Creativity in Crisis
Eight weeks ago last Sunday, our church community was exiled from our usual place of meeting. Sunday gatherings, Bible Studies, leadership trainings—the routines and rhythms that depended on a localized membership sharing presence with one another were upended. In the proceeding season of life, we have sought to encourage, uplift, and direct the community with video messages, recorded worship sessions, and kids resources.
At the same time, we realize that weekly preaching, worship songs, and kids programming do not make a church. For while the institution of First Baptist Church has stalled and stuttered (perhaps for the better; more on that later), the movement of God’s people continues to grow and thrive.
In this, we’ve uncovered something profound and, dare I say, biblical—the church is not the building; it’s not the weekly programs; it’s not the ministry structures; it’s not business meetings or governing decisions; it’s not a set of doctrinal teachings; it’s not even a name. Instead, the church is a collective of people, assembled by the Spirit, who know God and are known by him, who love him and follow him with everything they’ve got, and who put the needs (emotional, physical, spiritual) of others before themselves.
What I have observed over the past two months is individuals calling up people in need, raising up and meeting concerns, mobilizing their friends and family to action, and seeking to trust and depend on Christ in fresh and powerful ways. The generosity of members has not wavered; in fact, even as our church operations continue to be funded, First Baptist Church went above and beyond, sending over $1200 to feed families in Guatemala. God is still dwelling with his people, and his people continue to trust him as their God. The church is still the church, even when it’s not “the church.” And you know what? I think it is absolutely beautiful, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us.
A vision for meeting
The Shasta County Board of Supervisors recently released some helpful guidelines for what constitutes a “mass gathering” and when those gatherings can officially happen again. According to their guidelines, a mass gathering is anything more than a single family unit. And mass gatherings will not be allowed for the next 12-18 months. Regardless of how you might feel about this decision, the position of First Baptist Church is to respond to the authorities of this world with honor, respect, and submission, unless those institutions forbid the worship of Jesus or mandate a moral, cultural, or civil act that would lead God’s people into a state of sinful disobedience. Since the Spirit of God has not been quenched, since the people of God are still free to worship, to pray, to read the Scriptures, to proclaim the truth of Jesus, and to follow him freely, we will continue to humbly respect the decisions of the government and local, state, and national levels; more importantly, we will continue to trust that God is bigger and more faithful than this, and our witness to his powerful workings continue to be the most powerful tool against the desperation, anger, and fear promoted by the Adversary. Instead of fighting for the rights of an earthly kingdom, we graciously give them up, knowing our rights in the heavenly kingdom are secure.
We’ve been praying and conversing and asking the question, where do we go from here? And the honest answer is this: I don’t really know. I’d like to know. I’d love to have a clear picture of how the church will regather again and reorganize and restructure to meet the reality of a world in flux. But I’m not there yet. When gatherings are relaxed, we intend to restart slowly, beginning with a network of house churches and occasional large social gatherings, gradually working back to regular Sunday morning gatherings at the facility.
Until then, I think it is important for each one of us to begin praying and asking God this question: how does God want us to live, move, and exist in him? How should we creatively and purposefully live out the mission of the church? My dear friend Mark Beuving recently wrote a short, free book, titled The Evicted Church, that might help you in your journey with us. You can download it and read it for yourself by clicking on the link below. I pray it is a challenge and an encouragement for you. Let me know how the Spirit speaks to you as you read it, either by commenting below or by sending me an email. But let’s begin the discussion now, to be a creative, purposeful, and passionate people who follow Jesus wholeheartedly, and trust him completely!
I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:3-11 (CSB)
Grace and Peace,
Jacob Parodi, Lead Pastor
