Blind Spots: Our Craving for Normalcy
Back in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, the cry of many Christians was, “I just want to get back to normal,” typically referring to church life. Some church leaders defied governmental directives not to meet in their buildings and continued meeting. Others tried to replicate as best they could via livestream what they normally did on Sunday mornings.
My wife and I, rather than wanting to return to normal, saw the pandemic as an opportunity for church leaders to pray and reflect on how their communities functioned. Were they a reflection of the Scriptures rather than the church culture or even the wider culture? Were they truly doing things that both honored the Lord and were expanding his kingdom? We viewed it as an opportunity to reset the direction and focus of the Church.
Some asked these questions and there are marked differences in their communities, post-pandemic. However, most did not, and nothing really has changed. And the sense that I get is there is little disappointment at that fact. People are generally happy to finally be back to normal.
Normalcy, however, is a tricky thing. Usually, we define it as what we’re used to. But we can be accustomed to things that are totally out of synch with God’s will. Think back to when churches were intentionally segregated along racial lines. Few in that day protested or sought change, because it was normal for the time. Or think about during the Jesus Movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s how churches refused to welcome young people with long hair and bare feet into their sanctuaries. Many were told to clean up, cut their hair, and wear shoes. This was a normal response for the time. However, neither of these practices was biblical. I think, upon reflection, people realize that now. But they didn’t then, and that is the problem. We base our understanding of normalcy on our present experiences and practices, rather than the teachings of the Scriptures and life of Jesus.
What practices and attitudes within our church communities appear to us as normal? Have we ever asked if they are a reflection of Scriptural teaching? Have we, particularly if you are a church leader, ever gone before the Lord and asked what do you want us to change in how we conduct ourselves as a community? I used to challenge students that if they truly acknowledged Jesus as Lord of their lives, then everything in their lives—their goals, dreams, daily activities—are on the table for the Lord to do with them what he wants. He can leave them as is, make some minor adjustments, or take them off the table altogether as options for us. Paul says this, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1).
The question for believers today is, am I willing to present my craving for normalcy, whatever that may entail, before the Lord to do with it whatever he wants, including turning it upside down and inside out? Do we trust him enough to even ask, or will we continue to live in the way we consider is normal?
This exercise I am advocating is for the protection of each of us. Do we really want to look back and see, as so many believers have done in the past, how far our normal was from what the Lord truly desired of us?
© Jim Musser 2023 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.
