The Christian Response To Isolation
The Christian Response To Isolation
Pastor Barry Kerner
Christians across America are beginning to feel great loss as social distancing shuts them out of attending their church’s worship services and weekly Bible studies. We have been called, along with others, to help “flatten the curve” in an attempt to mitigate the effects of the Corona virus which is rampaging our communities. After just two weeks of isolation our inability to fellowship with other Christians face to face is beginning to take its toll. Feelings of despair and loneliness are beginning to emerge even among the strongest of believers. No matter one’s faith, these experiences are especially foreign in a nation that protects freedom of religion and peaceful assembly.
As Easter approaches, Christians are finding it deeply unsettling to be told they can’t gather together to worship and pray with one voice. This Sunday our church, Delphi Falls, will miss gathering a one body take communion together. The disruption feels like being cut off from our traditions and customs as well as the heart and soul of the church’s ability to gather together to encourage one another. Genesis 2:18 tells us that , “It is not good for man to be alone.” Christian or not, human isolation is unnatural and unhealthy. We are created to live in relationship, and we suffer greatly in the absence of companionship.
It is an unfortunate reality that we all will face this trial and that we will need to forgo our custom of gathering in person during this season of social distancing. Nevertheless, there are several things Christians can contemplate that offer some measure of solace and comfort and turn this Lenten trial into renewal. First, understand the fact that Christians are not strangers to being separated.
Such isolation happened right from the beginning of the church. In the Book of Acts we find the first Christians persecuted by both the Jewish religious leaders and the Romans and driven from their communities. Consider also that the Apostle Paul was imprisoned just some 30 years after the establishment of the church at Pentecost in 33 A.D. Although separated from his churches, he continued to write to them and encouraged them to strengthen one another through the trials.
Roman persecutions continued on and off through the ages. After the fall of the Roman Empire persecutions of Christians, as well as of Jews, continued into the modern era. Soon after communism came to Russia, thousands of priests were executed, and countless churches and synagogues destroyed.
In China, where the Wuhan Corona-virus originated, Christians and their churches have been persecuted for centuries and continue to be today. In fact, communist officials in China have taken advantage of lock downs to destroy empty churches. In-home Bible studies continue to be illegal. Perhaps most distressing of all, China’s social distancing of Christians from one another extends deep into cyberspace. Churches are prohibited to even meet online without government approval.
In North America, a different sort of isolation is occurring within churches. Those who express the biblical understanding of marriage and seek to uphold other Biblical moral principles are no longer welcomed in many mainline denominations. In the United States, lawsuits against photographers, cake artists, florists and others who adhere to these Christian views of marriage and Godly principles are becoming commonplace. Our neighbor to the north, Canada recently passed laws compelling speech and criminalizing any expression of the biblical understanding of marriage and other God given values.
Before the Corona virus pandemic, Americans may have taken for granted their ability to worship in person. Our current situation should be a wake-up call to discern and resist any deliberate efforts to curb freedom of worship in the future. We should remember the faithful throughout the world who are persecuted and forced to meet in secrecy and cut off from even meeting online, and understand such isolation as persecution.
Second, while cultivating a deeper understanding of the terrible power of isolation, come to an understanding that this season can strengthen us to prepare for additional trials which may come.
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle [you].” (1 Peter 5:10)
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
Today’s separation from churchgoing should also remind Christians of the ultimate isolation: separation from God. The starkest definition of sin is separation from God.
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)
As the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, resulted in our sharing their sinfulness, so did the obedience of Jesus Christ through His death on the cross result in our justification before God. But, His atoning death is only made effective in our lives when we trust in him alone as our Savior (John 14:6). When we believe that Christ’s death on the cross was our death to sin, God no longer considers us guilty and deserving of punishment (Romans 3:21-26); instead, he embraces us as his children and as full-fledged citizens of his heavenly kingdom (Philippians 3:20).
We are then able to celebrate that we no longer will suffer the consequence for sin which is eternal separation from God. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
When we lose the privilege of worshiping in person with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we feel a loss and a sense of isolation. We strive to find ways to connect with those from whom we’re physically separated. Telephone calls, emails, and even snail mail helps us to continue the bonds we have forged. Churches have turned to live stream service and at Delphi Falls we will soon be meeting in a virtual Bible study.
Although we are prevented from worshiping, singing and praying corporately, are we continuing to foster our relationship God. We may be prevented from churchgoing but we are never really alone. God is always with us. Are we doing all that we can to stay connected with God during these extreme circumstances. Being in isolation should not stop us from studying His word every day, singing and praying to Him.
We don’t know what we have until we lose it. Christians are finding new and innovative ways to overcome isolation. In today’s world of technology there is no need to be completely isolated from God and fellow believers. We have the means to reach out and touch someone day or night. We can make good use of this time to, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) by thinking of those in our community who may be living alone and good use a phone call and an encouraging word.
As we draw close to Easter let us remember that Christians have nothing to fear. In essence, to have faith is to set aside anxieties and to put our trust in the grand plan in which we do our best as servants of Christ.
While we do our part to slow the spread of the virus by social distancing, we also should welcome this unexpected, additional Lenten exercise of sacrifice and meditation as a wake-up call to shake us out of complacency and build spiritual reserves for when we face greater persecution. In the meantime, we should keep watch for the paschal light that shines in the darkness, guiding us home and showing us that our Savior conquered death by death.
For those who trust God, there is help in His Word.