Our “This Sunday” series will be another a Corona Virus edition. For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Patience with disagreements about the Virus.
This verse is still true even with the virus situation: “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace“ (Ephesians 4:1-3). Note the word patience in verse 2. Note also verse 2 states “showing tolerance for one another in love.”
Not easy. But let’s try our best to follow this.
There will be various spectrum of views. Yes your view might be right. Or others are right and we are wrong. But realize we’re in a hard situation. We can disagree with political policies and solutions. But still we must treat our brothers as brothers and sisters as sisters in the faith. Also displaying patience makes you more winsome of others to your view.
What might help you to be more patient and tolerant of fellow church members is to think about how your own view might have changed the last few months with this virus. I know I have seen experts change their view; no doubt those who are non-experts might do so too. Also even if your view is still overall the same remember others might have a real legitimate concern even if they aren’t fully right in their view of a solution. Something can be said about recognizing a brother or a sister’s concern be it the economy, their health or of a loved one, their fear of government overreach or their fear the government hasn’t done a good job, etc.
Or even better to help you be patient and tolerant with other church members’ view: Search yourself and ask God to show To you any area you are inconsistent. I’m going to step on some toes on this one: Some might think the virus is no big deal, it’s just merely another “cold” or “flu.” But then they get angry with China suppressing the truth of what’s going on with the virus and think we should nuke them or go to war with them; believe it or not I had to talk to someone about this. Not only is it inconsistent with the view that the virus is and is not a big deal, but this view is inconsistent with the view that lives should be saved on the one hand and on the other hand more lives should be killed. I know I swiped on someone just more on the political right but here’s one concerning the inconsistency of something more “left” (for lack of better term): You might think people should practice social distancing but then in your own life you have a birthday party inviting many people. My neighborhood has a lot of progressive types with “Biden” political signs and I’ve heard some wax loudly about masks and social distancing, etc and then you see the birthday parties and I have to think: Wow, that’s kind of hypocritical. It turned out my neighborhood was on the news with how birthday parties was a mean of people getting more virus hospitalization.
Nothing I said above should be taken that there’s no right and wrong answer at all; surely its hard but there’s also obvious wrong answers. Nor should anything I said about be taken to mean that you can’t share what you think. That’s not what I’m going for. Rather we can share our views but be ready to be patient with disagreements.
Also to help with dealing with disagreements, pray for God to guide you and also pray for those you disagree. Don’t just pray that God would show them they are wrong; pray for their well being as well!
Thanks for posting this biblical response. We can always agree to disagree and do so in love.
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Hi Jim,
I have nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award (https://eccllibya.wordpress.com/2020/05/17/mystery-blogger-award/). Your posts are a great source of knowledge and inspiration in defending one’s faith.
Good post. I think you worded this rather well
Thanks I struggle to word things well it seems so this is encouraging for me to keep trying…I admit I need to work on my grammar! How was your shift last night/ this morning?
I wasn’t referring to your grammar but that was good too. I was meaning how you communicated the message. It went well. A semi peaceful shift.
Hey, Jim! Please don’t take this the wrong way! If you ever want someone to edit/proofread your writings, I am more than willing!
Thanks, Jim. You bring up a good topic. People are understandably anxious to get back to work and get the economy moving again and also get back to regular social relationships and activities. For many people the virus is an abstraction and they bridle at the restrictions. Some are going so far as to claim it’s all a conspiracy orchestrated by the elites to usher in the New World Order, etc. But here in New York it’s not an abstraction with one-quarter of the country’s 1.5M confirmed cases. I fully understand the eagerness to get back to normalcy, but this eagerness will lead to carelessness and unsafe practices, as you mention, even though the virus is still very much out there. This is all uncharted territory and there’s no consensus on the best way to move forward. I agree with you that we all need to demonstrate patience.
Amen. The virus is real. I think your comment made me realize that it helps us to be patient when we realize one state might warrant a different policy than another state. California and New York with the high population density would warrant a different risk factor than another state say Kansas and Utah. I imagine you guys are also taking all the precautions in NY? How’s the weather today still 60s?
Yup, I can understand why people in a very low-contagion area would be frustrated. Some low-risk businesses were allowed to start up again Friday here in ROC as part of Phase 1 re-opening, but with many, many cautions and restrictions. We got 68F and sunny but rain rolling in later. How’s things in SoCal?
Thanks. This is a great challenge. Blessings this Sunday.
Well-said, Pastor Jim! You are right and I agree with you about this and should be an eye opener to the readers. This pandemic is not only testing our patience, sanity, and appreciation of logic but also a trial for us Christians that we must held the values that JESUS CHRIST gave/instructed us, simply put, love your neighbor. CHRIST’s teachings should be placed on top of ones ideology or political preferences as a Christian.
Amen Christ’s teaching should transcend ideology and political preferences; it should also impact the way we share our opinions about the virus too! How’s the storm?
True, Jim! It is a responsibility of the individual who believe in JESUS and His teachings, and lived in the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT to discern and provide CHRIST-centric opinion(s). As readers, we should ask GOD the FATHER to renew our mind and heart. Thank you very much for your prayers, there was no casualty of the storm.
Great topic you raised here. Well said Pastor Jim,
Thanks! How did services go for you over there in Australia?
Our pastor downloads the message on Facebook and YouTube. There is no direct contact.
Absolutely yes. I concur.
[…] via The Church during the days of Corona Virus: Patience with disagreements about the Virus — The Doma… […]
Well said, brother, very important to have a balance in our response to others opinions.
There are just to many questions that don’t have good answers.
Reblogged this on a simple man of God and commented:
I remind people of my video lessons about disagreements and loving each other being Simple, Not Easy.
As Paul said, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23, ESV) It is not about us being right about things in this world bit right in the Gospel. Let love and grace season your speech so that you answer everyone with wisdom. (Colossians 4:6)
Daniel
Amen. His word is True.
And Amen! Hope you enjoy your Lord’s Day, maybe even with livestream service if possible
I did.:)
I recently reposted a piece called “Tired of Fighting,” because I am! Ironically I’ve had more negative “feedback” about that post than I’ve had in months. *sigh*
Wow I thought that was a good reblogged and I liked it. Wow some people can be so polemical they can fight over a post about not fighting! Can I read the comments later after church service? Pray for me ministry this week was crazy going to finish things up and preaching in an hour!
Oh my! I didn’t realize…! You must be in a different time zone. – Of course! Praying now. 😉
Wow! Humility, gentleness, and patience–I haven’t noticed much of that on Facebook lately. J.
The fruit of the spirit is much needed when we speak on hot topic issues
Sound words! Thanks, Jim!
[…] week’s post was on Patience with disagreements about the Virus. Among the many things people can disagree about during this time of Corona Virus is what is the […]
[…] I know there’s a lot of opinions of what to do with church in light of the virus. May I remind you about Patience with disagreements about the Virus. […]
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I needed to read this after getting in some debate on Instagram!
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