United Despite Our Distance

I never thought that 2020 would play out the way that it did. This past year felt like twenty years in one. We (as both a nation and world) experienced such heartache and difficulties due to COVID-19. The term “social distancing” has become an everyday idea. People try to keep their distance from others to help “stop the spread” of this virus. This time of social distancing has taken both a physical and mental toll on the human race. Families have not been able to be with their loved ones when they need them most, whether it is during sickness, holidays, or even death. What is worse is that, in many states, in-person worship services had to be suspended, and we had to shift online. I never thought that I would miss things like the amount of time that it takes to take the Lord’s Supper.
Our lives as we know them have changed. How can we learn from this? Is there even a lesson to learn? What comfort can we give to those who are sitting in their homes right now, wondering if they will ever get to go back to normal again? To sit at a restaurant with dozens of friends and families all enjoying a good meal? To go shopping without having to put on a mask? To be able to go to a concert, movie, or any other form of entertainment that used to allow fans? To be able to attend a wedding of dear friends that they love so dearly as they pledge their lives to one another? To sit with their family as they lay to rest a lost loved one?
Despite our distance (physically, mentally, and emotionally), we can learn something from this pandemic. We can be united in Christ and His kingdom. The first-century Christians who met in Jerusalem were severely persecuted and driven out of their homes (Acts 8:1-3). This was not long after the death of Stephen, and Saul was wreaking havoc on the Lord’s people. He took away their ability to assemble together in Jerusalem. He took away their ability to be together. He took away men and women and committed them to prison, taking away their freedom altogether.
If you were to put these first three verses into one word, what would it be? Mine would be “hopeless.” Nothing was going the way that God’s people needed it to go. Everywhere they turned, they were suffering. How did they respond? Notice verse four: “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). They made no excuses, nor did they complain about how unfair life was. No, these Christians continued to preach and teach the Word despite the circumstances that plagued them.
This is the official launch of Scattered Abroad’s blog. The very reason we call it Scattered Abroad is because of Acts 8:4. Everyone in the Lord’s body is separated in one way or another, and we have persecution in many areas of the world. Yet, we do not have any excuses to avoid preaching and teaching. If the first-century Christians continued to preach and teach despite all that they experienced, what could possibly exempt us from such a command (Matthew 28:18-20)?
You and I have a responsibility to promote the Bible no matter what. I don’t know exactly where each Christian in this world lives. I don’t know what separates us from each other. But I do know that if the Christians from Jerusalem could do it, so can we!