The fear of epidemic is all around us. The shut down has ruined the economy and put many millions out of work. It appears that the cure for coronavirus may be worse than the disease!
There has been a particular animus against church services. We are told that there really is no need to assemble bodily, yet the entire New Testament is premised upon the physical assembly of believers.
So many had already forsaken the assembly in good times, it's no wonder that most are now ready to lay off worship gatherings in fear.
Believers' responses during the epidemic do not bode well for the coming times of severe persecution.
In the Soviet slave labor camp Vorkuta, John Noble wrote, believers risked execution to meet in secret to celebrate the Lord's Supper. In China today, tens of millions of Christians continue to meet in forests and private homes, in defiance of criminal penalties imposed by their Communist Chinese tyrants.
All throughout Christianity, believers have met when it was illegal to do so, because the church meeting is so important.
Besides, Jesus promises to meet with us together! Perhaps too many of us don't believe that anymore.
But recall on the first Easter Sunday, the disciples were afraid to meet. The doors where shut, the Gospels tell us, for fear of the Jews. What they had just done to Jesus, His people feared, they might next do to them!
But Jesus had exhorted them not to fear. Sure, He said, they would be persecuted, and some of them would be put to death. But He had promised, "not an hair of your head shall perish!"
The reason given, is that Jesus has solemnly promised to raise up all His people unto everlasting life in the end! |
