The Church and COVID-19 Exit Strategy

Noah and his family experienced what seems to us as the first recorded lockdown in the Ark, but even that came to an end. And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro until the waters were dried up from off the earth, (Genesis 8:6-7). The ongoing coronavirus pandemic will come to an end. The main issue is when and who should determine when to come out of the lockdown safely. If the society is kept in a prolonged lockdown the outcome would be starvation and economic ruin. If the lockdown is opened up prematurely coronavirus will continue in circulation perpetually killing people. Hence there is an optimal strategy to exit from the lockdown. Who is in the best position to know this optimum exit time, the politicians, the scientists or the prophets of God, or all of them working together? Unfortunately, the present world has annihilated the Church through persecution, disbelief of prophecy, disregard for the work of the Holy Spirit, or running its hidden liberal agenda. With coronavirus pandemic, the world is left with empty pews in every community. 

There are several categories of having more empty pew at church than used pews. The ongoing case, where because of COVID-19 pandemic, large gatherings are disallowed, leaving entire church like our popularly known Arena of Liberty of SCOAN empty. Other cases include those caused by lack of church growth, bad leadership of anyone pastor, or group of leaders, or strange doctrine that cause members to stay away leaving empty pews during service. The Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, is not used to any of these categories whereby Senior Prophet TB Joshua will be speaking to empty pews, until now. Perhaps this is the new normal and every Church Organization may have to live with this new normal by changing their strategy. But in every circumstance, God must give the direction and God will have something to say.

In this very liberal and carnal world how do we know the underlying problem and how do we get back a world without the coronavirus? The politicians and scientists are working together and giving daily briefs. Whilst the politicians are on the defence of their economy under ruin most often the scientists are afraid to bring out an incorrect model that may lead to repeated waves of infections and repeated waves of lockdowns or cycles of deaths. In the days of Prophet, Elijah  King Ahaziah fell through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria and was sick (2 Kings 1:2). Like today the king sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether he would recover of his disease. Prophet Elijah intercepted the king's messengers on their way because the prophet knew that the solution would come from the God of Israel. 

Prophet Elijah said, ".....is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? ..." (2 Kings 1:16). In our generation, we may not have Elijah but we task those we have, prophet TB Joshua, others and the rest of us to know that the time we are passing through demands our constant prayer and fasting pleading for God's mercy and favour. For example, the community was lockdown when the number of infected people was low. Does anyone think it reasonable to open the society now that the number of cases is still growing?

We are waiting for an order to open the Churches so that people may pray as they please.  Meanwhile, everyone ought to know that the Church of God is not a building that may be locked down because of COVID-19. The Church of God is not locked down, because whether you are a family or you are alone, let the Church in your house PRAY, read the BIBLE, and WORSHIP God. The very gate of hell or COVID-19 cannot stop us. 

Jesus talking and reassuring us about the Church He built in our hearts said, "...  the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", (Matthew 16:18). Overall the Church of Christ is a major shareholder in all world affairs and we should listen to the word of holy prophets.

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria