Nougat 23

We have a tendency as people to ensure that we satisfy our own needs before addressing any other situation around us. For the most part, this is good. It’s the logic behind the seatbelt and oxygen mask warning. But there are times and things that need to be given priority, even above ourselves and our needs. Especially God. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

““This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’” Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?” ‭‭Haggai‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Which Priority

In the height of Covid-19 Lockdowns, church attendance was one of the major casualties. Buildings stood empty while persons stayed home, as was fitting, given the expansiveness of contagion. In many spaces, people tried to prayerfully discern what the next step for practicing faith would be. The internet came to the rescue.

In short order, people gathered virtually, utilizing resources to accommodate the need to be connected. Online church and televangelism was the order of the day. Many technological resources that were previously inaccessible to the public became common fare. Despite increased access to God’s Word and to worship, when the lockdown eased, church attendance declined.

Part of this is due to persons being ‘Zoomed Out’, i.e., being fatigued from having to attend a plethora of online meetings, church being one of them. Others used the Lockdown as their alibi to leave church, they had perhaps wanted to leave and the Lockdown facilitated a smooth, unnoticeable exit. We cannot forget that Covid was no respecter of persons, and some casualties were church members.

The decline in attendance has had a stark effect in programs and programming. One very direct impact being the proportional reduction in giving. In one sense, this is logical – decline in numbers of adherents and members means decline in income received. But the follow up question for me is … where did the worshippers and the tithe go? Yes, I asked the question out loud.

My aim is not to guilt trip anyone, but when God is Lord of our lives, our actions ought to show it. The way we ought to meet as church needs to be revised and revived for sure. Yet, there needs to be fellowship, equipping saints for ministry, visible manifestation of God’s Spirit wherever and whenever we gather. Some worship spaces were museums, pubs, and shops of all sorts long before the Covid Lockdown, pointing to a decline in physical attendance and commitment. We scoffed at the decline, unable to fathom such a possibility in our spaces. Now it’s impacting more of us.

As believers, we must ask ourselves whether God has priority in our lives. Before spouses, children, parents, extended family, studies, work, recreation bills, and social media. You might be like me, feeling an ouch along the way. In many instances, we get preoccupied, or distracted, with one or the other of the aforementioned. Because of our shifting priorities, the work and witness of God is impacted.

Buildings are deteriorating, membership declines, and funding has reduced in ‘mainline’ churches; and we have not strategically impacted communities as we ought. Yet volunteers for secular work seems to have increased.

Could it be that there needs to be another way of being, like:

– repurposing our buildings so that they benefit the community when they’re not needed for worship;

– identifying ministry needs and sending teams to address them like Jesus did in Luke 9

– working with our members/leaders to creatively use our spiritual gifts and skills to re/build the houses of God

– keeping God as our main priority so that ministry is the vocation of the whole people of God, not only a select few?

May God be glorified as we revise our priorities, and restore God’s plans and purpose to their rightful place in our lives.

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May all we seek be found in Christ