Perspective During Pessimism

Pessimism can weigh us down, pragmatism without faith can leave us dry. But, the refreshment of the Word and the hope we can have in Christ can energize us. Romans 12 encourages us:
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer...

There is the recipe for an attitude adjustment right there!  We can rejoice in the Lord, because He is the One who gives us hope - in our desperation and discouragement, He provides the encouragement that we need - in our trials, we can be patient, and not panicked.  And, we can continue to stand in prayer, calling upon the lovingkindness of God and His heavenly resources in order that He may show His mercy and receive the glory. In the areas that concern us, we can evaluate the degree to which we are taking them before the Lord. 

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If we are not careful, we can become weighed down with pessimism in this world; yet, Christ gives us the ability to hope and to reject fear and anxiety. The apostle Paul wrote this in 2nd Corinthians 12:
9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

What a difference a month makes - the pessimism over the coronavirus took an upward turn from June to July, according to a LifeWay Research article that referenced a recent Gallup poll.  The article states:

Confidence that the pandemic was getting better plummeted in July, as more Americans now say the situation is getting worse (45%) than better (40%), according to Gallup. In June, 89% expressed optimism about the COVID situation and only 8% felt things were getting worse. Now, July marked the first time since January that more adults felt pessimistic about the pandemic than optimistic.

While we are certainly anticipatory and even anxious about returning to normal, the poll indicates that 4 out of 10 Americans expect that the "disruption" due to COVID protocols will last at least until the end of the year, with a slightly higher number into 2022.

And, more Americans - almost a-third - are concerned about getting the virus. That's up from 17% in June. But, as the poll indicates: "...most Americans still say the best advice for those who are healthy is to lead their normal lives as much as possible and avoid interruptions to work and business (59%)." But 40% are avoiding large crowds and 20% are steering clear of smaller gatherings.

The LifeWay article did offer this direction:

Church leaders should continue to look for ways to involve and connect with those who are COVID-cautious. For many that means continuing to offer some form of online worship services. Churches should also investigate the possibility of a strictly online group or some means for those uncomfortable being in-person to participate in small group discipleship.

With the proliferation of so-called "vaccine passports," some churches have begun to make the move to require proof of vaccination in order to fulfill the Scriptural admonition to gather together. A church in Canada, where you have had churches avoid COVID regulations, has made the announcement that it will begin to require proof of vaccination, according to the Calgary Herald.  A tweet from a Faith Radio programmer, Jeff Schreve, that I saw earlier today highlighted an American church that has made a similar decision.

Alabama law apparently prohibits this type of restriction, as I interpret it.  A memo from Attorney General Steve Marshall says as much, stating, "...no government, school, or business in Alabama may demand that a constituent, student, or customer, respectively, be vaccinated for COVID-19 or show proof of his or her vaccination for COVID-19. The law’s new protections are in addition to existing medical or religious-based exemptions from immunizations."  

In my estimation, from a Biblical standpoint, as well as the Constitutional perspective on freedom of speech and freedom of expression, it is certainly a bridge too far to restrict people from worship based on their personal choice rooted in personal conscience regarding a vaccination.  Now, if a person is sick, he or she should stay home.  Or uncomfortable about being in a crowd during these times of COVID. Churches should certainly provide options, such as online opportunities or even special seating our services, but we have to be careful that we are not buying in to restrictions that keep people from enjoying the fullness of the worship experience. 

And, in these challenging times, we can continue to hope in the Lord. The coronavirus has not only afflicted people's bodies, but our souls, as well.  We have to be able to think clearly and to train ourselves to think more about the things of the Lord than the potential damage of COVID.  In other words, we can become weighed down with the world's inadequate coping mechanisms, or stand on the weight of the Scriptures, which renew our mind and give us the proper perspective.  As we have said repeatedly on Faith Radio, we are committed to putting "faith over fear."