Upcoming Services Suspended
Dear EBC Flock:*
We are postponing all our services, including our shepherding groups, through the end of March.
Why Are We Doing This?
On Sunday, March 15 at 4:00 pm, SC Governor Henry McMaster held a press conference to announce the closing of all schools through the end of March. Governor McMaster also stated: “I urge that public gatherings, both indoors and outdoors, be limited to 100 people or less.”
Since this directive is not directly targeting Christians or religious liberty but represents an effort to care for the people of our state, we are postponing all services during this time. This is one way we can “be subject to the governing authorities” and “love [o]ur neighbor” and fulfill God’s law (Rom. 13:1–10).
What Does This Mean?
First, a brief lesson in ecclesiology. The local church is a covenanted assembly of believers gathered together to worship God in one place (Heb. 10:24–25). What makes the assembly (the church) special, then, is when we actually assemble (Matt 18:15–20; 1 Cor 5:4–5). When we gather, we share in many means of grace that can’t happen while we are apart from one-another. In other words, you cannot truly meet as a church (which means assembly) if we are bodily apart from each other (not assembled together). This is one reason we don’t have something like a live web-broadcast or online video chatting on a regular basis; those teach something different than what the church actually is—a covenanted assembly of believers gathered together to worship God in one place.
Second, a recognition of our current state. We are in an extraordinary situation, a situation that has not happened to our nation or our local churches for 102 years, since the outbreak of the “Spanish Flu” in 1918. (Read here about how churches handled matters then.) What can we do during this extraordinary situation, when our “ox is in the ditch,” so to speak? While we cannot gather as the church, how can we stay connected as the church?
What’s next?
We’ll be in touch soon with further details; we’ll answer the questions, “What does this mean for Sundays?” and “What’s next?”
What Can We Do Until We Meet Again?
Be Forbearing—with one-another and with us as elders. Many things can push us to be impatient with each other, rather than to love each other. Let’s excel at patience and forbearance, even as Christ bears with us (Eph 4:1–3).
Be Loving. You all have always excelled at loving each other. The Lord has given us another chance to do so. We are his people, under his love. Let’s move out in love to one-another, bearing one-another’s burdens (John 13:34–35; Gal 6:1–2).
Be Creative. We are “to consider (give premeditated, planned thought) how to stir up one-another to love and good works” (Heb 10:24). You all do so well at this in so many ways. Let your imagination run wild on how you can show love to the members of our flock in creative ways. Call each other and pray together. Text each other. Go old-school and send a letter in the mail to each other. Start a YouVersion Bible reading group. Start a One-to-One Bible study, or continue your other Bible studies with EBC brothers and sisters. Get the point? Excel at fulfilling Hebrews 10:24.
Be Bold. Be ready to share the gospel now more than ever. Advance with the gospel. Pray. Make the most of every opportunity. We are living at this moment in history to show the love of Christ and to proclaim the love of Christ. Surely, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has fallen out for the furtherance of the gospel (Phil 1:12; Col 4:2–4).
Be Reflecting. Do not waste this once-in-a-century kind of providence. This is an extraordinary work of God. He has brought the world to a standstill. Don’t miss the magnitude of this moment (Ps 107:43). Be sober-minded and alert. Don’t binge-watch Netflix, or numb your mind with Facebook. Fill your mind with your mortality (Ps 90:3–12; 119:67, 72). Fill your mind with His terrifying power (Luke 12:4–5). Fill your mind with His personal providence (Luke 12:6–7). Fill your mind with His love (Rom 8:31–38).
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,
—Pastor Brad
*This is part of an email that was sent to EBC Members Sunday evening.