As we shelter in place, we continue to be pilgrim disciples who are on a journey with Jesus. We are on the move (praying, learning, growing, loving, caring, and being the church). Contrary to some uninformed thinking, God cannot be quarantined. Jesus could not be quarantined in a sealed tomb. The Holy Spirit defied the establishment’s attempts to quench the Holy Spirit which cannot be quarantined. The Spirit has a way of breaking out whenever and wherever it wants to do so.
During this perilous time with its restrictions, I am reminded of a passage of scripture from the Book of Galatians (5:22-23):
… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and self-control.
The quarantine rules do not apply to the fruits of the Spirit. Whether we worship at home or in a house of worship, God is there. Your physical location does not determine the location of your spirit. The Holy Spirit transcends all boundaries and God does not allow the fruits of the Spirit to be quarantined. Over the years, I have proclaimed these words to the gathered church: Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the one true church, apostolic and universal… (See #885, UMH). Nothing can separate us from God’s abiding love. Jesus said: For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them (Matthew 18:20). With this assurance, for the time being, I am delighted to worship via virtual technology. By the way, didn’t God make this technology available for our use?
Praise be to God.
Think About It?
Bishop Ernest lyght.
No Quarantine!
