I suppose because I begin each day in devotional mode, I can’t help linking the Lenten study with current events; and that link carries over into my blogging reflections. Last night I watched a portion of a cable news program devoted to the 2020 pandemic. Hosted by one of broadcast journalism’s most trusted and reliable journalist, it included the obligatory panel of experts offering commentary on the coronavirus and its impact upon society. As I recall, someone used the phrase “a new normal” and someone else stated “This is new to us; we have never in this country had to face something like this virus.” The sentiments are true. COVID-19 has disrupted the norms and interrupted our plans, individually and collectively. Because of it we feel awkward in our interactions with one another. One of the program’s guest was adamant in expressing his opinion that we definitely ought not be shaking hands with each other. Something called the “elbow bump” has replaced the hand shake, joining “social distancing” as characteristics of this new normal.
In today’s Interruptions lesson, the author focuses upon how Jesus not only interrupted the Samaritan woman’s daily routine, but also broke cultural norms of the day when He spoke to her. Suffice it to say Jesus is not one to whom we look for how to follow societal or culture guidelines, because His ministry usually confronted and challenged them. The United States of America is a proclaimed Christian nation. That moniker has identified us since our founding; and though we espouse religious freedom as a hallmark -other religious views are not banned- the vast majority of the population professes the Christian faith, meaning literally we are followers of Christ. Jesus is our lodestar. And if our lodestar was an interrupter and disrupter of cultural and societal norms, what does that mean for us who follow Him? In this era when we find ourselves caught in the throes of this pandemic what ought we do, what can we do in the context of a new normal? I propose we need an additional voice on the panels of experts, at the press conference podiums, and in the virtual conferences. We need an interrupter, a disrupter, a confronter. We need an ordained man of the Christian faith who is in sync with the gospel of Jesus Christ; who brings to the table, not governmental, scientific, or medial expertise of how best to address this crisis, but instead positions the word of God as part of the solutions under consideration. Yes, we need the medical and scientific professions to do what they do best, and a sane government to govern responsibly and wisely to address the new normal, but even more than those we need people of faith in a professed Christian nation to look beyond the secular.
Our norm is separation of church and state. Whether we like it or not, that norm is being been challenged, and rightly so. It is not just secular experts and leaders whose voices the nation needs to hear on the airwaves and in print media. The people need to hear in addition to the secular proclamations, words of scripture that speak to their faith in God, in Jesus and HIs teachings. This is not the time for the norm of separation of church and state; not in a nation of faith that prints “In God we trust” on its paper currency and has a law that states that phrase is the nation’s official motto. If this is the national motto of the nation that identifies itself a Christian nation, this is also the time to be like the Jesus in whom we believe. Let His words in the book that guides believers of the faith be spoken aloud to offer encouragement and hope; to take away fear and worry; to bring instead peace, and joy and an endearing spirit that is His Spirit and our hope. As Jesus modeled, bring on those who will interrupt at such a time as this with that which anchors Christians during times of trial, of tribulation and yes, pestilence.
Love. Joy. Peace.