Coronavirus Update

The Council of Seven has discussed our options the last few days. We with saddened hearts have determined we will postpone our Annual Bible Conference and Business Meeting that was scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, March 19th and 20th.

We are waiting for dust to settle to reschedule the meeting. We will give ample announcement of the new date and time when we have information to provide. I took the time this morning to type some things to keep in mind when a believer faces crises.  I hope it is a blessing to you.

Pastor Aron Schrepfer

We Desire to have a Biblical Response

By Aron M. Schrepfer

How do we respond as Christians during time of difficulties, trials, and in this case, crises? We won’t discuss the science of the virus or anything of that nature. The World Health Organization states we are facing a ‘Global Pandemic’. Some in public have responded in panic and selfishness. Whether COVID-19 is stopped next week or next year, we still are in a crisis mode as a society and globally. I want to address our Biblical response to crisis in a few areas. This is how we should respond:

In Faith not Fear

Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10
  • He is Present (“I am with thee”)
  • He is Personal (“I am thy God”)
  • He is powerful (“I will strengthen thee,…”)

Our Faith isn’t an unrealized impersonal god out there. Our Faith is founded in God creator of all, ruler of all, sustainer of all.
(See Col 1:15-18.)

In Trusting the Lord, don’t test the Lord

 Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Deuteronomy 6:16

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Matthew 4:5

We do take many precautions in life. From taking medication to wearing our seat belts and so on. This is an area we can take precautions. I know some would choose to practice this in different ways, but this is how we are choosing to respond at this time.

By sharing the Gospel

We understand this is expressed in other portions of Scripture as hope. We have the hope (earnest expectation) of Salvation.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Peter 3:15

Think of the opportunity we have! People will naturally be thinking about their own mortality. They will be wondering is there an eternity after this life? We are all reminded of the reality of death. It will happen to all at some time in some way. Save the rapture for those believers alive when it happens.

By loving one another

There are two parts here:

  • Our love for fellow believers
  • Showing Christ’s love toward others

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Romans 12:9

This brotherly love is truly the picture of kinship. We are family so we love one another as family, even if we have some disagreements.

Showing Christ’s love toward others:

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 4 1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

2 Corinthians 3:18

This is one of my favorite passages for showing the ministry we are to have as believers. The chapter break here is unfortunate. In that we often end at chapter 3 and don’t continue to chapter 4 in our thought. The end of Chapter 3 shows the work of God’s Word in our life and how the Holy Spirit uses that in our growth. We who are beholding the glory of the Lord in His Word are then changed, and that is done though the work of the Holy Spirit. Then 4:1 shows we have this ministry! We are to reflect Christ to others through our testimony in the same manner that God’s Word reflects Christ to us. God’s Word is a glass (mirror) unspotted and very clear. We need to endeavor to make sure our mirror which is reflecting Christ is as unspotted as possible.

Then chapter 4 continues to demonstrate what happens if we hide the gospel. We remember this from singing the song “This Little Light of Mine.”

By praying for God’s purposes to be accomplished

We see so often in the NT that the Apostles prayed that God would accomplish His work. This is in a spiritual manner in man’s heart.

 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Ephesians 6:18

What a great opportunity we have. Are you praying that God will use this to save thousands in this country? Pray for one another. Pray for opportunity to share Christ with others.

Don’t neglect our giving to the Lord

It isn’t a fun topic to talk about. Finances are for some about as close to home and personal as we can get. The ABA (camp) still will have expenses. We also need to take the opportunity to continue to provide for our camp director.

Don’t neglect your own church’s needs. Even if you aren’t meeting together as often or in a modified way, bills still come. During times like this there likely will be even greater opportunities to be able to help others with needs.

Don’t place that burden on your pastor and his family. We might all be tightening our belts. In the news we are reminded of those people in the food industry, those that rely on the tourist industry, the fine arts as well. The world won’t remind us of our Biblical responsibility of providing for our pastors.  So I will take this opportunity to remind us all.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

1 Timothy 5:17

For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:9

Care for your pastors. Make sure their needs are being met. It is a joy for a pastor to see God providing through His people rather than in spite of His people. God always provides.

Final thought

Pastor Glass and I were talking about it this morning in light of this passage. God is in control. We can rejoice in Him no matter what. Even if it becomes worse than what we think.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom,

Neither shall fruit be in the vines;

The labour of the olive shall fail,

And the fields shall yield no meat;

The flock shall be cut off from the fold,

And there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength,

And he will make my feet like hinds’ feet,

And he will make me to walk upon mine high places.[1]

Habakkuk 3:17

[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version.) Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

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