Dear Blacknall family,
Remember last July? We were worshipping at home or gathering in backyards, and we had just begun to video sermons in the sanctuary. What a year! Since April, it has been a joy to see many of you at Blacknall on Sundays and to reconnect with others in small groups. Although many aspects of our life together remain altered, we are encouraged by the current situation and hopeful for the future. Staff are doing in-person ministry this summer and planning for the fall. We continue to adapt worship each week — further communication about Sundays and the fall semester is coming soon!
In the meantime, we have become aware that, while it was difficult for our congregation to be apart, it can feel hard for us to come back together. Many of us are vaccinated, but some are not. We want to address what could become a source of division for us; to find our way forward, we look back.
The Apostle Paul continually encountered conflict in churches. In his letters to the church in Rome and to the church in Corinth, Paul addresses the contentious issue of consuming meat offered in sacrifice to idols. Some Christians thought that they should avoid meat sacrificed to idols (which, in effect, meant avoiding most meat); other Christians reasoned that, in comparison with the living God, an idol was “nothing”. Therefore, since idols were “nothing”, sacrifice to idols could not contaminate God’s good gift of food. You get the impression from Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 that this theological disagreement ruined many church dinners!
Paul was clear in his own mind and makes his belief known in his letters: “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself” (Ro 14:14). In other words, since an idol is “nothing”, the routine dedication of meat to idols does not, in itself, contaminate the food for Christians. While some concerned Christians might change their mind because of Paul’s theological arguments, Paul’s foremost concern is that all Christians—whatever their belief about meat sacrificed to idols—“pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding. Do not for the sake of food, destroy the work of God.” (Ro. 14: 19-20). Pursuing peace required restricting personal freedom for the sake of Christian brothers and sisters. In practice, this meant that those who would otherwise enjoy a side of beef might need to order a salad instead.
So how does this relate to us? Perhaps you think that, just as an idol is “nothing”, so COVID is the “nothing” of our time. Nonetheless, in Christ, you are called to build up your Christian brothers and sisters who are concerned about COVID. This means following protocols to minimize the spread of COVID and considering vaccination. On the other hand, some of you think that COVID is something and vaccinations are “nothing” to be concerned about. Nonetheless, in Christ, you are called to build up your brothers and sisters who are hesitant about the vaccine. This means creating ways to include unvaccinated friends without violating your own safety and conscience, as well as speaking respectfully about their decision to remain unvaccinated.
The Session is clear: We regard COVID as something (not “nothing”!). We think vaccination is a timely way to love one another and the most effective means to restoring much of our life together. However, we are most concerned that we, as a congregation, recognize the opportunity to “pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding. Do not for the sake of food COVID, destroy the work of God.” (Romans 14:19-20).
To help us accomplish this goal, the Session, in collaboration with the staff and the Health Advisory Team, has drafted a vaccination policy. The policy reflects our current status; we will continue to update and add to our guidelines. We thank you for receiving our guidance; we press on, trusting in the grace of Christ.
In Him,
Goodie
On behalf of the Pastors and the Session
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