There’s so much I’d like to write concerning this chapter but writing takes a lot of time. Because of some of the recent issues with COVID-19 and executive orders from our Kentucky governor, I feel the need to focus on maintaining the unity of the Spirit. The picture above shows what disunity looks like. A square peg cannot go into a round hole without significant damage.

Our pastor gave a short (12 minute) video of how he would like for us (the church) to respond to these new orders. Granted, they just came out on Thursday, July 9, 2020 and we must think and decide by Sunday July 12, 2020. The new mandatory rule of wearing a mask in public in the state of Kentucky is what I am speaking of.

I can speak from both sides as a former pastor and right now a church member. A pastor has a unique and special privilege of spending much time in God’s Word and in prayer. Rightly does the congregation pay him so that he can be devoted to these primary tasks. He is afforded much insight to our current situations. He is leading us in the wisdom and knowledge of God. It is a blessing to be able to do this.

But the membership is normally busy with life and work. We aren’t able to spend as much time in the Word and prayer as the pastor. And that’s okay. We have a pastor to help us know what to do. Sure…we weigh what he says against the Scriptures but if he gives sound teaching and wisdom we are obligated to follow his leadership. And not only follow but to follow gladly.

The text I want to highlight is this:

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit– just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call–one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

(Eph. 4:1-6)

Let’s come together on Sunday with all humility and gentleness. Let’s come together with patience. Let’s bear with one another in love. Let’s be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There are not multiple churches among our one local body. There isn’t one church of the masked and one church of the unmasked. We are one body and one Spirit. We have one hope…not government, not medicine, not politics, not masks, nor doctors…no one but our one Lord and one faith and one baptism. Our one God and Father of all.

He bids us to love Him and to love each other. Not everyone agrees about the mask but I love those in this body. And love compels me to wear a mask. I admit I don’t like them but I also remember the people who did not wear their seatbelts for years when it wasn’t the law. My kids will never have that struggle because they have always worn them. But they save lives most of the time and so will these masks most of the time (I think).

Let us come together on Sunday with eagerness to demonstrate love and humility. Let’s trust the pastor’s biblical suggestions. Let’s love Jesus and you can’t say you love Jesus if you do not love your neighbor. Because to love Jesus is to love what he loves. He loves his church. He paid for her with his own blood. He wants us to maintain the unity of the Spirit. And all of this will be by his grace and for his glory.