I've Been Thinking!

Dear Pastors

I’ve Been Thinking! (and no it didn’t hurt….too much).

What a day to be alive in NZ! Never in my wildest dreams would I have predicted this. Unprecedented, uncertain, unnerving and certainly disruptive.

I’ve read a lot of commentary since last week Friday’s announcement. I’m sure we all have. My own personal Facebook page ‘fired’ up over the weekend with 175 comments many of them thoughtful and well considered around the Vaccine Certificate issue.

I have been thinking (reading and conversing) a lot about essentially two questions:-

1. Is it ever right for a Government to mandate a health measure in Pandemic Times?
2. What is the true nature of the Christian Church?

The first question is fundamentally an ethical one and the second a theological one.

Here is my thinking to date and it is still evolving as I write this morning.

1. My answer is a qualified ‘Yes’. I have three proviso’s:-
   a) That the Government can clearly ‘prove’ that the particular health measure (in this case the vaccine mandate) is justified. In other words that the particular measure proposed is in proportion to the threat.
   b) That the science community particularly the independent science and medical community (experts) agree AND support the measure.
   c) That the mandate is recognised as an extraordinary response to an extraordinary circumstance and that once the threat has gone so the mandates are reviewed and if deemed no longer necessary they are removed. This is sometimes referred to as a ‘sunset clause’.
   Personally, I am satisfied with a) and b) above but not as yet with c). I would like to see reviews included in the new legislation (so it binds future Governments) and at least a public discussion around a sunset clause. My instinct is that this may become clear quite soon. So on that basis I agree with the vaccine mandates. And I agree that they should apply to Churches and all Religious gatherings.
2. The Church is the ‘Dwelling place of God’. The Church is the representation of Jesus on planet earth irrespective of language, culture, age, borders, etc. The Church is a living organism. History attests to the fact that the church is remarkably adaptive and resilient…..incredibly so. The Church is at her best when unfettered from institutional forms and is free to ‘design’ it’s life according to the circumstances and needs in front of her. In other words the Church can and should be the best at ‘pivoting’.

When all is said and done it’s fairly simple. The greater the manifestation of Jesus that is present amongst a community of God’s people the more powerful we will be. And here is our inspiration:-

A New Community-Acts 2:40-47 (NKJV)
“And with many other words he (Peter) testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this [perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved”.

I hold the view that once we have settled these two fundamental questions then the rest is a whole lot more straight forward. As we go forward I am in no doubt that churches that are autonomous will land in different places. Clearly small churches (which are the majority in NZ) will think about the issues differently to midsize churches which will be quite different again to large churches. Towns and cities and even regions with no or very little of the Delta variant present will think differently than those for whom it is ‘on the doorstep’. Churches with predominately an older congregation will think differently than those with a younger congregation. And so on and so on…….. The good news is that from where I sit most pastors by far are thinking hard, creatively and sensibly.

And the last word today goes to David Collins who has written a superb paper titled, Responding to the Pandemic – Biblically (Part 1)

“The early church was dynamic. Temple colonnades and houses, caves and catacombs, public buildings and open spaces - the believers learned to shape themselves around the conditions of their time. The State owed them nothing.

It took another three centuries before their place in society would be assured with basilicas and buildings to which people would gather for services. The State gave them rights - and everything changed”.

Blessings
Alan

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.