POST COVID-19: RESET BY VIRUS
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Whenever a smartphone slows down, it is generally recommended to reset the phone. This process erases all junk files, brings the device back into its original setting and increases its efficiency. Medically this term is used for process of putting back the broken bone in the correct position for healing. Similarly the ongoing pandemic has forced us to reset our focus, vision, mission and our calling as we combat this watershed moment in our history. It is true that challenges and uncertainties are mounting each moment, but it can be turned into an opportunity to rejuvenate our service to God and humanity; and our personal lives as well.
RESET OUR FOCUS: GOD
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1), this verse indicates that God is self-existent, eternal and the first cause of everything. But men distorted the idea of God and said, “In the beginning, God created man and man created God.” Consequently, human beings turned the omnipotent God into a local deity or confined the omnipresence of God within the four walls of a building, through which the priestly class manipulated the spiritual thrust of the mass for their own interests. As a result, religious places became dens of thieves instead of the house of prayer that it was meant to be (cf. Mt. 21:13).
During this nationwide lockdown due to the pandemic, churches have been shut down and believers have begun to worshipping God at their houses. It has helped us to realize that places and human personalities are not necessary for worshipping the true God. There is no need for anyone to offer prayers to God on the behalf of HIS people. To put it plainly, no middle men are needed expect Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5). Therefore, we must each individually recognise the unique attributes of God as it is revealed in the Scripture. Apostle Paul beautifully portrays the awesomeness of God as he gives honour and glory to HIM with a grateful heart. He writes, “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Tim. 1:17). Each attribute of God described by Paul in this passage, begins with ‘v’ (A) word, which is the first alphabet of Hindi and which denotes that God is the first in everything. God is Anant (vuUr) meaning, He is the King of the ages (eternal – no beginning, no end), Avinashi (vfouk”kh) meaning immortal (not subject to the death), Adrishya (vn`”;) meaning invisible (no physical eyes can see Him) and Adveetiya (vf}rh; ijes”oj) meaning the only God (there is no other God). In other words, we need right theology to worship the true God, for a God without theology is equivalent to a man manufactured god. Let us reset our focus on God alone who has manifested himself in the Bible and in the person of Jesus Christ as well; whether we worship HIM in our home or in church, or alone or in crowd. Our faith ought to be Theo-centric (God centred) because He is in the throne (Rev. 4:1-11), even during this awful time of the pandemic.
RESET OUR VISION: EVANGELISM
Evangelism is the term we use to refer to the proclamation of the Gospel. It is derived from the Greek word ‘euangelion’ from which we also get the word ‘gospel’. In Greek culture, this term was used for speaking of the birth of a royal heir and of victory in battle field. Similarly the Gospel of Jesus Christ is speaking of birth of the Saviour in the world; and of the victory over sin and death.
The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to those who believe (Rom. 1:16); and every generation of Christian is called to defend its purity and truthfulness; and demonstrate its power by our WORD and WORK. The Gospel has been entrusted to us not that we may hide it, but that we may proclaim it openly to the whole world (cf. Mt. 5:14-16). The Gospel is about the person of Jesus Christ. That’s why sharing our personal testimony or witnessing to the work of God in one’s life is not evangelism, unless we preach about the person of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul summarize beautifully the message of the Gospel: “…that Jesus Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he (Jesus Christ) was buried, that he (Jesus Christ) was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he (Jesus Christ) appeared to … (many) me” (1 Cor. 15:3-8). The Gospel is Christo-centric (Christ centeredness) because HE is our hope beyond the grave (cf. 1 Cor. 4:16-18, 1 Peter 1:3-9).
The exclusiveness of the Gospel is offensive to many in our post-modern culture, where truth seekers are applauded hypocritically. It is considered to be arrogant, if one claims that the truth is found in Jesus Christ alone. Consequently, to many of us the vision to proclaim the Gospel has been blurred with subjectivism (personal experience) and a different gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). In this very hour, each one of us who claims to be called to preach the Gospel, ought to ponder on our God given vision. Apostle Paul had vision to finish the course and ministry to testify to the Gospel (cf. Acts 20:24). Missionaries are not agent of Christian agencies, but messengers of God. They are labours, not contractors in mission field. They are church planters, not church peddlers. The Gospel has never failed to give hope to people in times of crises, including the present global crisis of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Gospel of Jesus Christ not only comforts troubled souls, but also removes the fear of death. Therefore the apostle Paul encouraged young Timothy saying, “… do the work of an evangelist …” (2 Tim. 4:5). God has blessed us with different gifts and personalities; and has entrusted to us different kind of ministries or responsibilities; None of less, proclaiming the Gospel (the message of salvation through Jesus Christ) is the job given by God to every Christian. So let us reset our vision of evangelism to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ only, and nothing else.
RESET OUR MISSION: DISCIPLESHIP
In these times of uncertainty due to the global lockdown caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic, our future as a Mission is solely dependent on this question: how did we disciple our believers? Disciple making is the core of the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ: “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20). The grave tragedy of Missions in our time is that strategy makers and decision makers are those who are ignorant to ground realities and who lack grass root experience. As a result, there are so much talk on fishing (Evangelism), but hardly any talk on the farming strategy (Discipleship). Surprisingly, God is not dependent on missionaries only for evangelism, but there are many other resources being used by God for evangelism such as radio broadcasting, television, the internet, newspapers, books and many more. But missionaries are sent to cultivate farming strategies in mission fields. In agricultural terms, farming is about multiplying whether grains or animals. Farming is not an easy task such as fishing. It takes lot of hard work or technique such as preparing and ploughing soil, selecting quality seeds, weed removing, fertilizing, fencing, planting, etc. and the foremost requirement is that sowing ought to be in the right season. All our farming knowledge and skills are not able to create the right season for plantation. Furthermore a good harvest depends on good sunlight, timely rain in certain amount and the quality of soil. Similarly this principle can be applied to our strategy for discipleship. We should not neglect the value of strategy or training but we should not certainly overlook the sovereignty of God. As Paul says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” (1 Cor. 3:6). Never forget that providing seeds in season is our responsibility but only God gives the multiplication. Our mission must not be program oriented, but people oriented (Anthro-centric). We must know that the scope of discipleship is not just limited to teaching the followers of Jesus Christ, but it includes training and developing the leaders for the future that they might be replace us in due time. Therefore every generation of Christian is responsible to equip the next generation (2 Tim. 2:1-2). So let us reset our Mission in which discipleship is the top priority that our churches might be multiplied and be matured.
RESET OUR CALLING: FELLOWSHIP
“And he (Jesus Christ) appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach” (Mark 3:14). “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3). The Lord has primarily called us to have fellowship with HIM so that we may be empowered to preach the Gospel. But most of us have forgotten the secret places of communion with God. In this time of lockdown, most of us have received comfort and hope as we spent most of our time in prayer; and reading Scripture and other books. During the lockdown most of us had more gladness to serve HIM; and our fellowship with believers and with our own family has become sweeter and joyful. We have learned to value the small things which give us happiness such as paintings, writing down our doubts, fear, bitterness, etc., talking with our childhood friends, cracking jokes and laughing loudly, listening to stories from children, sharing foods with neighbours, delivering ration to neediest at their doors, engaging in wise usage of money. In all these things, we learned that fellowship strengthens our relationships and heals us as a whole. Let us reset our calling to have fellowship with the Father and with the Son and with the Holy Spirit – with the Triune God that we might be empowered, encouraged, and energized to serve God’s purpose in our own generation (cf. Acts 13:36).
CONCLUSION
The COVID-19 pandemic had awakened many of us from deep slumber. It has raised the question: what must be the greatest motivation for missionary endeavour? It is neither obedience to the Great Commission nor the compassion for sinners who are perishing without knowing Christ, but rather it must be the burning desire to see the glory of God when a sinner confesses that Jesus Christ is the Lord and glorifies God the Father. (Phil. 2:10-11). God only is the ultimate reason of our mission work, nothing else. Therefore we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ that all nations may turn to God and worship HIM (Ps. 22:27; 33:8; 86:9).
We evangelicals hold zealously to the letter and litters of the past, but have been ignoring the changes taking place around us and neglecting the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of individual. As a result, we are outdated in our evangelistic approaches and our message has become irrelevant to our neighbours. Prudence is needed in the time of crisis; and prudence comes from wisdom; and wisdom comes from the fear of the Lord (Prov. 9:10). Therefore there must be a complementarian approach to reach out to the world with the Gospel: the message of salvation with social redemption, personal piety with universal peace, religious rituals with human development and of the exclusiveness in faith with universal love so that the whole world may know God who justified the sinner by faith and in whom there is no favouritism. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided us with a golden opportunity to reset our focus on God, our vision on evangelism, our mission on discipleship and our calling on fellowship so that our Lord Jesus Christ might use us as an instrument to build HIS church (Mt. 16:18), where there is no Church.
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