Blessed are the Flexible

Pastor Randy Corbin, Transitional Lead Pastor

At least for me, flexibility is not an easy call to follow.  I like predictability, control, and clarity.  Like handrails on my steps, it gives me security as I navigate.

Yet, the events of these recent days has required flexibility and a willingness to adjust for the purpose of safety and respect for those who are over us (Romans 13). 

In light of the COVID-19 virus, not only have alterations of our life been required in the ministries of our church, but in life beyond as well – restaurants, businesses, dentist offices, schools have all shut down.  We have never encountered a time like this in our lifetimes.  Indeed it has required of us calm and a willingness to alter our lives.

Our calm is not rooted in hanging on to any refusal to discontinue church services, small groups, or socializing, but rather in the sovereignty of God and His grace to allow flexibility and to create new and fresh ways to worship and to serve others.  God does not work in only the ways we have been familiar.

Now is the time for the Church (us) to look for novel approaches to evangelize, to serve, and to care.  Some churches are going to live streaming Sunday mornings, using Zoom for small groups, initiating church blogs, checking on each other through phone calls, shopping for those older who have been urged to stay home.  Others are opening their churches for people to individually come and pray.  This can be an exciting time to seek God and to join our imaginations together as to how we can minister to each other and to reach out to our community.

So, rather than stubbornly refusing to make some alterations and insisting we keep on doing what we have always been doing until this storm passes, let’s rise to the challenge, seek God for His direction, employ our God-given creative juices and “flex” to some fresh forms and platforms.

I am hoping that once this virus is history, certain faith and ministry practices will not be the same.  New approaches we are creating now will take hold and our faith will be stronger and more resilient to the Glory of God.  God did not allow this so we and our church would simply get through it but so that we would be transformed in some way.

Yes, blessed are the flexible…for they shall not be broken but will be made even stronger!