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How the Church has Changed Since COVID.

 It was a shock to hear that my church was closing at the start of COVID. I thought for sure that the second coming of Jesus was going to happen. I remember thinking that the Great Apostasy was happening because churches all over the world were closing their doors, and people of faith were left to fend for themselves. People went online, and are still online, even though some of these people can attend their church. I remember warning people that before COVID-19 that the church would loose something if they would go totally digital. I warned people that they would forget to know how to connect to the real presence of God, if they continued in this way. 

I have seen it happen, people losing their faith, and the real sense of God's presence because they prefer technology. In the 1990's I learned how to practise the presence of God, I didn't have internet, it was the olden days, and I was a happy youth. I knew God, and I lived in his presence continually. I didn't have to strive to muster up my faith, it was always with me! When I went to church God was always there. I didn't have to attend a small group, and there was much more freedom than now. 

Christians were respected when I was growing up, there wasn't hatred for them, or the church. I chose a path that I was most comfortable with, it was a sect, but I still worshipped Jesus. In 1999 I had a crisis in my faith, and the world began to change. As I entered a new relationship with God, the things I took for granted were taken away from me. I lost a lot of things, and I felt like Job from the bible, my life became suffering for the first time, then 911 hit. The world was plunged into fear, and despite this tragedy, I felt more free to come out of my suffering, and witness the suffering of the world. 

My suffering felt small compared to it all, and I actually regained the faith that I had thought I lost in 1999. I began my journey of emotional healing, yet still experiencing suffering, answers were coming to me from the Christian church. As many began challenging Christianity, I was picking up the broken pieces of my life, and finding great joy in living out my faith once again. 20 years went by, and then COVID-19 hit. I felt like it interrupted my party with Jesus. I was doing well, I still had problems, but I thought to myself, that things are still going to get better. 

I think COVID-19 has given the church a new perspective on suffering. I can see how suffering in this life is essential. I lived 25 years of my life with very little suffering, so living in this time in history shows me that anybody can suffer. We don't like suffering, but when we see through our pain, we live as though there isn't any. Heaven promises an end to all suffering, and what that will look like, I don't know. COVID-19 has opened my eyes to expect the mercy of God, not in a presumptuous way, but in little ways that validate my humanity and the humanity of others who are suffering also. This is Mike. 


    

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