Is There a Middle Ground?
As our nation begins the struggle to reopen businesses, houses of worship, beaches, restaurants, and entertainment venues, a lot of questions remain unanswered. The most challenging question of all is, to paraphrase Shakespeare: To open, or not to open; ah, that is the question. The long-extended stay at home is being replaced with a flood of people wanting to go, especially as the summer months approach. As we saw this past weekend, beaches along either coast were packed with people. Even the nation's highways began to fill as people just wanted to get out of the house for awhile and go somewhere - anywhere.
On Friday, President Trump gave the green-light for houses of worship to reopen stating that those places should be deemed essential. Our Governor here in Minnesota then followed on Saturday with guidelines for those churches that wanted to reopen. Yet, as our leadership team here at my church met to discuss reopening, there remained that nagging question: To open, or not to open; ah, that is the question. It is a difficult question for which to find a satisfactory answer. In fact, that very question is a polarizing question. Let me explain.
There are many, including many within my church family, who were ready to reopen the doors of our church several weeks ago. They cite the trampling on their First Amendment rights of freedom of worship and assembly. They argue that if a Target store can be opened or the downtown liquor store can be opened, why should a church remain closed. They argue that if a church must conduct its worship ministries through a live-streaming or other online portal, then should not a Target store only conduct its business through its online services. They argue that the playing field has not exactly been balanced.
On the other hand, there are many, and again, including many within my church family, who have hesitation about re-entering into public spaces, especially those that are confining as are most worship facilities. They question why there is even consideration of reopening. They argue that the statistics and the models show that the worst of the pandemic may, in fact, still lie before us. And, they may be right as this virus has proven to be nonconventional when compared to other viruses. Many of them have underlying health complications that make them especially vulnerable to this virus.
And, you know what, both sides have legitimacy to their arguments. Both sides needs to be listened to - but, more importantly, both sides need to respect one another. And it is this lack of respect that is polarizing our society today. Friends, basically the answer to the question "to open or not to open" comes down to my own personal decision. If you and your family decide that you want to get out and try to resume a normal life experience, then I respect your decision. I will not call it into question. But, if you and your family decide that you want to safeguard your health and wellbeing, then I will respect your decision. I will also not call it into question. Is one side more right than the other side? Of course not! The proponents on both sides have value and should be respected for those decisions they personally make.
So, what was the decision of our church's leadership team? We decided that we would reopen our doors, but follow the guidelines established by the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health. We will seat families and respect the six-foot social distancing guideline. We will provide masks for those who wish to wear one. We are requiring a reservation so that we can maintain the 25% capacity for indoor venues per the guidelines of the State of Minnesota. We have provided hand sanitizing stations at every entry point. In addition, we will continue providing the live-streaming of our worship service for the foreseeable future so that those who choose to remain at home can still join with us for a worship experience. This coming Sunday will be our first Sunday - and, I must admit, we are very cautious, but excited.
Friends, what has happened to us? We are reaping the fruit of what we have planted for the past twenty years or so. We no longer value and respect the rights and opinions of each other. Colleges and universities now provide "safe spaces" where students can go and be sheltered from conversations that they do not like. The debate of opinions in public places have been banned, especially if you want to debate a conservative position on any topic. The strength of this nation has been its freedom of expression. Debates formed the foundation of the Continental Congress as it met in Philadelphia in 1775. Many debates formed the foundation of the Constitutional Convention as it also met in Philadelphia a decade later. The halls of Congress echo the debates that have occurred over the years. Yes, people were passionate about their positions. Yet, as I read the stories, at the end of the day this remained the underlying principle: what was best for our country?
Yesterday, during the course of a discussion on reopening, I was challenged to bring people into a middle. The more I have thought about that challenge the more I have come to realize that the middle ground is titled, R-E-S-P-E-C-T. May we rediscover the value of rediscovering that truth, for it is really more important than reopening the doors.
On Friday, President Trump gave the green-light for houses of worship to reopen stating that those places should be deemed essential. Our Governor here in Minnesota then followed on Saturday with guidelines for those churches that wanted to reopen. Yet, as our leadership team here at my church met to discuss reopening, there remained that nagging question: To open, or not to open; ah, that is the question. It is a difficult question for which to find a satisfactory answer. In fact, that very question is a polarizing question. Let me explain.
There are many, including many within my church family, who were ready to reopen the doors of our church several weeks ago. They cite the trampling on their First Amendment rights of freedom of worship and assembly. They argue that if a Target store can be opened or the downtown liquor store can be opened, why should a church remain closed. They argue that if a church must conduct its worship ministries through a live-streaming or other online portal, then should not a Target store only conduct its business through its online services. They argue that the playing field has not exactly been balanced.
On the other hand, there are many, and again, including many within my church family, who have hesitation about re-entering into public spaces, especially those that are confining as are most worship facilities. They question why there is even consideration of reopening. They argue that the statistics and the models show that the worst of the pandemic may, in fact, still lie before us. And, they may be right as this virus has proven to be nonconventional when compared to other viruses. Many of them have underlying health complications that make them especially vulnerable to this virus.
And, you know what, both sides have legitimacy to their arguments. Both sides needs to be listened to - but, more importantly, both sides need to respect one another. And it is this lack of respect that is polarizing our society today. Friends, basically the answer to the question "to open or not to open" comes down to my own personal decision. If you and your family decide that you want to get out and try to resume a normal life experience, then I respect your decision. I will not call it into question. But, if you and your family decide that you want to safeguard your health and wellbeing, then I will respect your decision. I will also not call it into question. Is one side more right than the other side? Of course not! The proponents on both sides have value and should be respected for those decisions they personally make.
So, what was the decision of our church's leadership team? We decided that we would reopen our doors, but follow the guidelines established by the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health. We will seat families and respect the six-foot social distancing guideline. We will provide masks for those who wish to wear one. We are requiring a reservation so that we can maintain the 25% capacity for indoor venues per the guidelines of the State of Minnesota. We have provided hand sanitizing stations at every entry point. In addition, we will continue providing the live-streaming of our worship service for the foreseeable future so that those who choose to remain at home can still join with us for a worship experience. This coming Sunday will be our first Sunday - and, I must admit, we are very cautious, but excited.
Friends, what has happened to us? We are reaping the fruit of what we have planted for the past twenty years or so. We no longer value and respect the rights and opinions of each other. Colleges and universities now provide "safe spaces" where students can go and be sheltered from conversations that they do not like. The debate of opinions in public places have been banned, especially if you want to debate a conservative position on any topic. The strength of this nation has been its freedom of expression. Debates formed the foundation of the Continental Congress as it met in Philadelphia in 1775. Many debates formed the foundation of the Constitutional Convention as it also met in Philadelphia a decade later. The halls of Congress echo the debates that have occurred over the years. Yes, people were passionate about their positions. Yet, as I read the stories, at the end of the day this remained the underlying principle: what was best for our country?
Yesterday, during the course of a discussion on reopening, I was challenged to bring people into a middle. The more I have thought about that challenge the more I have come to realize that the middle ground is titled, R-E-S-P-E-C-T. May we rediscover the value of rediscovering that truth, for it is really more important than reopening the doors.
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