One of the lessons the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us is the need to seek God. Rev Angus Stewart, minister of Whiteabbey congregation, ponders what God might be saying as we seek his wisdom for our church life.

I wish it need not have happened in my time

Whether tasked with destroying a mythical, magical ring, or facing a global pandemic, we may all echo this feeling expressed by two of the central characters in J R Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

This is so much easier written and said than done, both for us personally and for our congregations. Oh, for wisdom!

As always, however, the Bible provides a lamp for our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). God’s Word gives us insight not just as to what we are to do, but also how we are to figure this out. Psalm 90:12 says, “teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Starting from where we are

The old joke has the Irish farmer answering a lost, American tourist’s request for directions by saying: “Ah, sure now, if I was wanting to go there, I would not be starting from here.” The point drawn for many a sermon or talk is that we need to know where we are, and indeed who we are in Christ.

So where are we? We are scundered and increasingly realising just how weary many of us feel. The natural instinct of some is to rush back to what we had before. Could this be a God-given opportunity to pause? Is part of God’s wisdom for us at this time not to do nothing, but to look within ourselves, around ourselves, at our congregations and ask our Lord Jesus to heal, restore and speak?

Enjoying being free again

One model for disaster and emergency planning and response is that after responding to a situation, whether an industrial accident or a global pandemic, we need to go through a recovery phase before we can even consider a rebuilding phase. We need also to be aware that what is rebuilt may actually be different to what was there before.

Recovery is a really good word, because it conveys the reality that we have suffered loss in so many ways and that we have all been affected by the last year. Is part of God’s wisdom for us at this time to be gentle on ourselves and with each other, not putting ourselves or our congregations under pressure to resume our manic activity? Rather to take time to recover, rest and readjust, even as restrictions are relaxed. Let’s enjoy being free again!

It seems to me that our Lord Jesus Christ exemplifies this gracious approach in Matthew 11: 28-29 with his invitation, “come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” Could gentle, gracious recovery in Christ be part of numbering our days aright?

Taking time to focus on core spiritual activities

So many people are longing to get back together in person to worship, to study Scripture, to pray. Do we simply need to regain these core spiritual activities and let the Lord do his work in our midst as congregations which are regathering? Let’s take time, and allow time, for as many of our membership as possible to return to in-person worship every week. In a world once manically busy, is this not a great opportunity to value deeply the privilege of ordering our lives by meeting together, in person, weekly and freely. Could this be part of numbering our days aright?

Sometimes we need to look back in order to move forward. But we do not need to return to everything we did before. Remember what it was like. All the talk about doing too much, being too busy. We were so busy doing church we found it hard to be with Jesus. What needs to change; stop; be refocused; or start? Has Christ been reminding us over the last year about the importance of regaining the core of our lives together with him? Is regaining our first love (Revelation 2:4-5) the core of numbering our days aright?

Making disciples for a world that is the same only different

As well as remembering by looking back, we also need to look around and recognise the reality of where we now are. So much is different, yet so much is the same. Still the massive environmental, ethical and moral issues of our day to address; still the enormous injustices of our world – social, economic, political - to which to respond; still a postmodern, secularising society in which to live; still a numerically declining, increasingly marginalised church to which we belong; still decreasing levels of biblical illiteracy and theological orthodoxy in society, even within our congregations. And our brave new world is both physical – in-person, and also virtual - digital. What do we do with all this?

Recognising the wider reality of our times, as well as the coronavirus pandemic, understanding the challenges and opportunities we face, must surely inform how we make disciples who go on to fulfil the Great Commission. Could this be part of numbering our days aright?

Wanting the wisdom God gives

I wonder how much do you and I really want to hear the voice of our Good Shepherd at this time, to see where he is calling us to follow him. If we were in business, we may be talking about this being a strategic inflection point – a moment of decisiveness for a major change in direction.

So, what has Christ been saying and doing? When we number our days aright through deliberately and intentionally listening to our Lord and gaining a heart of wisdom then, and only then, can we really say that we are journeying wisely as congregations with Jesus.

---

This blog is part of a wider series under the campaign, Refined to help members and congregations during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Visit the Refined hub here.