29/05/2020
“NEW NORMAL 02”
(Heb. 10: 24-25)
THE CHURCH IN A SMART MACHINE WORLD.
(Doc Isai)
INTRODUCTION:
1. This message is a continuation of the first series on “New Normal” based on Hebrews 10: 24 – 25.
2. Recall the meaning provided by Urban Dictionary of the “New Normal” as “the current state of being after some dramatic change has transpired. What replaces the expected, usual, typical state after an event occurs. The new normal encourages one to deal with current situation rather than lamenting what could have been.”
We know from recent television reports that our government authorities are considering new ways to ferry out passengers and provide transportation mechanisms both land and air. Education strategy is into the “blending” approach of the virtual and actual or personal face to face classes. Soon the language piece like “cloud community” and “ground or surface community” might be a social structure in our culture. In the light of the CHANGE our world is faced with what strategy will the church uphold and adapt so it might continue to survive and thrive? What will be the future of religious institutions or establishments? Will these evangelical denominations find success in holding church members from being unaffiliated? How long will the denominational approach to Mission thrives? These questions are rather complicated and are not easy to find answers.
In an attempt however to find answers with the foregoing questions let us consult the text of the Scriptures, Hebrews 10: 24 to 25 which we formerly considered.
3. Let us also refresh ourselves with the context of our text.
CONTEXT: Bible Scholars say that the book of Hebrews has no identified author but is written with Hellenistic and Jewish influence since it contains some 31 quotations and references from the Old Testament. Hebrews 1: 1 clearly portrays a Jewish author writing to a Jewish audience and Hellenistic Jews (those living outside Palestine) as Hebrews 13: 24 suggests. Hebrews is written for the religious consumption of Christian believers going through tumultuous persecutions. Hebrews 10: 32 – 35 suggests a setting where Christian believers were severely persecuted by two succeeding Emperors of Rome. History records Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus reigned from A.D. 41 to 54 as Emperor of Rome and was succeeded by Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (“Nero”) from 54 A. D. to 68 A. D.) Emperor Claudius expelled Jews from the city of Rome in A.D. 49 and worst persecution by Nero around A.D. 64. Apart from properties stolen Christians were beaten to death, suffered severe kind of imprisonment and martyrdom. Now, the author of Hebrews enjoins the Christian believers to survive and thrive in the midst of worst persecutions and adapt the “New Normal” way of life.
Like the people of Israel which God that set out from Egypt to the Promised Land struggles to adapt the “New Normal” so are the Christian believers at which time there was severe persecution. The decision of the Israelites to go back to the “Old Normal” way of life in Egypt is basically understandable in normal thinking. Now we can relate the event of the rebellion led by Korah, Dathan and Abiram against Moses and Aaron (cf. Numbers 16: 1-50). Although the context by which the rebellion happened is different than what the church experienced when the author of Hebrews writes his book nevertheless the struggle to survive and thrive from the “Old Normal” to the “New Normal” is evident.
Proposition: The health and growth of the church must be maintained even at “New Normal” condition.
Question: How shall the church survives and thrives in a “New Normal” situation?
The author of Hebrews gives two injunctions to the followers of Jesus Christ for the church to survive and thrive. The first is to “stimulate each other to acts of love and good deeds” (10: 24). The second is stated in a negative sense, not to forget their gathering together and encouraging each other as fellow believers of Jesus Christ (10: 25).
We are now ready to consider the second injunction to meet together and encourage one another or “build each other up” in the light of the soon coming of Jesus Christ.
MEETING TOGETHER AS BELIEVERS OF JESUS CHRIST
Think for a while at which time the Book of Hebrews is written. Christian properties were confiscated, some were imprisoned and beaten to death and most of them are severely persecuted and humiliated. How shall we apply the injunction to “meet together” and “encourage one another” in such a perilous condition? Here however, the author of Hebrews instructs the followers of Jesus Christ to survive and thrive by regularly meeting together and encouraging each other the coming end time draws near (V. 25). Let us consider the first phrase, “And let us not neglect our meeting together as some people do.”
“Not forsaking our assembling together” can mean “not continually neglecting our meeting together” or “not to separate connection” with one another “a some people do.” “As some people do” can mean “as in the habit of some.” This injunction suggests that some of the members of the followers of Christ has defected or became lukewarm in their attendance to their assembly. Some Jews who come out of Judaism who are followers of Jesus Christ had the second thought or defected having negative repercussions to the assembly. Simply put, there are some followers of Christ who by “habit” or in “customary habit or behavior” neglected or intentionally made absences in assembling or meeting together with their fellow bEelievers.
Let’s remind ourselves that “Ekklesia” or church simply means “assembly” or the “meeting together.” It is church because these people are followers of Christ who regularly meet or assemble together with common belief to worship the Messiah Jesus Christ and fellowship with one another. Again, “Ekklesia” or “Church” has nothing to do with a building structure regardless of how gorgeous the edifice look like. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4: 23-24). While in the past, Judaism restricts the worship of God in the Temple (locative) made by human hands, the New Covenant in Jesus Christ is “universal”. The worship in the time of Jesus Christ is through His Word filled with the power of the Spirit and Truth. Whenever Christ’s followers convenes for worship and fellowship there’s the “church” the spiritual or metaphysical body of Christ. But, due to the “New Normal” condition the followers of Christ are faced with some of them are passive or irregular in attending their assembly. It is assumed that at which time there was persecution among the believers of Christ in Rome that some were discouraged. In fact, we can further assume that the meeting together (most probably in small groups) is the New Normal for Jewish converts. I can relate to that experience after we as a family were converted from Roman Catholicism to Protestantism. The struggle to adopt new ways of prayer and worship is real. Not until we got used to adopting the New Normal way of Christian belief and practices that we overcome such.
But there are trying times which sometimes cause the traditional baggage and “old life” or the “Old Normal” to spur. The tendency is to lower down our gear and succumbed to passivity. Thus the second phrase in Hebrews 10: 25b says, “but encourage one another especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” To encourage is simply “to put courage into” or “to bring courage.” Someone needs courage to face the reality especially of worst moments. One easily gives up when inner fears due to danger, conflict and pressures of life strikes. But encouragements from fellow Christian believers through wise counsel with fun, fellowship, food and God’s Word make us stick together as a church or as an assembly. I can affirm that the matter of neglect in assembling together as followers of Christ will not contribute towards the growth and development of the church. But with the encouragement from a group of believers, the care group that puts courage into makes one not a victim but a victor.
Like Christians in Rome, Thessalonian Christians were facing severe sufferings and persecutions (1 Thess. 1:6). In fact, the Thessalonians faced oppositions in and out. While Jewish leaders do persecutions to Christ’s followers the church is disturbed by doctrinal inadequacies (4: 13-18). But Paul affirms their ability and responsibility to build each other up and encourage support to each other in the faith as they had been doing the same (4: 18; 5: 11).
In a “New Normal” world however, HOW can we meet together as one body and “build each other up” or “put courage into” to our fellow believers in a Pandemic situation?
SUGGESTIONS IN MEETING TOGETHER AS CHRIST’S BODY IN A “NEW NORMAL” WORLD.
Apart from those I discussed in my first series of this sermon, how shall we apply the predicted future of working with the Smart Machine?
Before we consider practical suggestions for the church to survive and thrive, let me inform you of an article, “The Post-Pandemic Church and Pre-Existing Conditions” by John Stonestreet and Roberto Rivera. The authors quoted Philip Jenkins, a famous Christian Historian who predicts recently that SECULARIZATION will accelerate the post-denominational culture wherein institutions and organizations will decline and religious practices will be privatized and would make us religiously unaffiliated. The Smart Machine influence as I wrote in my last Sunday's sermon will make us all a "cloud community" of believers in 2028. We know from history that pandemics and diseases often play major roles in shaping religious establishments. Though written in a North American context, Jenkins predicts the weakening of religious institutions (even as current situation already suggests) as pandemic will cause financial instability and will destabilize and diminish loyalty of denominational churches.
The fading loyalty of local churches to their denomination might be attributed to the growth of “Megachurches” worldwide. I remember a research done some 10 years ago by George Barna, a reputable market research with a finding that 10,000 local churches die every year. The rise of megachurches and on-line services are some of those huge factors contributing to the closure of those local churches in the US. With the strike of Corona Virus however some curious minds make suspicion of the viability of megachurches. Let’s however think deeper of the seeming invulnerability of megachurches. Why? I came across one research done by George Barna that out of 80 megachurches 79 has Small Group Disciple-making programs. Since these megachurches had been on-line or with Smart Machine as co-workers for more than a decade the suspicion of bankruptcy and financial insolvency might be a remote possibility. A reminder is I think appropriate here. MAY I MAKE A STRONG SUSPICION THAT THE SOLVENCY AND VIABILITY AND HOPEFULY LOYALTY OF DENOMINATIONAL CHURCHES RELY SO MUCH ON THE LEADERS’ ADAPTABILITY TO TECHNOLOGY PRECIPITATED BY “NEW NORMAL” WAYS. I can be wrong on this because God’s ways are not our ways.
In dealing with the issue of the predicted demise to religious establishments in a post-pandemic world, John Stonestreet and Roberto Rivera presented the view of Jenkins to be staggering. They however interjects Jenkins’ predictions as something controversial. Quoting a notable historian Kyle Harper, both John Stonestreet and Roberto Rivera acknowledged that “the third century ‘Plague of Cyprian’ weakened Roman institutions and helped pave the way for the triumph of Christianity. Another plague in the sixth century indirectly led to the Christianizing of Britain. This virus is changing all kinds of different aspects of culture, besides the Church. So, it remains to be seen just what might come of all this. More importantly, there are other ‘preexisting conditions’ that pre-date late-modern Western culture. For example, Paul warned Timothy of persecution and tribulation, and that some would ‘fall away’ from the faith during those times. Yet, the most important pre-existing condition is the resurrected Christ who promised the gates of Hell could not prevail against His Church” (Matt. 16: 18).
The findings of the historian Kyle Harper is right in the perspective of the 3rd and 6th century’s pandemics in Europe. God works beyond human and scientific interventions. Also, the context of the church in issue during the 3rd century and that of Britain’s upheaval (which paves the way for the phenomenal growth of the church) might be distinct as to the current form and structure of the church today. Jenkins might be wrong if the issue at hand concerns the “falling away” since that is not true to our case even in our country.
The current scenario however suggests the Small Group and Bible Study phenomenon especially in the Philippines has accomplished tremendous impact in the life of the church. The live-streaming and on-line services in YouTube projected on cellphones and television screens are flooding. The creation of “cloud communities” by Smart Machine is unprecedented. Even churches without internet facilities are doing services through printed lessons and manuscripts provided by their local church pastors for family worship or homogeneous Small Group worship activities. Many fathers we know who are at least capable of handling the Word of God are leading their own family worship. Moreover, let’s recognize the fact that every nation in this world intentionally pours in unbelievable amount of money for research, purchase of medicines, personal protective equipment, scientific machines, social amelioration program, etc. and etc. to address the worst pandemic of our time. Since dependence on Smart Machine for virtual and on-line education and the viability of business enterprise is inescapable then the making of the program to include the masses will not be a remote possibility. After all, religious enterprise and the corporate world must survive doing all the best they could to flourish. A post-pandemic culture might be different yet the church as it adapts technological advances will by the grace of God not only survive but thrive. What we need more in our pursuit to strengthen denominational loyalties without prejudice to the inter-faith spirit is to be reminded of the second injunction of the author of Hebrews to Christ’s followers. Here again it says, “An let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (10: 25).
HOW CAN WE EFFECTIVELY ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER SO THE CHURCH SURVIVES AND THRIVES IN SUCH PANDEMIC AND EVEN IN POST-PANDEMIC SITUATION?
1. STIMULATE EACH OTHER FOR ACTS OF LOVE AND GOOD WORKS – Heb. 10: 24.
Recall to mind the first series of this sermon based on Hebrews 10: 24. The emphasis of the author of Hebrews in matter of motivating or stimulating each other for “acts of love and good deeds” is for the holistic transformation of the church and the community around. Jesus Christ demonstrated the preaching of the Kingdom coupled with love and good works (Matt. 4: 18-25). The four Gospels are filled with narrations of how Jesus demonstrates the work of compassion to the marginalized by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, opening the eyes of the blind, delivering demon-obsessed and blessing the children. Jesus also identifies his heart with the poor as evident in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-31), the encounter with Zacchaeus, the Rich Young Ruler, and many more. Thousands followed him and were given food to eat. The ministry of Jesus founded on compassion is a holistic transformation, the renewing of four life’s domain: spiritual, economic, physical and social. It was the whole Gospel for the whole person. There are voluminous accounts of Jesus demonstrating to His disciples how to fish for people holistically. To sum, “Holistic transformation makes the ministry of Christ human and places the community at the heart of his mission.” In his devotional reflection of John 1:14 Eugene Peterson says, “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” The “acts of love and good deeds” as the author of Hebrews suggest is holistic discipleship modeled after Christ and should be the NORMAL thing that the church should always imitate.
Today, we thank God that at least in our time this worst pandemic happens with social media and other advanced tools for communication is just within our reach. Apart from the government’s effort, we can see the philanthropic spirit and charitable services performed by Christian individuals, local churches and other religious institutions. The hashtag, “WE HEAL AS ONE” is not only a banner that flies all over the country and screams at the screens of our televisions but has influenced Christian communities. Local pastors and church leaders find ingenious ways to gather goods and provide financial assistance to their members and adherents as well. I am deeply touched to see an Alliance church in Quezon City mobilizing people with masks to cook and prepare food for the breakfast of homeless and hungry street people in their community. The old saying is true, “You can give without loving; but you cannot love without giving.” We find encouragement from our fellow believers who “walk their talk” or showing their love with action.
2. MEETING TOGETHER BY LEARNING AND APPLYING GOD’S WORD.
1. Congregating together as followers of Christ.
1) The issue of SOCIAL DISTANCING. With what is mandated by the government as one of the best solutions to contain the spread of the Corona Virus is that we are to do Social Distancing. Health experts further oblige the citizens to wear masks, maintain physical hygiene and other quarantine measures. What then shall the local church do so as not to neglect the assembling together for worship and fellowship?
As I said over and over again, the church is not a building. The church is the people of God meeting together with a common purpose to worship God and fellowship with one another. Our “Old Normal” way of meeting together is within a confined location we call “church building” in a face-to-face manner. In this “New Normal” situation however how can we meet together to maintain the spirit of worship and fellowship? How can we best keep the unity and loyalty as local church people without necessarily having a corporate face to face assembly?
2) Suggestions for a “New Normal” church assembly.
a) Live-streaming or on-line Worship. We already talk of this in the first series of this sermon. But let me add only the significance of program evaluation. The need to do a simple survey as to how many tuned in and how long people watched is a must so to re-shape or modify or standardize your approach for a better service to the people of your church. Moreover, never forget to flash on screen any bank account number or solid information as to how your church people send money as their offerings. It would be much better also if the pastor can observe zoom or live stream Wednesday prayer meeting and a Bible Study twice a week.
b) Family Worship. It might be good for church members without internet facilities to be provided with printed extended sermon outlines and Bible Study lessons. The family worship must include a program for worship service with giving of offering in place. I know of a Pastor in Zamboanga area that makes his own extended sermon outlines, Bible Study materials and Sunday worship programs. Using his motorcycle, he distributes these printed materials to every household leader of his church. Follow-up instructions are done through cellphone or casual conversation in a secured place following social distancing rules. We also heard of this same strategy working well in various places of our country. Glory to God! Satan thought the worship of church’s people to God collapsed at the event of the Pandemic; but unfortunately more churches were opened and convened either in small homogeneous units or family groups.
2. God’s Word is crucial to the encouragement of Christian believers.
1) God’s Word. Once the Word of God is established in the minds and hearts of every follower of Christ then the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit, the “Comforter” (Greek “Paraclete”) or “one who is alongside of” works to bring peace and encouragement (John 14: 26). The teachings of the Holy Scriptures and God’s promises “give us hope and encouragement as we patiently hope for His promises to be fulfilled” (Rom. 15: 4; cf. Titus 1: 9; 2 Tim. 4: 2; 1 Thess. 2: 13; 4: 13 – 18). In fact, the first century church gathered regularly in the temple and in homes and spent time learning the Apostles doctrines (Acts 2: 42-47; 5: 14).
3. Fellow believers encouraging one another helps the church survive and thrive.
1) The author of Hebrews says, “encourage one another” in the light of the soon coming of Christ (Heb. 25b). Christians need to spend time together for the courage of each one to keep stronger. The church that gathers in corporate worship scatters during the week. The current pandemic however caused the church to scatter more and multiply (though in smaller groups) yet the fellowship and worship is unhindered. But how can the principle of encouragement work in a non-face-to-face setting? This is where well written counselling materials and ingenious intervention from a local church pastor is badly needed.
2) Harnessing the potential of Smart Machine will enable the church people to be in touched with one another. It is at this time that we can relate to the situation experienced by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).
CONCLUSION:
In the midst of severe persecution under Emperor Claudius and Nero the followers of Jesus Christ are instructed by the author of Hebrews to do two things: 1) First, is to stimulate each other to acts of love and good works; and 2) Second, to encourage or “build each other up” by overcoming the habit of neglecting the “assembly” or meeting together.
We can be so engrossed with gorgeous facilities to accommodate the growing numbers of congregants. But one can easily be lost in a large group. Anonymity might be a factor for getting into attractional churches. What the author of Hebrews however said is for the church people to continue to meet together and build each other up regardless of their numbers. While the large number of Christ’s followers gathering together is emotionally uplifting the worshiping and encouraging or the building up of each other around His Word is not determined by its quantity.
The “New Normal” demands of us to move away from traditional structures to a more fluid measures. There is nothing wrong with harnessing the expertise of professional social networkers and hiring technology providers to set all the algorithms in providing the principle of supply and demand. The church must dare to exploit enormous amount of change without necessarily abandoning all the workable structures of the past. With God’s promise as the pre-existing condition the efforts of blending of a godly “cloud community” and “ground or surface community” is possible. While advanced technology is an optimal approach for the “New Normal” the “Old Normal” with contemporary ramification can provide sustainable growth and development of the church.
Beyond what man can do however the unseen hand of God is at work. To have corporate face-to-face worship and fellowship demands the miraculous intervention from the Holy Spirit. There is pre-existing condition whereby the church or the “assembly” of Christ’s believers will never disappear. The resurrected Christ who is the head of the church promised: “I will build my church and the power of hell will not conquer it” (Matt. 16: 18). History of deadly diseases in Europe and in Britain proved that Empires and Monarchies may fall but Christianity never will. We have the faith to believe that God will surely protect His own and will cause His church to survive and thrive amidst worst of times. We need however to cooperate with God in His Mission.
All the more we experience the sufficiency of Jesus Christ binding us together as His body as we encourage one another and build each other up with a caring heart, a listening ear, and a helping hand.
Illustration:
An old song, “No Man Is An Island” by Joan Baez is worth pondering.
No man is an island, No man stands alone,
Each man's joy is joy to me, Each man's grief is my own.
We need one another, So I will defend,
Each man as my brother, Each man as my friend.
I saw the people gather, I heard the music start,
The song that they were singing, Is ringing in my heart.
No man is an island, Way out in the blue,
We all look to the one above, For our strength to renew.
When I help my brother, Then I know that I,
Plant the seed of friendship, That will never die.
BY BLENDING AND STRENGTHENING BOTH THE "CLOUD COMMUNITY" AND THE "GROUND COMMUNITY" THE CHURCH WILL SURELY SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN ANY PANDEMIC OR POST-PANDEMIC WORLD.
