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I wrote this for @BulwarkOnline on March 25 when we had 1269 deaths total. I thought we needed to shut down, learn how to deal with this, and then slowly reopen taking precautions. Now, 136k+ deaths & 60K new cases per day and we fight about wearing masks. https://thebulwark.com/our-parents-are-not-expendable/
2/ I wrote this for the @nytimes on May 14 about how churches are being cautious, going slow, not rushing to reopen, and are striving to protect people. By and large, that is true. Only around 650 cases connected to church gatherings out of 3M+ cases. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/14/opinion/coronavirus-churches.html
3/ We cannot stay shut down completely for a year or 18 months. But, we can change behaviors & attitudes, live with humility, care for our neighbors and the vulnerable, love sacrificially, use wisdom, listen, learn, work together — the things the Bible teaches us.
4/ In the midst of a virus crippling our economy, threatening lives of many, and that has brought us to our knees, the church has the ethos and tools to lead the way in addressing this. We can be examples. We ARE being safe.
But, we are paralyzed and polarized by politics.
But, we are paralyzed and polarized by politics.
5/ Churches stopped meeting. Those who do are taking precautions, cleaning, being careful. Despite that @nytimes headline the other day, churches aren’t major epicenters of virus spread. We’re doing this right. But, we won’t agree on that because of politics on both Left & Right.
6/ On Left, some see churches as a danger or irrelevant. Why should they meet at all? They are superspreaders! On Right, there’s belief that this is a hoax and if we talk too much about needed precautions, masks, distancing, we’ll limit rights or hurt Trump. Both views are wrong.
7/ We need to stop being paralyzed, polarized, and politicized. We’re not to be pawns of ideological agendas. We can protect and care for our vulnerable neighbors and family while still BEING the church. In every community, we should be leading the way in confronting this virus.
