5 reasons why your church members disagree on when to reopen

Christian Post ^ | 05/27/2020 | Thom S. Rainer

[SeekAndFind]

It has become a common theme at Church Answers. We are hearing from pastors and other church leaders about members who have divergent opinions on the timing for regathering the in-person services.

No surprise here.

It might be helpful, however, to understand the reasons behind the disagreements. We see five major themes.

1. Strong extroverts and strong introverts will have major disagreements on timing. The reason is obvious. The extrovert is dying to resume interaction with fellow church members. He or she thrives on in-person gatherings and conversations. The strong introvert, however, has done well seeing few people and interacting with few people during the quarantine. I fit the latter category.

1. Different church members have different sources of authority on the coronavirus. Some of it could be related to political leanings. For others, it could be connected to the type of news that comes through social media. For some, they listen to certain friends and family members. In case you haven’t noticed, there are a lot of different opinions out there.

1. Age and health can be factors of divergent opinions. Two of the common themes about COVID-19 have been the vulnerability of the older population and those with underlying conditions. It would not be unexpected for those two groups to be more likely to prefer a later opening than an earlier opening. One of my sons has chronic asthma. I worry about him returning to in-person services too soon.

1. Parents with children may decide to wait. Most churches will not segregate the children from the adult worship services at the onset of the regathering. Some parents will be hesitant to bring the kids to the worship services for health reasons and for fear of disruption.

1. Attitudes toward change affect opinions about regathering. For example, if a change resistant church member learns that the church must have additional services for social distancing, he or she may prefer to wait until the church can return to “normal.” Change-receptive church members, however, are often eager to try new services and new ideas. They will be ready to return and experiment with the new approaches.

It’s cliché for you pastors and church leaders to hear, but you can’t please everyone all the time. Take the path you deem is best for the church and for the health of those who will attend. Listen to voices of wisdom. And pray that God will honor your decision and protect everyone involved.

This piece was first published at Church Answers

Thom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers, an online community and resource for church leaders. Prior to founding Church Answers, Rainer served as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources.

[delta7]

Sorry, I am compelled to reply. Let me see if I understand your misguided point. Support government funded abortion, government decree to remove the Bible from schools, government enacted laws to support gay marriage. Me thinks you have lost your way.

[Drango]

I don't care if your God is saying that you should pick up snakes. Go for it. The only one harmed is likely you.

1 Peter 2:16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,

I do care if you are potentially spreading a plague under the name of Jesus. That is evil.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

5 reasons why your church members disagree on when to reopen

There is only one reason. Because an church is made up of individuals. Which means they all have different opinions.

There you go. I just saved you fifteen minutes of reading.

[delta7]

Wow, I am again compelled to reply. Define pandemic, epidemic, ....Epidemics are death rates approaching 7 percent, pandemics much less. I find it simply amazing how a flu with a 0.2 percent death rate( pandemic) has scared the living snot out of Christians! Never before in the history of mankind has FEAR alone destroyed a world economy. Fact is Christians that preceded us were strong Christians unlike today. Acts 5:29 ,” We must obey God instead of men”. From this day forward I have realized how the evil one gains control of the world in the later days so easily. Fear. Unbelief.
Little/ No Faith. You would do well to read Acts 5, the Apostles beaten by the council, told not to preach, but they continued to return to the CHURCH EVERYDAY and preach. What is it you do not understand about being fearful?

[Drango]

If God is calling you to cut off your hand and pluck out your eye, who am I to stand in His way?

[Persevero]

We are all always potentially spreading a plague. Viruses are constantly circulating. There is nothing new here.

If we can only go to church if we are certain we carry nothing that could possibly kill anyone then we can never go to church.

[BereanBrain]

Hebrews 10:25, KJV: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Exodus 1:Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16“When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”

17The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live. 18So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

19The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”

20So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous. 21And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.

[cloudmountain]

It is. But the local bishops also need to adhere to the state’s civil law.

Wouldn't you assume that the local bishops WOULD adhere to the state's civil law?

Laws are formed from morals/ethics.