Thank you to church leaders who canceled in-person services for doing so.

To church members who stayed home even though their leaders proceeded with services or even though they could have gone to another in-person service, thank you.

Those were acts of love and mercy towards your neighbors.  Thank you.

“Love is patient, love is kind. … It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, …. It always protects …” (1 Cor 13:4-7)

“Love does no harm to a neighbor. …”  (Romans 13:10)

“Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves.”  (Romans 12:10)

“Jesus asked ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’  The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” (Luke 10:25-37)

Thank you for loving, honoring, and protecting the lives and health of your neighbors.

Thank you for seeking not to harm and for having mercy on your neighbors.

You showed loved towards an enormous number of neighbors with your decision to try to lower the spread of this dangerous virus.

You showed loved towards …

… healthcare workers in your area, people who need the healthcare system to remain non-overburdened, immunocompromised persons, co-workers, elderly persons, people in your area, their moms and dads, their grandmothers and grandfathers, your friends, your family, people who have loved ones who are elderly, people who care about others with loved ones who are elderly, people impacted by the negative economic repercussions of the virus’s spread, people who are at serious risk and do not know it, people who might be infected from those travelling from your area, people who work with the public who cannot work from home, … everyone, …

… your neighbors.

As a neighbor, I want to say thank you on behalf of your neighbors to church leaders who canceled in-person services and to church members who stayed home.

Thank you for your wisdom and strength and for exercising leadership, love, and mercy in this difficult time.

It is not easy, we should all acknowledge.

Thank you.

 

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Sources & Notes

See generally Steve Gardner, “10 Reasons Churches Should Not Have In-Person Services for a Time: COVID-19 and Flattening the Curve,” AuthenticTheology.com (March 14, 2020).

Picture by Oberholster Venita from Pixabay.