This was a brief reflection on Corona virus, and the subsequent lockdowns, when it first impacted US policy. It is still a useful guideline through these turbulent times.
**
Today, where I live, there was (as far as I know) no churches open. This is due to the government's response to the Corona virus and efforts to curb contamination. In the interest of increasing "social distancing", businesses can only function if they're necessary and if they prohibit congregating. Warnings are about avoiding groups of 10 or more people. Thus, most places have turned online for "e-church" (whatever that nonsense means). All of this is a complete travesty. If anything, this virus has shown how America (and most other parts of the West) are functionally atheist in all that actually matters.
I accept and understand the barebones of the above premises. Yes, we should understand the normal course of infection, contamination, and spread as the given means. Thus, we should practice caution, lest we test God. We should also honor the government and obey what the civil ruler (the governor) orders. I'm very suspicious about how all of this has been reported, but I would never countenance horders, survivalists, and other anti-social dirtbags that have sacked grocery stores and holed up. I have only contempt for the disposition that is armed to the teeth and hiding away. I'm a Christian (and sadly, most of these people claim to be as well), why would I put my earthly life and possessions above peaceability and compassion? These fear-addicted maniacs will get their justice if they don't repent.
Yet even so, I am disgusted with how churches have taken to this crisis. Consider creative responses in line with the above:
-can't meet more than 10? than schedule round-the-clock services so all may be able to pray, commune, and honor God. This is the moment the weight of ordained office kicks in, the honor of a worthy task in more need now than ever.
-afraid of indoors? meet outside.
-afraid of material contamination in the eucharistic elements? than take precautions, set aside the elements on different trays, use sanitizer during the liturgy
But most of all, if God asks this of us (to give to us and us to lift it back up unto him), why don't you think He can protect us? Everything, including the hairs on our head and a single sparrow falling, is known to God and in His hand. If we get sick, it's His will. If we die, it's His will. And yet churches, in completely sacrilegious disobedience, have shown the world their true colors. They too are atheists, who have no fervent expectation of God's power. Instead, God is pretty colors on a wall, a warm feeling inside, an abstract force that can do nothing. St. Paul was quite clear that his preaching was persuasive because his words came with power, and were not simply empty or vain. So go ahead preacher-man. Set up your e-church and your sermon index. It's vain prattling if your words do not do anything. Only a retard will say something like "the real miracle is conversion!" as if anyone in St. Paul's day would have found that convincing. No, it was the power to overcome pagan gods, which includes their mastery over the elements of life and death. Holy Paul not only preached with his mouth, his message was inscribed in his flesh. It was visible in the lashings he received, his probably gaunt and haggard body burning bright with godly zeal according to knowledge. All of this was demonstrable when he survived shipwreck and a bite from a venomous snake.
It is not the laity's fault, so much as the stupid hirelings that have shown they have no spine, no creativity, no courage, no faith. They wonder what it would be like to live in a country where gathering in faith could be met with government censure and death. Well, here was an opportunity. An opportunity that Christians still believed God was active, who could heal and protect. It was an opportunity to attract the scorn of gentiles, of those who would sneer at superstitious idiots courting disaster by still choosing to meet. Instead, the vast majority of Christians proved they were worldly-wise and are awaiting a pat on the head from the world for their "sober" and "reasonable" judgement. Instead of seeing God's judgement and hand in this epidemic (a literal plague), they instead shrugged their shoulders and engaged in the same childish huddling that most of social media is engaged in.
If anything, perhaps the Corona virus lays bare the putrid rot in (at least) American Christianity. They are Nietzsche's bourgeois: deicides who were too cowardly and stupid to own up to the deed. They live in a world where God has been banished to pious thoughts in the brain and warm sensations in the heart. They've confused a living Lord with childish daydreams. And when the rubber hit the road they ran for the hills. Most didn't even bother trying to offer a serious alternative, they showed a faith as serious as their Netflix-style church. Is it possible to be a Christian in America? Only time will tell. Will the Son of Man find faith when He returns? Probably not.
I could not agree more. In my town, only the Churches of the fringes... Orthodox, Ethiopian, Pentecostals... have remained open and now they too are submitting to temporal authority.
ReplyDeleteDoes it not summarize the entire problem of the Church in one event? Where is the Church in our World today? Almost invisible.
AFAIK, churches have been closed all over Europe. Certainly in my country. At first, some of them wanted to carry on business as usual. But when the government mandated it, they all complied.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to that knee-jerk reaction with judging this as cowardice. But... many christians that I respect are of the same mind that it is out of love for the neighbour. I don't know what you think of the Ancient Faith Blog crowd, but there are many writers there whose insight I've found spiritually insightful.... in your judgement they are the same as the middle-class worldly evangelicals. Maybe they are.
But the problem for me is: where then is the authentic blameless faith?
I write with severity because it's frustrating to see how no one, as far as I know, bothered to offer alternatives. Instead, everyone boarded up and went online, as if worship and communion are "non-essential" business activities. It's one thing if churches struggle with government mandates (e.g. close or else!), but in most cases, the government in the US has only given warnings and placed mandates on sizes of gatherings. To me, creative responses can exist within the parameters of quarantine.
DeleteAs far as love of neighbor, there should be pastoral warmth. If someone is old/frail, or lives with someone who is, then allow them to sit out if they wish. Coping with fears, as well as taking a stand, can coexist.
Ancient Faith has some interesting and rich material, but to me many of them are LARPing some sort of "ancient eastern wisdom" approach. Most of them are not genuinely Orthodox in a stronger historical sense, but are modern westerners dressed up. While occasionally insightful, I really don't care for Andrew Damick or Stephen Freeman or others like them.
God is merciful and meets us in the various conditions we're in. I don't write any of the above as some paragon of fidelity or virtue, far from it. But we should have standard, and be held accountable to them, even if we fail. And, for me, the response to the virus has been a massive failure. We should repent for our cowardice and not hide behind cliche "love of neighbor" or "witness to the world" justifications.
What about when the church sneaks past the government mandate. Public gatherings are forbidden. Okay, we'll just lock the door then. Technically, it's not public anymore and technically we obey the law. Is this being wise as serpents?
DeleteFunny. It's Stephen Freeman who I think is the best thinker on Ancient Faith. He words some great truths against middle-class american christianity.
ReplyDeleteBut I can see some truth to the LARPing accusation. Where I live you can recognize whether an orthodox church is open, because of the beggars at the doors. It's kind of unofficial sacrament to give them money after leaving the church. The beggars do their thing with similar religious fervor, bowing and praying and crossing themselves.
I doubt any of the american orthodox churches have such customs.
On another note: live broadcasting a sermon makes more sense to me, than live broadcasting a mass where the priest eats the bread and that's it.