Church changes

Written earlier.

Church in Australia has changed for the duration of the corona virus.  Church gatherings have ceased, except for weddings and funerals, and those are very limited in size.  Normal weekly services have ceased.  Holy communion services are no longer being held.

Church has definitely changed. But we are the church, we the people are the body of Christ.  We are still His followers and we still do His will.  The thing that has changed really, is the manner of meeting together and worshipping together.  We cannot at the moment meet in a church building.  We are limited to how many can visit us to have a service in our home. Our services are still available, but they are online.

I am reminded of a meme I saw once for introverts:  Introverts unite!  Meet together!  Separately!  In your own home!

So that’s what we as Christians must do for our services, we meet separately in our own homes.

But is meeting for church all there is to being a Christian?  Not at all.  There are still people to be helped.  There is still the Gospel to be proclaimed.  There are still people to witness to.

In Australia, this year, we have had a year of disruption, and tragedy.  First we had bushfires of  a magnitude we’ve never had before.  And drought.  Then we had floods, with some areas of our land still in drought.  Where I live for example, we are still on level 2 water restrictions.  And now this.  But even though the phrase “unprecedented” is used a lot, is it really?


We have had a lot of epidemics and outbreaks in recent years.  In 1918 there was a flu pandemic that killed more people than died in the Great War.  Right through history there have been plagues – bubonic plagues and the like, and Christians were at the forefront, caring for people who had been affected.   Because this is what Christians do, they care for their fellow man.

However this time the Government has stepped in and forbad public gatherings.  So we can’t worship corporately, but we can still care for people.  One of the ladies from church used to visit the elderly.  So she rings them.  Another younger one has volunteered to do any and all shopping they might need doing.  Another brings/takes in their garbage bins on rubbish day.  There are constant messages to contact a particular person if you need any essentials, eg, toilet paper.  Other people just need someone to talk to, and that is done by phone, or safely through the front screen door.

The work of Christ is still going on.  Services continue, though online.  Care is taken, so that our vulnerable people stay safe, and Government orders are obeyed.  Jesus said we need to do this in Romans 13.  In a way we have gone back to the way things were with the primitive church…they had no church buildings either, but they witnessed for the Lord and the church grew. 

Perhaps we might see the church grow too.   Remember the church is not the buildings…it is us the people, the followers of Christ, the Body of Christ.

At the moment, we are indeed being His hands and feet.