The benefit of another lockdown exists.
For Believers, I’m not speaking about health safety, but about what ancillary helps arise from lockdown. And there are some. I’ve noticed I’ve been spending less time with the Holy Spirit recently, compared to earlier this year in the grip of the first lockdown. I suppose I need another lockdown to recalibrate.
This week in England, a second lockdown of a sort has been instituted. This follows what has been occurring all across Europe and in the other nations of the United Kingdom over recent weeks. Today is the first day of a month-long closure in England of all but essential trade businesses. Schools and other educational institutions continue. But work from home, which has become the norm goes on, service industries and fitness places are closed, shops beyond those which supply essentials are also closed.
Why has our sovereign LORD allowed this?
I’m not choosing to discuss the merits of fighting Covid over fighting the fall- out from closures. I am weighing up how we can grow in these times by spending more quality time with GOD.
Lockdown offers a slowdown, an opportunity to reflect, contemplate, pray.
As we abide with our LORD, we grow in love and surrender. Surrender enables us to receive more of the Holy Spirit’s guidance and leadership:
More of you, less of me, LORD!
Overcoming the flesh
As we walk in the Spirit of Christ, we become more like Jesus; we overcome the flesh and live in the fruit of the spirit, including more peace, love, joy and all the other fruits.
Walking in greater love and surrender: allowing Jesus to prepare his bride; defending us against worldly distraction — however “good” the cause; deepening our understanding of GOD’s word, His ways, His truth. These can only be good things.
This is the antithesis of rebellion
It is equally possible that this lockdown is a ploy to shepherd citizens into greater fear and docile capitulation. Tyranny may well be at our doorstep. There is an abundance of conspiracy theory and alternative scientific views about how to manage this virus. But we must choose to look up, to rest in His presence, to trust in His word.
GOD is sovereign and He has given us the governments of His choosing. Romans 13 tells us this.
Lockdown is at best, a human effort to protect. It is not a spiritual battle.
Lockdown gives society the opportunity to reflect, revise, reshape, spending more time with our children and less time in the rat race.
Church as we know it needs to revise. It is based upon Greek thinking and roots that are a far cry from Jesus’ initial church. Can we let it go to let GOD raise up His church? I think we can, and we must.
Shortcomings of the Church as we know it
There are some excellent aspects to the organised church. It offers a sense of family to those even without family. It gives an opportunity to learn about GOD, for those already in the family of GOD and also for those still outside.
But is everything that is “the Church” operating as Jesus intended? I don’t think so. It seems to me that church, in the main, is more about people and less about Him. Worship is more about how we feel and less about His Glory. It is top-ended and front-focused, a system rather than what was recorded in Acts 2:42-47:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and they ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising GOD and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the LORD added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Let us embrace lockdown as an opportunity
To dwell more deeply with the LORD and even to return to church with an altered mindset can be our goals. Let us trust that our sovereign GOD will never leave us nor forsake us, and that His battle is for the hearts and minds of the people. Our role is to dwell in His presence and to prepare as His bride. When He pronounces us ready, there will be much to do. Let us wait on Him for His timing, His anointing and His leadership.