As lockdowns persist in many states; Christian pastors and leaders wonder if the “persecution” will end. 

My daily routine hasn’t changed much since March, when lockdowns in many states first began. Because my kids are homeschooled, they are home all day every day. Consequently, their schooling has been uninterrupted and they will complete their studies for the school year this week. My wife is their teacher so she is home all day every day as well. My family has not been to a public place in two months. 

I’m the only person in my office. I’m “quarantined” on a daily basis just by virtue of having no colleagues sharing my office space. Each day I go to my office, meet with clients either virtually or by phone, and continue to do my job uninterrupted. Some clients come to the office in person and, with a bit of common sense and care, no contact is made and business is completed. 

Nothing much has changed for my family, with one notable exception: our church has not met as a body since the first Sunday in March. 

For more than two months we have met virtually with our small group to get updates from each family, pray, sing, and follow the liturgy our church leaders release via email to the church body. Once we’ve completed the liturgy for the week, we sign off from Zoom and each family watches the sermon our pastor recorded for the week. It hasn’t been the worst experience for our family but, it’s not the same. 

I miss gathering as a church body. Which is a lot coming from an introvert that would prefer to avoid talking to people. You can see why the lockdown has been easy for the introverts. But there is much I miss about gathering with my church family. 

I miss seeing people we call friends each week and having the chance to talk with them before and after the service. My kids miss seeing their friends and getting to play their beloved “gaga ball” after the service. I miss meeting new people and learning about their story and why they are new to our area. Our church is very connected, and it’s not strange for one family to invite another to lunch after church. Families routinely make plans to get together. I miss that connectedness. 

My wife and I miss serving with our worship team. We’ve spent the last 20 years of our lives doing music in our church, it is a passion of ours. My wife sings and has always been a vital part of our worship teams’ vocals. I play the guitar and derive great joy in using the gifts God gave me to serve Him. Not being able to serve with our worship team has been a struggle and something we miss terribly. 

I miss not hearing our pastor speak in person. Our pastor frequently speaks of the Gospel message, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and the cross. Often, as he speaks of the saving work of Christ, he is brought to tears. His emotion as he shares the Gospel is something that blesses me and makes me thankful that he is our pastor. His big personality and love for people as he walks the halls of the building talking to everyone and calling everyone by name is a blessing to our church family. We miss him. We know this has been hard for him. 

I miss observing Communion with my church family. Our elders stand down front holding the elements and we walk down and receive those elements from them. I miss walking up to Mark as he hands out the bread and hearing him say, “Nathan, this is the body of Christ, broken for you.” Or, when he is handing out the juice, he will say something like, “This is the blood of Jesus spilled for your sins, Nathan.” That personal communication of the Gospel during one of the church’s most important observances is sorely missed. 

Certainly, I’m not alone among Christians that are missing their church family. As believers we find tremendous joy and blessing in gathering as a local family to worship. Being kept from this weekly “family reunion” has been difficult. 

But is it fair to say that we are being persecuted? 

As states begin to reopen, state and local leaders are discussing how to implement reopening in a way that will not result in undoing the work of the lockdown. Part of that discussion involves churches and when it will be safe to allow large groups of people – including children and the elderly – to begin assembling again. It’s understandable that a robust discussion is taking place, after all, unlike a grocery store where you walk in, get your items and walk out without much personal interaction. Meeting as a church family has a higher degree of risk. The church sings together, sending breathe and saliva into the room. The church is prone to close contact such as handshakes and hugging, the same behavior that caused the virus to spread so rampantly in Italy. Many churches observe communion weekly, resulting in people breaking bread or crackers by hand so they can be served to people. These practices are essential parts of the church and part of what make us a faith family. But, at this time, for some, these actions could be deadly. 

As many states begin to reopen, businesses are being allowed to resume business. But, at the moment, many states have continued to limit indoor church gatherings to no more than 10 people. This has resulted in accusations from pastors and Christian leaders of persecution. Some pastors have gone so far as to call for civil disobedience. Other churches have sued the government. 

I would suggest that churches and Christians are not, in fact being persecuted. Many aspects of civil life are beginning to reopen, but many are not. And like some of those more at risk activities. Such as concerts and live sports, churches do not yet have the green light to resume normal activities. But they are not being singled out. 

I support Scripture when it tells us to submit to the governing authorities (Romans 13). And, if a time comes when those authorities ask Christians to violate God’s Word, I will be one of the first to vocally resist the governing authorities. For now, though, I see no reason to jump to extremes and engage in civil disobedience. We may not agree with every action taken by our government, and some may be more extreme than others (depending on the state in which you live). But, at this time, we must exercise patience, faith, and perseverance. 

If we cannot exercise perseverance at a relatively easy time like this, we will not be able to do so when it really matters. And rest assured, there is a day coming when it will really matter.