In the midst of this coronavirus worldwide tragedy, “social distancing” is saving physical lives, literally. I have been trying to carry out social distancing to the max. Sacrificing money, convenience, and much else, could physically save someone’s life. A projection I heard today for continued deaths worldwide brought me to tears. The heroes in this nightmare tragedy include people, any people, who are carrying out social distancing as well as they can.
Now please read this carefully since I do not want this to be misconstrued, and there is a point to this. The only person who would not need to do any social distancing, if He was physically here, is Jesus.
The irony is that even in the face of leprosy, Jesus did not do social distancing:
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” (Mark 1:40-41)
Now if it was me, I would get as far away from the guy as possible, yet Jesus touched him.
Likewise, Jesus touched children:
“People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them…” (Mark 10:13)
I noticed during my years doing youth ministry that the more the years went on, the more careful us youth workers had to be about touching students, because sexual immorality consistently increased as the social norm in the U.S., thus marring the intention of a caring touch. Yet Jesus touched little children.
And how about Jesus spitting into dirt and then rubbing it on the eyes of a blind man. He was surely not modeling a practice for the rest of us on that one. Yet the blind man received his sight.
Jesus did not need to do social distancing since though He was fully human, He was also fully God, and He was able to heal people who were sick. Regarding social distancing now, all of us humans worldwide need to be carrying it out as able. However, there are messages from Jesus’ touching for us to learn from.
First, as I stated in my last piece, we need the spiritual touch of Jesus. Touching can be an expression of love, and Jesus loves us. For a person who gives his or her heart to Jesus, the Spirit of Christ will touch him or her in a spiritual manner.
Second, in this time of tragedy where many are dying and where many are suffering, which obliges us to avoid physical contact with people, we need to continue to look forward to the time when we can resume with social closeness. How do I know God wants social closeness? Why not simply have church online from now on? Just think of the benefits of listening to sermons in our pajamas while being able to fast forward though the boring parts of a sermon. And think of the money churches would save on facility bills. Simply note the ordinances which Jesus commanded. There is nothing virtual about them, rather they are relational and real. Baptism in water is relational and real. People taking bread and juice in a community setting is relational and real. Truly, we human beings were never created to be isolated from God or one another.
The coronavirus makes it necessary for all people to practice social distancing at this time until the danger of COVID 19 is over. When finally over, may we believers resume engaging in appropriate relational expression to people in the love of Jesus.
Hunter
