Co-operating to beat this virus

Re: Cross connections (Mar/Apr 2021)

DAVID GURETZKI observes two responses of churches to Covid restrictions – civic resistance or peaceful compliance. The ultimate issue is not about religious freedom but about love for neighbour, which also means making the neighbourhood as safe as possible.

What then might be some ways churches can go beyond mere compliance? We can exhort prayer, continually, for those who have the burden of leading us. We can urge people to practise safety measures. We can communicate encouragement to our medical teams and offer phone conversations of encouragement to people in isolation. We could even be asking medical people and political leaders for suggestions about being more helpful.

This is simply a sample list. Every church can think creatively how to be helpful given its context and capacity. When we assume a co-operative posture, doing practically helpful things, we will then be in a position where we might even be able to negotiate on some restrictions that seem arbitrary and unnecessary – as members of the team rather than those in an adversarial position.

Our call as always is to love and serve, even in cruciform ways as opposed to demanding our rights. When we do this well, we gain glory for our Lord and the goodwill of many people. I believe most of us want to be part of the solution. Those who refuse to comply remain part of the problem.

Lloyd Alstad, Edmonton