Welfare of the City
Hello Oxford Vineyard!
There are a few resources that I want to pass along to you all, but first I want to take a look at a scripture that seems especially relevant right now.
“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
Let me give you a little context. Israel was taken into captivity by the Babylonian Empire who conquered the city of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. The prophet Jeremiah, on behalf of God, is writing to the Jews who were living in Babylon - a city whose values, to put it lightly, starkly opposed the Law of Moses. What were the instructions of God to the people living in this corrupt city? To seek the welfare (or peace) of that city! I ask then, how much more will we seek the welfare of a city we love? Our church bears the name of that city. We have a responsibility to be kingdom ambassadors of welfare and peace to Oxford!
One of the ways we have done so is by suspending our Sunday gatherings. I don’t want to exacerbate this point, but I do want to make you all aware that churches all over the world who have continued to meet are being identified as major epicenters for the spread of COVID-19. Rich Nathan, the Senior Pastor of Vineyard Columbus, said earlier this week, “God forbid that our long-term witness is that we contributed to sickness and death rather than healing and life!” I couldn’t agree more.
We can’t afford to cite the efforts of the first century Church as a reason to keep our doors open during this pandemic. I believe we are commissioned and called to pray for the sick, so don’t hear what I’m not saying. However, the early Church was providing medical care for the sick. The first recorded general hospital opened in Baghdad in the 800s CE. That means for 800 years (generally speaking) the Church was one of the only places where sick people could receive medical care! The Church wasn’t simply insisting on their right to meet regardless of health consequences to others, they were providing a service that hospitals now provide.
This has caused me to ask myself; outside of suspending our meetings, how can we seek the welfare of Oxford? Two answers come immediately to mind.
1. Pray
Jeremiah instructs the people to pray to the Lord on behalf of their city. 1 John 5:14-15 assures us that God hears our prayers and answers them! You, as a believer in Jesus, have authority over spiritual strongholds, powers, and principalities. Use your authority! Pray for the healthcare workers you know, your neighbors, and your leaders.
2. Sign up to volunteer
The City of Oxford has initiated a program to gather volunteers to assist during this time. Join me in filling out this form to offer help to those who need it most during this unprecedented season.
*If you are healthy and not in a high risk demographic
Finally, I want to highlight something that I’ve had to come to terms with over these past few weeks. Although it is disappointing, the crisis of COVID-19 is not that we must meet online for a little while. The real crisis is in our community and our world as it affects people who are at risk, fearful, panicked, alone, anxious, and depressed.
Click here for a great interview between Putty Putman and Phil Chorlian, two Vineyard leaders from whom I’ve learned much and I respect dearly.
Phil’s church, North Jersey Vineyard, is in the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak on the East Coast. It might give you some deeper insight and understanding about what’s really going on where this sickness is widest-spread.
I will be on Zoom calls on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 7:30 am for about an hour to talk, pray, and get into the scriptures together. We will also be continuing our Life Groups through Zoom. For more information checkout our website here. They’re open to anyone, not just OV attendees. I hope to see you there!
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All the best,
Parker