What will the church look like after the pandemic?
Honestly, the first question needs to be, “
How has the pandemic shifted global thought of the church?
” The second question should be, “
What if our Lord decides this is the first of many pandemics to come?
”
Soon you will begin to hear
the term “New Norm.” It is not a random term trending on the internet. It’s a calculated phrase substantiated by real-time facts. As all fact-finding researchers are carefully reviewing the facts, each realizes the church, corporations, nations, and the global community will never be the same.
I have done my homework. I’m not ignorant of the possibility of the COVID-19 mutating into more potent strains of the virus. A leading scientist, professor Li Lanjuan, has discovered 30 new mutation strains from the SARS2/COVID-19 virus. Once, or if, the second group of scientists confirms these findings, they will announce to the world Li Lanjuan’s conclusions are substantiated. It is safe to say none of us can project the outcome of these new findings. What we can state is – the church (organization) and the Body of Christ (organism) had better be ready for multiple waves of global crisis.
Why is it that Christians who know better, put their heads in the sand?
It is safe to say that the world as a whole
is interested in one thing, getting through the pandemic of the COVID-19 virus. The problem with this kind of elementary thinking, it promotes ignorance and fear. Responsible thinkers always check the data behind mainstream topical announcements and news. We then take that data and look into the future for preparational purposes. I can assure you people are given minimal data to keep them from panicking. My research buddy says, “
How do you control a global pandemic? You lie a little
.” No truer words.
Even people with a minimum understanding of the end-times knows things are not going to get better but worse. Self-proclaimed Christians who are ignorant or purposely avoid this fact, are the first to meltdown into a panic. God does not adjust His prophecies to accommodate the people. He speaks Truth, warns His people well in advance, and then offers an eternal respite. As long as a superficial thinker focuses on the present crisis, he/she will never be able to embrace the horrid things coming around the corner. Do you remember the Then Plagues God used to get the attention of Pharaoh? It wasn’t one global crisis; it was ten. The tenth sealed the deal! I call it a layered crisis. For those who understand the methods God uses throughout living history to get the attention of the people, they know it’s accomplished in waves of crisis.
Our latest global pandemic
is the first of its kind. Past epidemics, i.e., Ebola, were not actual pandemics that lockdown the world. The primary difference between pre and post-pandemic Christian thinking - this is the first time fake and real Christians have watched God move upon the masses at one time. History proves the people could manage the top 20 pandemics by refocusing on localized comfort – each able to discard its impact by keeping the story in foreign lands.
Up to this point, the “church” was able to avoid the Lord’s discipline if they so choose. Global pandemics command the attention of all people at one time. We know that the “red thread” of eschatology is God commanding attention. The question worth reviewing is, “
Has the Lord shifted His discipline from local to global?”
If so, why? Since most believers avoid the study of eschatology, they become trapped by the present.
In studying the patterns within prophecies
, one fact stands out among the rest. God always shifts to global when a global prophecy needs introducing to His timeline. The pattern reveals four dominant predictors.
One
, He obtains the attention of the masses.
Two
, He warns the masses of what is about to occur.
Three
, He orders repentance as an act of GRACE – to preserve those that indeed did repent.
Four
, He sets the global stage for His enactment of pre-established prophecies. These predictors are demonstrated throughout the Word.
The
Quadrants of Prophecies
are crucial in applying “resting in Christ” during a pandemic. Fact. Rest comes when an individual releases control to the Creator. Unrest proves the believer is covertly asking God to change eschatology to subdue their anxious thoughts. Internally knowing that He will NOT, they put their heads in the sand. If you review living history, you will notice God never adjust His eternal timeline for the people who fear – never. He simply offers rest through repentance in and through Christ Jesus.
Allow me to give you a real-time perspective
. The highly respected UN advisor, Gordon Brown, recently proposed to establish a one-world government. His logic? It would be more accessible to lock down the world as a whole during a pandemic IF there was one single leader. The UN approved his idea. Mr. Brown then took it to the G20 leaders. They agreed. The big “but” was the top mega power countries would have to sign on. Our President said, “not on my watch.” BUT, if a socialist type leader took over our country, this could change – quickly.
My point is this. There would not be active discussions and decisions made on a Biblically-based prophecy without this pandemic. God knows Satan will be the first and only one-world leader for seven years. So…why wouldn’t He set the stage for it?
Now let’s pretend
God is attempting to get the attention of the people dwelling on the earth. You know, offering each a last-chance for a revival of authentic salvation. Hum, let’s see, how could He do that? Maybe through a series of viruses and global implosions that require them to separate, isolate, experience panic, and dependence. Yeah. That would do it.
Uncontrollable pandemics silence the positive possibility thinkers.
Now. Let’s look at the church
. The reason our focus should not be on what the church will look like after pandemic is simple. The Church is the Body of Christ. It is NOT a building, online telecast, or mega movement of God. It is the humble representation of the authentic believers.
Simply put, it is the individual Bridal members of Christ, who received His Life through the Holy Spirit. Gathering as a group doesn’t form a church. A fellowship, yes, but not a church. Every authentic believer could be completely separated from each other, and Christ would still have His Church.
What if Jesus Christ is offended
by what the people have revisioned as His Church? What if Christ is offended by the pressure pastors are placing on their people to fund their mega-ministries? What if He loathes the idea of selling His Gospel for profit? What if He abhors the madness of authors and pastors copyrighting the Spirits works – blocking others from using these revelations? Do you think He would come and “flip a few tables” to make His point? Count on it. He is doing this today.
Fact, after the pandemic, odds are, people will refrain from giving their cherished dollars to gold plated churches and mega ministries thriving off of poverty-stricken people. It is my prediction that the believer can say “good-bye” to the “church” as we see it today. I also predict that donor dollars will shift to organizations that protect humanity.
While many believers are doing their best
to continue to finance their churches, online studies reveal that “
church-based givers are moving donations to generalized humanity organizations
.” Every secular organization that helps people in crisis will benefit from the restless church attenders. Through our pandemic, people, in general, can see the difference their donor dollar is making on their communities. And they like it. We see today that the secular community of unbelievers are more willing to give and care for their community than their church counterparts. It’s a fact. What we see during our pandemic is heartbreaking. The unsaved are having their doubts confirmed regarding the selfishness of the Christian church. What will the outcome be? It is of my estimation that we will see an actual “
separation of the goats and the sheep
,” the fake from the authentic - another prophetic event that must take place.
Our present pandemic has required all to curb the spread of the coronavirus. This single act forced many believers to attend online services, and one study shows church life following the pandemic could look markedly different than it did before. Bad news for the churches? Nope. The Center for Bible Engagement (CBE) conducted a survey this month revealing that 62% of churches report having higher attendance for their online worship services than they did with their conventional in-house church services held before the outbreak.
Here is the kicker.
Despite populated online attendance during the pandemic, church contributions are down - significantly. CBE further states, "
When it comes to tithing, 42% say that giving is worse than before the pandemic, while 33% say giving is about the same
." Not for long. The trending movement – church attenders no longer feel bullied into giving. Most pastors have become high-pressured salesmen. Worse yet, they abuse their congregants to pay for big salaries, buildings, and campaigns that rarely produce transformed lives. Secular and Christians alike are catching on to the schemes of the mainstream church. The new norm of the online church frees the people to give to ministries that are authentically transforming them.
Yes. It’s true. The lion’s share of pastors is experiencing tremendous anxiety. Each is fearful of losing their financial stability, health insurance, and other financial luxuries previously held. Plus, they struggle with the realistic fact that many congregants will not return to their churches.' Not considering the probability that this virus could resurface in waves, which will require their people opting instead to stay safe behind their computer screens while watching services online at home. Final fear. Congregants of most churches are shifting their loyalty to online pastors and ministries NOT associated with their fellowship(s). Fact, these fears are not only relevant but confirmed by many researchers.
Which and what pastors have the most to lose?
The mega pastors. One of the mega-churches I consulted revealed their annual budget. Their budget was so expansive it would fulfill the yearly budget of many third-world countries. Do you find something wrong with this picture? While I have compassion for the predictable losses of these mega-churches, I maintain that many of America’s churches have been irresponsible with the tithing monies of the Lord. We went from “selling our houses” to save the lost to prostituting God’s people to build more prominent gold-plated churches. God is in the process of fixing this problem.
“Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon; nothing will be left,' says the LORD.”
(Isaiah 39:6)
"Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. "You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!”
(Malachi 3:8-9)
Seriously, has the lion’s share of our churches robbed God?
Have we spent His money on gold-plated towers of Babel? Have we revisioned God’s Holy Church by justifying outlandish church expenditures? I say an affirmative, yes.
As Christians travel the lands of Europe, most are shocked by the numerous cathedrals emptied of authentic Christians and filled with shops. What happened? You won’t like this but, after several epidemics that put people on food lines, most shifted their giving to secular benefactors who helped fill their tummies. History reveals, most never returned to these idolized places of stained glass cathedrals again – paid for by brow-beating their people. Within months, these cathedrals became empty, sold to businesses, and now are fascinating places to have a cup of coffee. Worse yet, within a few short years, Europe became known for being the darkest spiritual environment on the planet.
Could the same thing happen to American churches or throughout the world?
It already is.
Jesus’s original method of “church” was gathering the Saints under trees, in caves, and hidden places within homes. I believe we call that “home-church.” It was only months ago that home fellowships were considered – not real “churches.” The irony, almost every church attendee today are forced to have “church” at home. Now…don’t call them home-churches, or you might get labeled a “mini-cult.” When people insult God’s authentic, He obligates Himself to prove to the accuser of being of the “accuser of the brethren” - Satan. A fact.
God is restoring His Son’s Bridal members to His original methods of worship, giving, and teaching. He expects nothing but perfection. Thank God this perfection can be tapped by inheriting the Life of Jesus Christ.
Our world is filled with fake
news, fake believers, fake churches, fake teachers, and fake prophets. It is challenging to find the real deal in a post-truth era/culture. We live in a culture where what was once right is wrong, and what was wrong is right. Once people flip God’s Truths upside wrong, a new kind of method is needed to gain the attention of such a post-truth group. The logic behind this? The Truth no longer carries the sting for conversion.
Which pastors and fellowships have the most to gain?
Pastors of home-fellowships. I am not speaking with a “forked tongue.” I am the pastor of a home-fellowship. On a “good” Sunday, we have had up to 50 people. Since I am active in international affairs, I asked God to give me a method to reach the confused world. He answered. God imparted to me the idea of integrating our online ministry with our local fellowship. We did. We now serve thousands around the globe each week through our webcast and podcast system - all while I teach the Truth to a small group in our home. Only to brag in Christ, we serve 2.1 million annually through our online outreach from our remote home in Sterling, Kansas. The future belongs to this modality. Just ask the Chinese believers.
So. What will the church look like
after this particular pandemic? I hope we never return to what we had. If it takes waves of epidemics, wars, and national implosions, so be it. We should all pray that the next movement that sweeps the world is a revival, a second reformation, maybe even the announcement from our great King & Savior –
“Yes, I am coming quickly.”
(Rev. 22:20)
