Jesus Christ Is The Same Yesterday and Today and Forever

-Hebrews 13:8

A few months into this pandemic, COVID-19 seems to be tragically dividing our country even further than the election of Donald Trump. This time, though, I understand both sides of the argument. Tens of millions of us have lost our jobs, or have Groceries been furloughed. Each state’s Department of Labor has been hit by a tidal wave of claims, hundreds of thousands beyond their normal workload. Consequently, many of us cannot access unemployment benefits because we simply cannot get through to them. Long lines of cars queue up for food. We do not know how long we can afford to live without work. On this, I think we can all agree.

If you are one of the people who thinks this is a hoax, you’ll want to stop reading here. Both my husband and I suffered through COVID-19 for six weeks. I’m writing from reality.

I will not give space to any arguments that insist on defying public health orders. Christians especially are instructed by Jesus to love their neighbors. That means respecting the rights of our fellow humans and obeying the laws that govern us all. Seeing a maskless shopper at the supermarket is no big deal to some of us, but it strikes terror into the heart of my immuno-compromised next-door neighbor.

Sadly, the divide in our country is widening. I didn’t think it was possible. Trump’s followers are splintering off into an increasing number of antisocial sects: the QAnons, the white supremacists, the boogaloos. No, I’m not making this up. And no, I haven’t researched all of them- these are just the groups that have broken into mainstream news. In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, the only person who even has a shot at bringing our country together is fostering revolt against the very authorities who are trying to keep us safe.

Two months into this sequestration, I believe the question I’ve been asking since the inception of this site has been amped up considerably. Now more than ever, we should be asking ourselves:

What’s a Christian to do?

Though some of the major crazies have defied orders and continued to attend in-person church services, most of us haven’t seen the inside of our local sanctuary since March. Many pastoral staffs, including our own, have worked to post sermons online and send weekly email updates to their congregations. Prayer chains are still in force and active. Members call, email, and Zoom each other. Some volunteer with food banks, crisis intervention, and community outreach programs. The church, as it was, seems to be alive and well.

Personally, I’ve used this quiet interlude to reflect on what this particular Christian is supposed to do. I’ve come up with more questions than answers.

My biggest problem, and it seems insurmountable, is that so many of these revolting fringe groups are part of the Religious Right.

I would be horrified to discover that any of them attend my church, but statistically speaking, it’s possible. There’s no way of telling who we really are behind our Sunday personas.

For all the angst I’ve suffered over the Religious Right’s support of Trump as president, the church is still home to my heart. I will never knowingly support any organization that believes Trump’s policies line up with Jesus’ teachings, but there is just no substitute for a church family. For months now I’ve wrestled with whether or not I am right to even rub shoulders with an organization that’s gone so far astray; but I also wonder: Who will be my family if I walk away?

Lastly, the most confounding aspect to the COVID-19 crisis is that NO ONE knows what’s going to happen, except God. No one.

No one knows when we will actually develop and receive a vaccine. No one knows if it will work. No one knows when kids will be able to go back to school. No one knows if or when the economy will recover. No one knows if churches will simply be a breeding ground to spread the contagion.

It’s like knowing when Jesus Christ will return. We’d all like to know, but the Father isn’t sharing the information.

So with that in mind: how then shall we live?

Heart make america love again

I’ve had some time to think this over. I can’t go wrong with keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus, praying that God will supernaturally remove Trump from office, and refusing to surrender my serenity to his insanity. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I’m still on this year’s journey through the Gospels, getting to know Him a little better every day.

Also, YouTube has been running a television series called, “The Chosen.” This 2017 episodic drama is based on the life of Jesus Christ, and created, directed and co-written by American filmmaker Dallas Jenkins. It’s an absolute delight to watch, except that it feeds my yearning to see our Lord sooner than later. There are only a few episodes so far, but they are like cool water on parched ground.

A local non-profit organization lets me write for them, and I get to spend time with some awesome teenagers who raise funds and supply the food banks in town. Now that’s something Jesus would endorse.

I keep in touch with friends, both Christian and otherwise. And I pray. A lot.

And I’m trusting God. Someday, whether here or in Heaven, everything is going to be okay. Better than okay. And I look forward to that like most people look forward to vacation.

While I know that nothing happens apart from the perfect and/or permissive will of God, let me just say that I do not think we needed this pandemic. The USA was already in deep weeds. But we know that God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”¹ This disease is probably not a judgment on any particular people group or political party. It’s an equal opportunity horror.

In the meantime, we can each ask God how He would have us be His hands and feet in the midst of this crisis. We can respect our neighbor’s concerns and obey the laws that govern us all. We can pray. A lot. And we can cling to the promise that this life is not all there is. For those of us who worship at the feet of our Lord, someday we will have no more pain or suffering, disease or heartache. He who intercedes for us even now (Romans 8:34) will be waiting. And He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hallelujah! What a Savior.

_{1 Matthew 5:45}