COMMENT

The Very Rev Albert Bogle refl ects on the lessons learned from social distancing for the Church.

2020 will be remembered as the year that brought about a great deal of sadness, hurt and change into all of our lives due to the virus that created a world pandemic.

We learned a new phrase in our vocabulary ‘social distancing’. But perhaps the more lasting and profound change to be remembered will be lessons learned from social distancing. Could it be a parable waiting for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear and faith to remember? So what could we be learning from social distancing? There is a truth relating to the more sinister role that an unspoken ‘social distancing’ has played when it comes to our attitudes to racism and ‘Black Lives Matter,’ but also to our attitudes as Christians towards one another and Christ’s call for unity among his followers How we as individuals respond at this moment in time to the injustices faced by so many throughout the world because of their skin tones will help to defi ne the way the world is shaped for future generations.

And how we respond to each other as members of the body of Christ seeking to work in harmony with each other and in honour preferring one another will aff ect Christ’s mission in the world.

There can be no ‘social distancing’ when it comes to any form of racism. The Black Lives Matter movement has proved that the silent majority can be motivated to speak out against injustice and cruelty. Christians must be part of that social conscience and be at the forefront of movements for peace and justice in the world. Speaking out, of course, is never enough – we need to live out what we believe. This brings me to refl ect upon another type of ‘social distancing’ that I have observed within the church. You might call it ‘social spiritual distancing.’ I refer to the various camps that have grown up in all our churches and presbyteries. These camps become spiritually and socially distanced from each other; politely acknowledging each other but never truly working together. Often those who are part of this ‘social spiritual distancing” are infl uenced by others who have strong opinions and because they don’t wish to lose friendships or lose face, or perhaps even their faith, they adhere to principles and views that really belong to someone else. Perhaps we need a movement entitled, ‘Christ’s living body matters’ We are certainly moving into a period of transition, change and discovery and, as a Christian community, fi nding out more about our ability to adapt and change.

What the future impact of Brexit on our lives will be is totally unknown but we will have to get on with it regardless. Many have surprised themselves by the transitions they have been making using new technology to communicate with friends and family and in doing so have begun to understand the value online worship off ers to those unable to attend in-person services.

The word Zoom has taken on a new meaning for us all. I think many of us know how it feels to be ‘Zoomed out’! Yet we are also coming to see how used wisely this technology has the ability to free up time and create space for more family time and to explore a wider understanding of what it means to be part of the body of Christ. It is this understanding that I believe God is using to create a movement longing for a more united church.

”How we as individuals respond at this moment in time to the injustices faced by so many throughout the world because of their skin tones will help to define the way the world is shaped for future generations.

As we begin to return to a more normal way of existence we shouldn’t forget that we have set the reset button and we cannot allow our thinking to slip back into old ways.

There is much that we have gained from this time of lockdown and we need to become more familiar with the 2021 slogan “Build back better”. When the restrictions are over let’s make sure ‘social distancing’ is no longer practised in any of its incarnations in our lives. Let us strive to build up the body of Christ no longer as distant friends but as vital parts of the body.