Parson Goat has stuck his finger in the wind rather than his nose in the Word to decide that it may be “safe” to resume corporate worship.

One of LRC’s readers reported on a meeting to debate this drastic step among the leaders of his “small rural church”:

I did not like it when they suspended services, but I really didn’t want to be fighting everybody. And I am sure it would have been me against everybody. The grip of the state and its kept media on people’s minds is pervasive … 

At the meeting [to discuss re-opening], some thought we shouldn’t have church until June or even July. When the [congregational] president asked me, I said: “How about Sunday?” I was surprised when they agreed to the following Sunday, 5/17.

I did my best to head off dumb ideas. I told them there’s no need to disinfect everything when the building has been sitting empty for two months. I told them that any traffic-control rules they made would likely backfire, as they have in stores. I told them that when they closed, our members were forced not to come, but when they open, nobody is forced to come if they don’t think it’s safe. Tell them to decide for themselves. I said we should tell our members that if they want medical advice they should talk to their doctors – we won’t be giving them any.

In addition to faithless, we can add “foolish” to Parson Goat’s attributes. 

Meanwhile, a second reader writes

This evening an acquaintance informed me that his church is reopening for services tomorrow.  A notice on their homepage reads:

This Sunday (May 10th) we are resuming our Sunday Morning worship services at 10:30 a.m.  No nursery or Sunday School.  In order to adhere to social easing guidelines, we will be meeting outside under the trees on the west side of the church.  Everyone is encouraged to bring their own camping chairs and maintain safe social distances and family unit cohesion.  Wear masks if you like and please stay home if sick.

Part of me wants to cheer the church for reopening given that, to my knowledge, the totalitarian suggestions [from the fuhrer–sorry, governor] have not changed.  The problem is that my acquaintance is a member of the church board and he tells me this is a one off because “Mother’s Day is too important to miss.”  This church was proud of being closed for Easter Sunday.  I have inquired of a few members of that church whom I know and have yet to receive any explanations as to why Mother’s Day is more important than Easter for a “Bible Church”.  I decided against emailing the pastor of that church because … he’s never answered my questions even when asked in person.

Why am I not surprised that Parson Goat idolizes mothers in addition to Caesar rather than the Lord?

The Best of Becky Akers