show us who really is the Church — kind of a separation of sheep and goats. Church buildings have been suffering. Membership to keep them afloat has been steady dwindling. Most people — young and old — have no hunger for the mundane that is found in so many. There is little opportunity to get to know anyone intimately. Even worse, there is little opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work in most churches, because everything is pre-programmed and politically-correct.
Maybe the churches will have another opportunity to fix things. We are told another pandemic is on its way. (Hey, if it worked the first time, let’s do it again). Could the churches next time show the world that they are not divided? Could the churches come up with an emergency plan? At the very least could they be the “House of Prayer,” Jesus said they should be? Could the churches work together so that two or three people could be present for prayer and comfort 24/7 in at least one building in town? Could the churches show the world how the Holy Spirit works through all believers? (You know, diversity doesn’t have to mean division). I think Jesus would like to return for a glorious Church, one full of faith and love. It’s time for the Church to ARISE.
-Mrs. Ruth Pfiester,
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
