The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has brought some protocols that prohibit mass gatherings like church services, movie screenings, and many more. This led churches to be creative and used social media to broadcast worship services. This has become the “new normal” of going to church. Of course, we long to go to our local church, and worship together.
There is one thing that we need to realize in this experience — and that is, the worship services that are happening in our homes are similar to what happened during New Testament times.
The worship services in the 1st century happened in the houses of Christians. Acts 12:12 tells us that went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. In Acts 16:40, we can see that Paul and Silas went to Lydia’s house where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. In the same manner, Paul wrote in Romans 16:5 to greet the church that meets at the house of Priscilla and Aquila.
So what does it tell us?
First, the transformation of society starts inside our homes.
This is the time to overemphasize the truth that our values and personalities are molded first in our respective homes. So in this time of quarantine, let us check ourselves and our children especially on the principles that we teach ourselves, and what we pass on to the next generation.
Second, a faithful Christian family can strengthen an individual.
It is so sad that the morality in our society has degenerated. A recent report states that 40 to 50 Filipino children ages 10 to 14 give birth every week. This should wake us up! There is even graft and corruption in the distribution of goods to needy people.
We should not just profess to be Christian in our lips and in our bio-data, but more so in our deeds. We need Christian families to lead the way!
May God bless us all!
Sincerely,
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Director, Office of Communications
Central Philippine University