For Churches the Airborne Transmission of COVID-19 by Asymptomatic People Is a Game Changer

With the CDC estimating more than 50% of the new COVID-19 cases were infected by people who were asymptomatic, churches need to revisit and re-evaluate their safety measures for preventing the spread of the virus. Asymptomatic people do not spread the virus by coughing or sneezing. They spread the virus by breathing, shouting, talking loudly, and singing. They do not transmit the virus through droplets but through smaller airborne particles, which may linger in the air of a room for an hour or more. This has a number of implication for churches particular for those that are following the older and outdated safety guidelines if they do not want their worship services and other gatherings to become super-spreader events and the church to become the nexus of a fresh cluster of COVID-19 cases.

Among these implications is that churches will need to change their policy for wearing face masks from voluntary to mandatory, requiring the wearing of masks not just before and after gatherings but throughout them. They will need to post large signs in highly visible locations stating that face masks must be worn at all times. They will also need to strictly enforce social distancing and take steps to ensure that rooms are adequately ventilated (See the NY Times article, “Serve Up Some Extra Precautions at Your Thanksgiving Table This Year” for tips on room ventilation). A drafty old church may actually prove safer than a church of more recent construction. 

Churches will need to limit the number of occupants in a room for a worship service or other gathering. A church does not need to have 100% of the entire congregation present at a worship service or other gathering to be church, a claim that one hears and reads a number of pastors making in recent times. This claim is predicated on the false assumption that in New Testament times churches had 100% of the entire congregation in attendance at all meetings of the church. Social conditions in New Testament times would have rendered this an impossibility as they do in our time. Slaves formed a segment of the population in New Testament times and were not free to attend church meetings whenever they wanted. They attended the meetings when they were able, most likely arriving later than the other attendees and leaving earlier. In times of persecution their unauthorized absence from the home or workplace of their master could lead to the discovery of a congregation and the arrest of its members. 

Rarely do churches in our day have 100% attendance of entire congregation at a worship service or other gathering. Members of the congregation may be sick, out of town on business or pleasure, or not in attendance for other reasons. If one followed the reasoning of this claim to its logical conclusion, the church ceases to exist every time a member of the congregation oversleeps and misses church. Indeed the church has not existed since New Testament times due to the absence of one or more members of the congregation on a particular Sunday. 

The New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit indwells individual believers and unites them to their Lord and to each other. Jesus promised that when two or three gathered in his name, he would be present in their midst. It is not essential that the whole congregation must gathered in one place for the church to be the church. Christians have met as large groups and small groups since New Testament times, depending upon circumstances. There is no Biblical or sound theological reason for not going to smaller, multiple services during a pandemic. It may prove logistically challenging but in most cases a church will be able to meet that challenge. It will sometimes require thinking out of the box. 

Churches will also need to temporarily suspend the use of singing, shouting chanting, loud talking, or any other activity in worship that affects the respiration rate of those present, causing them to inhale and exhale more air and to breath more deeply. It will also need to temporarily suspend the use of wind instruments in worship. If one or more people is infected and asymptomatic, these activities will increase the number of airborne virus particles that they exhale. They can lead to the buildup of a high concentration of virus particles in the air of the room if the room is poorly ventilated. They will also increase the number of virus particles that those who are not infected will inhale. How severe a case of the disease people get has been linked to the quantity of virus particle that they inhale. 

Worship generally services last an hour or more. If they are not wearing face masks or lower their faces masks, those present can inhale a substantial number of airborne virus particles during that period. For these reasons places of worship have been classified as places that are high risk for COVD-19 transmission along with gyms, restaurants, cafes, and bars. 

When one considers such factors as length of service, length of sermon, and types of worship activities, a quiet, said Catholic low mass, reduced to its basic elements and with a short homily and communion in one kind, may be safer than a charismatic or Pentecostal service with its singing and shouting, lengthy medleys of praise and worship songs, lengthy sermons, and laying on of hands with prayer. A charismatic or Pentecostal service may last two hours or more. Its worship activities are not only likely to increase the respiration rates of those present but also to bring them into close proximity to each other. On the other hand, at a Catholic low mass there is usually no singing and the only time that one person comes closer than six feet to another person is during the distribution of the communion. 

During a spike in the COVID-19 cases in a particular state, region, or county when people are not wearing face masks or observing other safety measures despite the urgings of the local authorities—in my case, the mayor of the town and the lead judge of the fiscal court, the best step for a church to take may be to temporarily suspend its in-person services until the infection rate has gone down significantly. As long as one segment of the population is defying the community safety guidelines or taking a relaxed attitude toward the virus, the rest of the community is at risk, including the churches in the community. A church may implement adequate layers of intervention but due to the intransigence of this population segment or its lack of concern for its own safety and the safety of others may nonetheless become an epicenter of a new cluster of cases. What one part of the community does or does not do affects the rest of the community. While the slogan “we are all in this together” is often ignored, it does point to an essential truth—we are all in this together. Those who are not a part of the solution to the problem are part of the problem.

Five Things Churches Should Do Differently in 2021

2020. Ugh.

Come quickly 2021!

For certain, there are many of us looking forward to leaving 2020 behind and entering a new year. We anticipate that 2021 will be much better. Indeed, we have every reason to believe it will be a better year.

As our team works with church leaders, we are often asked what changes or pivots their churches should make as their congregations move to a new year. Though this list is not exhaustive, we find ourselves making these five recommendations consistently. Read More

4 Ways to Keep Your Small Group on Track during Covid

In March 2020, the COVID-19 physical/social distancing began. Churches moved online, as did groups.

When summer began, some churches reopened worship. Most did not reopen groups at that time. But August and back-to-school time demonstrated that church members valued being together in groups, so more and more began meeting in person as they did in pre-COVID days.

And then COVID began to spike. Sometimes it spiked nationally after a holiday like Labor Day. Sometimes it spiked locally after a family reunion, or after a large number of people attended a sporting event sponsored by a school. But it spiked.

Now as we head into mid-November and the Thanksgiving holidays, more spikes are predicted.

If your Bible study group is meeting again, there’s one thing you need to do so your group thrives during COVID-19: Be flexible! Like my favorite childhood claymation character, Gumby, who is known for his flexibility, groups also need to be flexible. Read More

Thanksgiving Gatherings Could Inflame COVID-19 Crisis

Millions of Americans are likely to gather with their friends and families for Thanksgiving despite rising COVID-19 cases, prompting fears the holiday will only add fuel to the fire and spiral the pandemic further out of control.

The U.S. is confirming record-breaking numbers of new cases every day, and millions more people are infected, many unknowingly, posing great risks of community spread.

Deaths and hospitalizations are increasing across the country, and because deaths lag behind cases, fatalities are expected to continue increasing in the coming weeks with no signs of stopping.

That creates high risk for the holiday season, when millions of people will seek solace in visiting their friends and family after a long, stressful year, but experts caution that the safest thing to do, for individuals and society as a whole, is to stay home. Read More

Serve Up Some Extra Precautions at Your Thanksgiving Table This Year

Public health officials urge families to keep celebrations small, avoid mixing households and open the windows.

It’s been a year of sacrifice, social distancing and skyrocketing stress. Can we at least enjoy Thanksgiving?

In terms of risk, the timing of the Thanksgiving holiday couldn’t be worse. The coronavirus is raging across the country, setting new daily infection records. More than 235,000 Americans have died of Covid-19, and small gatherings are believed to be fueling much of the spread. While public health officials caution against family and friends gathering in homes for the traditional Thanksgiving meal, they know many people plan to spend the holiday together anyway.

The solution? A scaled-back Thanksgiving — with open windows, fewer people and a big serving of precautions. Read More

It's Better to Be Safe than Sorry This Thanksgiving

Is a Thanksgiving family gathering really worth the risk of COVID-19? Alexa Aragonez does not think so. 15 members of her family tested positive for the virus after the family got together to celebrate a family member’s birthday. Ms. Aragonez’s mother was hospitalized due to the seriousness of her symptoms. Three family members who tested positive did not attend the celebration. They were infected by family members who did. 

We are not living in normal times. We may have grown tired of the pandemic but COVID-19 has not grown tired of us. Whenever we mix with people outside our own immediate household, we create opportunities for the virus to spread. People will get sick and even die. This is the world in which we are now living. This is the reality that we must now face.

Below you will find links to a number of articles about COVID-19 and Thanksgiving. Please take time to read them. I selected them because they contain useful information, information that you may be able to use to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community.

It's Time to Rethink Thanksgiving. Here's How to Have That Conversation With Your Family
Fauci urges Americans to conduct 'risk-benefit assessment' before holiday travel
C.D.C. Pleads With Americans to Stay Home on Thanksgiving
How Do I Make Thanksgiving Grocery Shopping Safer?
No, a Negative Coronavirus Test Does Not Mean You Can Safely Socialize
Family members film PSA urging people to stay home after 15 of them get COVID-19 following birthday party: 'We feel guilty for gathering'

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (November 22, 2020)--The Obedient Son--Now Online

The link to this evening’s service is:

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2020/11/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_22.html#more

Please feel free to share this link with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

Previous services are online at:

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

COVID-19 Updates: Two Things Churches Need to Know

Temperature checks are not a fool proof way of detecting churchgoers who are infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus. Temperature checks will not detect asymptomatic people or those who are infected with the virus but for whom a fever is not a symptom. The CDC is now warning that more than 50% of all infections are spread by people who exhibit no symptoms. For this reason, mask wearing, social distancing, and other safety measures are important as people spend more time indoors due to the cold weather. Good ventilation is also important since asymptomatic people transmit the virus by exhaling aerosol particles of the virus and a flow of fresh air from outside the building will dilute and disperse any such particles lingering in the air. These particles may linger in the air for an hour or more. Activities such as singing, shouting, talking loudly, and various forms of physical exercise including dancing should be avoided because they increase people’s respiration rates, the rates at which they inhale and exhale air, and the quantity of airborne virus particles that they inhale and exhale. 

Places of worship have been identified as places of high risk of COVID-19 coronavirus transmission as have gyms, restaurants, cafes, and bars. Among the factors that increase the transmission risks in these venues are the length of time that individuals spends in a particular venue, the kinds of activities in which they engage and how these activities affect their respiration rate, their proximity to the other occupants of the room, their need to lower or remove a face mask in order to eat or drink, and the adequacy of the ventilation of the venue. The consumption of alcohol will impair individuals’ judgment and increase the likelihood of risky behavior such as discarding face masks and not keeping a six foot or more distance from the other occupants of the room. The presence of family members, friends, and other close associates can also affect individuals’ judgment and lead to their disregard of safety measures.

Both large and small indoor gatherings have been implicated in the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Gatherings in which some individuals observe recommended safety members and others do not are high risk. Practices like seating those who wear masks and those who refuse to wear them in separate sections in the same room; and separating rows of chairs by six or more feet but not individual chairs; requiring the wearing of face masks before and after worship services but not during the service should be avoided. They create an illusion of safety but do not reduce transmission risks. Reducing transmission risks requires the cooperation of the entire congregation, not just one segment of it, particularly in the light of the role that asymptomatic people play in the spread of the virus. Churches that adopt half-measures are playing with fire. They are likely to become burned.

Among the steps that my university has taken to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus on and off campus is requiring students, faculty, and staff to wear face masks at all times except when they are in their dorm room or their own home, maintaining a distance of six feet or more from each other, limiting the occupancy of a classroom to a specific number of people, requiring the occupants of the classroom sit at least six feet apart from each other, limiting the flow of traffic in hallways to one direction and requiring those walking in the hallways to space themselves at least six feet apart; placing hand sanitizer dispensers at every entrance, exit, and elevator, and throughout each building; limiting each door to one use--entrance or exit; blocking classroom doors and office doors open; limiting dining to outdoors in the smaller locations where food is sold; expanding the dining space in the university cafeteria so students are seated at least six feet apart; increasing the dining hours to prevent crowding; banning large gatherings on campus; limiting small gatherings to authorized university functions only; banning on-campus dorm room parties and off-campus house parties; and disciplining students who organize and attend such parties. Eating is no longer permitted in a number of areas where it was formerly allowed. The university has moved a large number of its classes online. The university sends daily and weekly online bulletins to students, facility, and staff encouraging their compliance with the university's safety guidelines. The university also requires students attending classes on campus and faculty and staff working on campus to daily check their temperature and report it to the university. Students, faculty, and staff who become sick are instructed to stay in their dorm room or at home. With these measures the university has been able to significantly the reduce the infection rate in the student body, faculty, and staff and to prevent the university from becoming a source of contagion in the community. Most of these measures are transferrable to a church campus. 

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (November 21, 2020)--True Greatness--Now Online

The link to this evening’s service is:

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2020/11/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_21.html#more

Please feel free to share this link with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

Previous services are online at:

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

Evangelical Doctors' Group Pleads With Churches To Stay Home

As coronavirus cases spike, a national group that represents thousands of evangelical Christian doctors and other healthcare providers is asking churches to stop holding services in person.

In a statement provided to NPR, titled, "A Plea to Our Churches," leaders of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations say that Christians who persist in holding large gatherings at this time could "appear to care only about our individual freedoms and don't care that we may be contributing to others getting this illness because of our selfishness."

Churches in several states have violated local rules or filed lawsuits claiming that coronavirus restrictions that limit in-person gatherings violate their religious rights.

The Christian Medical & Dental Associations statement asks congregations to consider meeting online until the current surge is over. The organization had previously urged churches to obey authorities who've implemented coronavirus restrictions.

The statement, prepared for release on behalf of the group's 20,000 members nationwide, also says that the group is "saddened to learn not only that many churches have ignored our guidelines but that congregants have become infected with SARS-CoV-2 as a result of those decisions." Read More

Also See:

A Plea to Our Churches

We Are All in This Together

By Robin G. Jordan

So why is everyone doing his or her own thing?

As far as the COVID-19 pandemic is concerned, it is tempting to blame outgoing President Donald Trump for the pickle that we are in. But if we are honest with ourselves, while Trump and his administration have contributed to the mess, we ourselves also share the blame.

We have listened to family members, friends, and coworkers who downplay the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, who insist that the virus is no worse than a common cold or a mild case of the flue, who argue that face masks are ineffective in preventing its spread. We have agreed with them when they have maintained that the pandemic is a hoax, perpetuated by the health experts and the media to deprive President Trump of a second term in office.

We have chosen to believe the misinformation peddlers and the conspiracy theory mongers. There is no way around it. The more we listen, the more they are emboldened. They do not crank out their inaccurate and false information and baseless theories for no reason. They have an audience and people’s attention is what they crave the most.

We have become the laughingstock of the intelligence services of rival nations, those who stand to benefit from a weak United States. They are mixing their disinformation with the misinformation and conspiracy theories circulating on the internet. We are fast becoming a nation of dupes and they are roaring with laughter over our gullibility and stupidity.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a number of strengths of the American character. At the same time, it has revealed an even larger number of weaknesses of our character. We are self-centered and self-indulgent. We do not like to delay our gratification. We are not as concerned for the well-being of others as we might be, for a nation that some claim was built on a Christian foundation.

We say things like “You can wear a face mask and social distance. But do not tell me what I should do. I let you do what you think is best for you. So let me do what I think is best for me.” We do not see that we are connected to each other. What we may believe is best for us may not be best for others. What we choose to do or not do has consequences not only for ourselves but for those around us. We do not live in isolation from each other. What we do impacts other people regardless of our intentions. We are not completely independent, discrete individuals. We cannot practice a kind of individualism that treats other people beside ourselves as if they do not exist and our actions have no impact on anyone other than ourselves.

To the COVID-19 coronavirus we are an aggregate of potential hosts which it can invade and in which it can replicate itself. How we see ourselves and others is meaningless to the virus. For the virus, our individualism is simply an opportunity of which it can take advantage, an opening which it can exploit. The virus is not self-aware. It gravitates to the nearest environment in which it can reproduce itself.

When we insist on doing what we please, doing what is right in our own sight as the Bible puts it, we reduce the barriers that keep the virus from spreading and multiplying. The virus does not have a sense of time. It does not get tired of face masks, social distancing, handwashing, and other safeguards. The virus has no feelings. It does not get angry and become defiant out of the belief that no one has the right to tell it what it should do. When people lower their guard or deliberately ignore the recommended safety measures, it spreads and multiplies. It is as simple as that.

We are all in this together. The COVID-19 coronavirus will keep spreading, causing serious damage to people’s bodies and taking people’s lives as long as we do not accept the truth of this statement. As the seventeenth century Anglican poet and priest John Donne wrote in his sermon, Devotions upon emergent occasions and several steps in my sicknes—Meditation XVII, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main…” We are all in this together. Those who treat others as if others are not their concern are allying themselves with the virus, not their fellow human beings. Whether they wish to acknowledge it, they are allying themselves with suffering and death.

The Danger of People-Pleasing in the Current Crisis

5 ways trying to please everyone is hurting your leadership

So, you probably want people to like you and your leadership. Who doesn’t?

If we’re honest with each other, most of us in leadership prefer to be liked (rather than not liked). That’s natural, and it’s not entirely unhealthy.

But, so many leaders would also quietly admit that, deep down, they’re people pleasers.

People pleasers usually evaluate their leadership by how popular their decisions are. That’s not great leadership in the best of times.

Often, the right decision isn’t the popular decision. Doing what’s best for people isn’t always doing what’s popular with people. Anyone who’s parented for more than 10 minutes understands that tension.

Throw a crisis into the mix, particularly a crisis as deep and pervasive as the one we’re in right now, and it makes people-pleasing leadership even less effective than it normally is. Read More

'It's Scary': Family Members Returning Home Bring Higher COVID Risk for Thanksgiving Gatherings

At a time when Americans are pondering how to celebrate Thanksgiving safely amid the country’s worst surge in coronavirus cases, many families will be faced with yet another complicating factor: the return home of students.

Public health experts are discouraging nonessential travel and gatherings of multiple households for Thanksgiving, fearing those activities may further spread a virus that has sickened more than 11.5 million and killed in excess of 251,000 in the U.S. On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended against traveling for Thanksgiving.

Colleges and universities have reported 252,000-plus cases since the pandemic began, according to a New York Times tracker. Returning students – whether they lived in dorms or off-campus housing in the fall term – “exponentially increase the risk (of infection),’’ especially if they take some form of mass transportation to get back home.

That’s the assessment of Dr. Teresa Bartlett, senior medical officer for the claims management firm Sedgwick, who advises companies about medical strategies and safety practices. Naturally, her work has been focused on the pandemic for the past several months.

Like other specialists in the field, Bartlett is concerned that holiday gatherings, combined with pandemic fatigue and the need to move indoors as the weather gets colder, will exacerbate what’s already a major national spike in COVID-19 cases. Read More

Also See
CDC Pleads with Americans to Avoid Thanksgiving Travel

The COVID-19 coronavirus is a mindless virus. It is not going to take a break for Thanksgiving. It is not going to respect our desire to gather with family and friends for Thanksgiving. The COVID-19 coronavirus is going to spread and multiply wherever and whenever it can. When we dismiss the need for recommended safety measures, we are simply creating more opportunities for the virus to spread and multiply. We are behaving like the child whose parents warned him not to play with matches but ignored his parents' warning, struck a match, and set fire to the house.

Friday's Catch: Church Growth and the Apostle Paul and More

5 Church Growth Essentials from the Apostle Paul

When I was in seminary Church Growth 101 was a required course. I took interest in the whole field and became a student of church growth. I read a pile of books and attended most of the big church growth conferences. Some of the principles I’ve applied have worked. And some have failed royally. When we look at the early church, though, obviously they did something right. They grew exponentially. In this post I suggest 5 church growth essentials from the Apostle Paul that we see from his first missionary journey. Read More

One Verse for Your Church in 2021

As you look to 2021, think about the possibility of one verse or one passage for your church. Here are a few ideas to help you think through what that verse may be.... Read More

Why Church Leaders Should Write More Handwritten Notes

I believe every leader—especially pastors—should write handwritten notes. It’s not just for nostalgia. There are good leadership principles found in a handwritten note. Read More

10 Reasons Church Members Don't Invite Others to Church

Based on my consulting research and interviews, here are 10 reasons church members struggle to invite others.... Read More

Thursday's Catch: Born for This Generation and More

God Put You Here for This Generation

You were born for THIS generation. For this moment. And there has never been a greater time to be involved in the ministry of sharing Christ and his Kingdom values with the world around you. Read More

How to Reach a Culture Not Interested in the Gospel

It’s time we face the music. That day we’ve heard about … it’s here. Our culture doesn’t care about Jesus. Read More

While we may be tempted to look elsewhere for someone else to blame, one of the main reasons that culture does not care about Jesus is that we have been poor representatives of Jesus. For some people the closest that they will get to meeting Jesus in this life is ourselves. For this reason how well we represent Jesus is critical. Young people are walking away from churches because we do not practice what Jesus taught and modeled. When others hear about their experiences, they ask themselves, "Do I really want to be a part of that? That Jesus fellow does not appear to be making much of a difference in their lives."

17 Reasons American Pastors and Church Leaders Are Asking and Answering All the Wrong Questions

The real problem that is facing the American church, Brian Dodd contends, is one that if we ignore the problem, will lead the church into complete irrelevance. Read More

5 Changes Every Church Must Make Right Now

Every leader must learn to pay attention to the clues of the church culture, the time of year, the finances, the past problems, and the future possibilities in order to know when to accelerate change or slow it down. Read More

The US Will Re-Open to Refugees. Is the U.S. Church Ready?

The church has a tremendous opportunity as refugee resettlement is restored. Read More

Do You Have an Exit Strategy for Families?

One miss many churches make is also having an exit strategy after the service or event. How you make people feel when they are leaving is important.... Read More

God Gave You a Specific Congregation. Preach to Them.

5 keys to effective, locally focused preaching. Read More

Avoid Traveling for Thanksgiving CDC Warns

Earlier this week I ran across a post in which a woman was arguing that people should ignore the advice of her state's public health authorities about not traveling for Thanksgiving. Her argument was it might be the last time that members of a family would see each other. Yes, I thought to myself, it might be the last time that they would see each other because one or more family members traveled from a state or county with high incidence rate of new COVID-19 cases and infected the other members of the family and one or members might die. Or the state or county where the family was holding its Thanksgiving gathering was a COVID-19 hotspot and the family members from a different state or county might get infected, attending the gathering, and one or more of them might die. 

The safest thing that the family could do is to follow the state's public health authorities' advice, stay home and avoid contact with anyone outside their immediate household. If all the members of the family did that, they would, barring an accident or unexpected illness, be able to see each other for years to come. 

Unfortunately a number of people are adopting a fatalistic view of the COVID-19 coronavirus, disregarding reasonable precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus, and endangering others as well as themselves. 

I have posted three links in this post. The first two are to articles concerning the CDC's advice to not travel for Thanksgiving and third is to an article suggesting alternative ways of celebrating Thanksgiving and other holidays. 

To my way thinking, based upon Jesus' teaching and example, wearing a face mask, social distancing, and conforming to other reasonable precautionary measures against the spread of the virus is not a burden or imposition for a Christian but a way of showing one's love for others, not just our family and friends but all people.

CDC urges Americans against traveling for Thanksgiving as coronavirus outbreak worsens
CDC recommends against travel for Thanksgiving
Instead of dinner with family or neighbors, make new plans and traditions this Thanksgiving. We have a few ideas.

Thoughts on Christian Discipleship in the Twenty-First Century

By Robin G. Jordan

If Christians are to gain a hearing with a wide segment of the US population, they must not become identified with a particular political brand. This includes a particular political figure, party, or ideology. Our Lord’s commission to his disciples and to us is to make disciples of all people groups and not just people like ourselves. The political polarization that holds the United States in its grip, a polarization that is affecting local churches, judicatories, and denominations, presents a serious obstacle to the advance of the gospel in this century.

Since the recent election I have observed a tendency of conservative Christians to withdraw from the public square into their own ghettoes—their own social media platforms, discussion forums, and the like, largely on political grounds. This is not a positive development. Conservative Christians need to engage with our changing society and not retreat from it if they are going to obey the One that they call Lord and fulfill the Great Commission. The planting of new churches is to reach the people of this country and the world with the gospel and not provide refuges for those who are unhappy with how our society is changing.

I have also observed a tendency to embrace the demonization of those who do not share our views, a tendency that characterizes the growing polarization of the United States and which has become worse in recent days. One of the results of this tendency is to view certain segments of the population as not worthy of hearing the gospel, a decision which is not ours to make. Like Jonah, we are sent to preach repentance, not just to those whom we love but also to those who for one reason or another may have earned our dislike or even our enmity.

One of the most alarming tendencies that I have observed is the tendency to disregard Jesus’ teaching and example for a particular political outlook. The failure of the local church to adequately disciple its members and other attendees has provided a fertile ground for this development. A recent Barna report notes that a large segment of population that identifies itself as Christian and evangelical holds beliefs and values that that conflict with what Jesus taught and modeled. This raises questions about whether this population segment are genuine disciples of Jesus. A disciple closely follows the teaching and example of the one that he regards as his teacher.

True followers of Jesus have only one loyalty. It is to Jesus and to his teaching and example. Jesus did not encourage his disciples to become involved in worldly politics. What he did teach was that they should first seek the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. When we become too involved in worldly politics, it is apt to take the place of Jesus in our hearts. It shapes our thoughts and actions and not Jesus’ teaching and example.

In his teaching Jesus placed an emphasis upon forgiveness and reconciliation. He taught that if we are unwilling to extend forgiveness to others, we should not expect God to extend forgiveness to us. We should not hang onto grudges or nurture ill-will in our hearts. We should make every effort to be reconciled with anyone with whom we have had a falling out.

Following Jesus his way and not our own may make us unpopular in some circles. However, Jesus did not promise his followers popularity. He warned that our faithfulness to him, his teaching, and his example might turn others against us.

Jesus emphasized the important of obedience to God’s will over position, business acumen, wealth, and the other things that the world holds in high regard. He taught that his words were God’s words—what he had heard from God, and therefore keeping his words was obeying God’s will. Those who obeyed God’s will were his close kin, the children of the Most High.

While Jesus at times withdrew to a deserted place in order to pray, he did not teach his disciples to withdraw from the world. Rather he taught that they should be light, salt, and leaven in the world. Through the winsomeness of their gentle words, their kindly deeds, and their generosity, they would exercise a positive influence on the world around them and inspire others to become his disciples. A witness that embodies Jesus’ teaching and example is something that we may need to relearn in our day if we are to gain a hearing for the gospel.

Wednesday's Catch: An Estimated One in 100 Americans Infected with COVID-19 Coronavirus and More

More than 3 Million people in U.S. Estimated to Be Contagious with the Coronavirus

More than 3 million people in the United States have active coronavirus infections and are potentially contagious, according to a new estimate from infectious-disease experts tracking the pandemic. That number is significantly larger than the official case count, which is based solely on those who have tested positive for the virus. Read More

Covid-19 in the US: Is This Coronavirus Wave the Worst Yet?

Americans may have tuned out of coronavirus news as they focused on the outcome of the presidential election, but the pandemic has quietly been getting worse in the country. Read More

Map: The Coronavirus Risk for a Big Thanksgiving Dinner in Your Community

About 40 percent of Americans plan to attend a Thanksgiving gathering with 10 or more people, one study finds. Read More

Don't Rely on a Negative Test Result to See Your Family for Thanksgiving

If you think a negative test result means you don't have coronavirus, you could be wrong. It can take days before a new infection shows up on a Covid-19 test. Read More

CDC Gives Thanksgiving Guidance about Singing and Pets

The public health organization issued updated recommendations to prevent superspreader gatherings. Read More

The FAQs: Are Fetal Cells Being Used in COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments?

Here is what you should know about fetal tissue cells and the ethical concern about using them to develop therapeutics and vaccines. Read More

11 Problems with Church Parking Lot

In these days of COVID, church parking lots have become more important; in fact, they’re where the worship service takes place in some cases. Here are some general parking lot problems I’ve seen, listed in no particular order. Read More

Every Parent is a Sunday School Teacher Now

With Sunday school canceled, it’s time for Christian parents to come good on those vows once affirmed in a baby dedication service—to ‘discipline and instruct’ our children in the ways of the Lord. In most instances, no Sunday school means that either we parents assume the mantle of primary disciple-makers in the lives of our children or we abdicate our responsibility. But there will be no false middle. Now, every Christian parent in our church is a Sunday school teacher. Read More

Preach with Kindness

Recently I was guest preaching at a church, and a woman came up to me after the sermon and said to me, “You preach with such kindness.” I have not been able to shake that remark ever since (and not just because it was a compliment!). It seemed significant to me for a couple of reasons. Read More

Becoming Humble Interpreters of God’s Unchanging Word

In this final column, I offer a few suggestions to keep us from falling into either postmodern or modern error. Read More

4 Steps to Diffusing Social Media Tension

Jesus tells us the second commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). In the digitally-connected 21st century world, this commandment extends to loving our brothers and sisters across the globe. Yet this command may be difficult to keep in our increasingly politicized and divided world. This is especially true on social media. Read More

Your Prayers Are Requested.

I will not be posting an All Hallows Evening Prayer Service for this evening (November 18, 2020). It is finals week at Murray State University where I am a senior scholar student, studying Japanese. My Japanese 301 final is tomorrow. Due to vision problems I requested and received a special accommodation for the final. Please pray that I do well on the final, particularly that my working memory and my long-term memory do not fail me. Please also pray for my fellow students. Finals week can be a very stressful time for university students. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Tuesday's Catch: Online Sermons and More

The Forgotten Element of Many Online Sermons

If you’re still doing online sermons, preach the gospel, and then provide a way for viewers to respond. Read More

What the Rise of Digital Handouts on Venmo and Cash App Says about Our Fraying Social Safety Net

Digital handouts on social media that help people make everyday ends meet point to the power and generosity of online communities. At the same time, they represent yet another sign that there are deep holes in America’s social safety net. Read More

Understanding (Not Exaggerating) the Distance Between Us and the Bible

How can we acknowledge the impact of “preunderstanding” in our Bible reading and also work toward genuine knowledge of the text’s meaning? Read More

7 Reasons Digital Prayer Meanings Can Be Positive

While I’m not arguing that all of our prayer meetings should be online, I do believe we can share prayer times that way. Here are some reasons why.... Read More

Monday's Catch: Building Better Relationships with Your Community and More

4 Strategies for Winning Over Those Hostile to the Gospel--and Your Church

How can a church impact those who are simply “turned off” to religion and have no felt need to attend a Sunday morning service? Read More

Great advice for better times. How might we use it in our times?

What Are Going to Do with Christmas

You don’t need to shutter Christmas just because of a pandemic! Think outside the box and come up with ways to really celebrate this season. Here are a few things to get your creative juices going. Please add to the comments ways you have determined to move forward with Christmas music celebrations to share with others. There is so much we can learn from each other these days. Read More

When Words About God Become the Word of the Lord

Decades of listening to sermons have convinced me of these four truths. Read More

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (November 15, 2020)--True Freedom--Now Online

The link to this evening’s service is:

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2020/11/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_15.html#more

Please feel free to share this link with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

Previous services are online at:

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

Saturday Lagniappe: Is Politics Becoming Your Religion and More

3 Warning Signs Politics Is Becoming Your Religion

Clearly as Christians we do not want our politics to become our religion. We want to engage politically because we care for our country, because we pray for our leaders, and because we know the policies that are set impact people and the places we live and love. But we don’t want politics to become our dominant belief system, the thing that captures our hearts and drives us. So, how can we recognize the drift in our own hearts? How do we know if politics has become our religion or is becoming our religion? Here are three warning signs.... Read More

How To Lead People Toward Grace And Peace In An Anxious Time

I often hear this phrase, “It’s getting kinda crazy out there.” The unsettling nature of our current culture, after time, affects the disposition of your soul. It wears you down. We can barely notice it at times because it’s nearly a constant. It’s most often described as subtle low-grade anxiety of the soul. And some would say it’s not so subtle. Yet we are called to lead people into the love of God and the unity of peace. How do we do that with so much division? Read More 

What Is Sustainable Living

According to Green Matters, sustainable living is “a lifestyle that aims to reduce one’s environmental impact, in ways that are sustainable both for the Earth and for the person.” With more and more research indicating potentially devastating effects from global climate change, many individuals are making changes — big and small — in their daily lives to live more sustainably. Read More

10 Ways to Ignite Fervent Prayer in your Small Group

Praying in a small group can be intimidating for those who haven’t done it before. You’d be surprised how many people are not used to praying out loud with other people around them listening in. This is an essential spiritual practice for all believers to develop because agreement in prayer among two or more believers sparks the outworking of God’s will on earth as it is in heaven and strengthens the community of His Church (Matthew 18:18-20). As the small group leader, you can ignite a passion for prayer in your group by engaging in these practices.... Read More

How can we agree in prayer if we do not hear the prayer of our fellow Christians? To God it does not matter if our prayers are halting and unpolished. What matters to God is that we share our joys and our sorrows, our concerns and our needs with him.

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (November 14, 2020)-- The Sign of Jonah--Now Online

The link to this evening’s service is: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2020/11/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_14.html#more

Please feel free to share this link with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

Previous services are online at: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

Stay Safe This Upcoming Holiday Season

 

I have organized this list of articles into categories so you can go to the articles that may address your most immediate concerns. I sifted my bookmarks for what I thought might be the most helpful articles and then sifted them again. The information contained in these articles I hope will help you make informed decisions during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming holiday season. 

1. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve

Your Thanksgiving quarantine starts today. Here's what to do

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/12/health/when-to-quarantine-thanksgiving-wellness/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1QIsdKCo4v24Gf_MTj0oFcdbFky_IHBhNF837CdBzGTwfOE4-6Rh9UhJw

Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween

2. Transmission of the COVID-19 Coronavirus

How Does COVID-19 Spread Differently Than The Flu?

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/covid-spread-differently-flu_l_5f908cdbc5b62333b24195f4

CDC expands definition of who is a ‘close contact’ of an individual with covid-19

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/21/coronavirus-close-contact-cdc/

Unborn babies can be infected in the womb.

Covid-19 patients infect half of household: US govt study

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/covid-19-patients-infect-half-of-household-us-govt-study/ar-BB1ay8MX

3. High Risk Places for Infection

'Not out of the woods': CDC says large gatherings are a high COVID-19 risk, 'strongly encourages' face masks

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/06/12/cdc-guidelines-coronavirus-opening-up-large-gatherings-face-masks-covid-19/3175519001/

COVID Spreads Quickly Here, Warns CDC

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/covid-spreads-quickly-warns-cdc-120230689.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmdsaWNhbnNhYmxhemUuYmxvZ3Nwb3QuY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGCd2M9cvE6KrFooOvXpVZJ5mKXVO6hCuCX7k3my8eONHk994xv-Cmh1exM2W6nJao4xyHfMVuwbPFBMqZGpFPK9eGNtNT86jLqxyPD2H9vlLy_EQwgDYIArtZ_LL55dDzjmITS0HjeR8m2y7uVOk9Brv0E-kuY5KmSw8hv_9O-E

In places you're most likely to catch Covid-19, reducing crowds can help

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/10/health/covid-19-modeling-high-risk-places-study-wellness/index.html

4. General Precautionary Measures

7 tips for staying safe as COVID-19 cases rise and colder weather heightens the risk

https://theconversation.com/7-tips-for-staying-safe-as-covid-19-cases-rise-and-colder-weather-heightens-the-risk-146981

8 ways to go out and stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic

https://www.vox.com/21262268/coronavirus-tips-covid-social-distancing-harm-reduction?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200526&instance_id=18775&nl=the-morning&regi_id=121985473&segment_id=29152&te=1&user_id=df6e771661d9d3253dc883f874831222

This article was written at the time states were reopening. With the United States experiencing the second wave of the pandemic, present conditions should be considered in following its advice.

Q & A for Consumers | Hand Sanitizers and COVID-19

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/qa-consumers-hand-sanitizers-and-covid-19

5. Additional Precautionary Measures for the Immunocompromised

If You Are Immunocompromised, Protect Yourself From COVID-19

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/immunocompromised.html

This is good advice for households that have one or more members who have a pre-existing condition.

6. Social Distancing

What a smoky bar can teach us about the ‘6-foot rule’ during the COVID-19 pandemic

https://theconversation.com/what-a-smoky-bar-can-teach-us-about-the-6-foot-rule-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-145517

6 feet may not always be enough distance to protect from COVID-19, new report suggests

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/6-feet-may-not-always-be-enough-distance-protect-covid-n1238083

6 social distancing mistakes that may be putting you at risk for COVID-19

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/6-social-distancing-mistakes-that-may-be-putting-you-at-risk-for-covid-19/ar-BB13hqoZ?ocid=DE_20200428_ENUS_coronavirus_5

Social distancing: How to persuade others it works

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200402-covid-19-how-to-convince-others-social-distancing-works

Face masks, social distancing, and other precautionary measures have become so politicized in the United States that persuading others that these precautionary measures work may prove difficult. However, the onset of the pandemic’s second wave may make some people more amenable to reason.

7. Cleaning and Decontamination of Living and Work Spaces

How Long Does Covid-19 Coronavirus Last On Different Surfaces?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2020/05/24/how-long-does-covid-19-coronavirus-last-on-different-surfaces/?sh=225f7fe75948

An Australian study found that under controlled laboratory conditions the COVID-19 coronavirus could survive on surfaces even longer than reported in this article.

Coronavirus: These products work best to kill the virus

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/clean-kill-coronavirus-covid19-safety-health/

Cleaning Products Can Kill The COVID-19 Virus. Here's What to Use in Your House

https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-the-expert-advice-on-which-cleaning-products-to-use-against-coronavirus

8. Grocery Shopping

There's One Main Way to Contract COVID-19 When Grocery Shopping, CDC Says

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/theres-one-main-way-contract-130506142.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&uh_test=2_15

How to Stay Safe at the Grocery Store During Coronavirus Outbreak

https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2020/safety-grocery-shopping.html?cmp=SL-DSO-OUTBRAIN-HEALTH-CORONA-RSSFEED_Avoiding+Coronavirus+While+Grocery+Shopping_0075b76d20a4b7325ace0170f3ca7ab4cb_CNN&dicbo=v1-c2f8e6a0e9402b9aa64d129836779404-00b0d91fea41c4b1db6f9822c0399f54d7-mnrdgmrvga4tmljxge3dqljugfswcljzgmytallcgrrtiyzzhe3wgmtehe

9. Use of Public Restrooms

How to Avoid Germs in Public Restrooms During the Pandemic

https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2020/public-bathroom-safety-coronavirus.html?cmp=SL-DSO-OUTBRAIN-DESK-HEALTH-HEALTHRSS-MIXED-CPC_7+Tips+to+Avoid+Germs+in+a+Public+Bathroom+During+COVID_00c2a11f1c7c14fc4e463322ea2cc25949_CNN&dicbo=v1-8e4b2f5a10432aa0c0462af2001dec88-00b0d91fea41c4b1db6f9822c0399f54d7-mnrdgmrvga4tmljxge3dqljugfswcljzgmytallcgrrtiyzzhe3wgmtehe

Thursday's Catch: Preach On

3 Reasons We Must Preach on the Image of God

Christians believe human beings were created in the image of God. Yet most of us, I would venture to say, have little idea of what that means and why it matters. Read More

Seven Ways To Preach Christ From the Old Testament

It doesn’t take long in a conversation about preaching Christ before someone says “Are you just trying to find Jesus under every rock?” Arguably, the bigger problem in Evangelical preaching is finding no Christ where it turns out Christ was the rock (1 Cor 10:4). Nonetheless, it’s a good question at root: how do we preach Christ in the Old Testament? But there’s a bigger problem at stake. Read More

How Do We Explain the Slaughter of the Canaanites?

Understanding one of the most difficult topics in the Bible. Read More

Sermon Prep for the Non-Vocational Preacher

I work really hard to prepare any sermon or presentation. I’ve never considered myself a natural public speaker, so I don’t wing anything. So what do I do? Today, I thought I’d share a bit about what my current process looks like.... Read More

Preunderstanding and Postmodernism: 3 Principles for Bible Interpretation

In this article and the next two, I offer principles that should guard us from both of these errors. The goal is to become better Bible readers who will not fall prey to philosophies (whether modern or postmodern) that undercut our commitment to the authority of God’s Word. Read More