By Pastor Bob DeKlavon
On Saturday, my grandson and I met someone for the first time.
I naturally did what I have done 10 thousand time before—
I shook his hand!.....Gasp.
Honestly, I did not even think about it until after we were walking away.
I said to my grandson—“I had physical contact with someone I don’t know—what if I have the plague??”
We chuckled…yet….I did make sure I washed my hands thoroughly at the first opportunity.
Later that day, Jan and I visited the homes of the young children in our church.
In most places, we did not even get out of the car.
However, at one, we did—and without thinking, a young child came up and—quite naturally:
Gave me a hug!....Gasp again.
I did not think I had either gotten the virus or passed it on—
but it struck me as ‘odd’ that twice in one day I had physical contact with someone outside my family.
Isn’t it fascinating that in just two months, we have gotten skittish about something so basic?
When going to stores—do you make it a point to allow plenty of space between you and others?
If you get a bag of food or a receipt for a purchase—
do you make sure you wash your hands until they are raw?
Physical contact has become something that has entered a new realm for most of us.
Here now comes the dilemma for the church.
The governor has just said that Bible study groups under 10 can start meeting together.
{Maintaining social distancing, of course}.
At some point—Faith Bible will have decisions to make related to public worship services.
{Again—while maintaining safety decorum}.
I can tell you right now, we are going to have disagreements related to physical contact.
Do we have ‘non-touch’ zones for those who are will come but do not want touch?
Do we wear buttons that list with what touching we are okay? Handshakes? High 5? Light hug? Etc.
A fairly prominent minister just wrote about this potentially being something that divides the church.
Those who don’t mind touch can accuse others of: ‘having no faith.’
Those who don’t want touch can accuse others of: ‘being insensitive and unwise.’
Other than the command to: “greet one another with a holy kiss,” we are left to preferences.
And, when coming to preferences we are drawn to Romans 14.
Paul talks of 2 things that are not essentials of faith, but which can divide Christians from one another.
Some ate meat offered to idols and others did not.
Some regarded Sunday as more special while others regarded every day alike.
In Romans 14:5, Paul writes: “Let each person be fully convinced in their mind.”
In 14:23, I am paraphrasing what he writes when he says:
“if you believe as to what YOU should do is from the Lord —then do it.”
The bottom line is love. If you want to hug and someone else agrees—then do it.
If not—then do not judge those who think differently.
And, if you do not feel comfortable attending in the first place—that is alright too.
Just look forward to the day when we can hug and high 5 and shake hands and all the rest.
Although, I will say—I will still probably wash my hands ‘till they are raw’ for a long time.