My friend Jim Singleton, while he was in the process of helping lead the formation of the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians (ECO) in response to increasing issues with the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), told me something like this:

Some churches and individuals now clamoring for the new denomination and separation from the PCUSA are not going to know what to do when ECO is formed. ECO will be expecting churches to be making disciples and living out Kingdom principles in their neighborhoods. Some churches have defined themselves by what they are against. They’ve made a career out of fighting the PCUSA. Now what are they going to do?

I’m beginning to ask the same kind of question for a post-COVID world. Are we going to find something to talk about besides:

• Have you been vaccinated yet?
• When will government loosen up and reopen the economy? 
• When will you go back to church?
• Etc.

It seems that a lot our conversations are revolving around COVID. I get it, but I’m hoping we haven’t forgotten how to focus on other important things as well.

So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require? So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. (Matthew 6.31 – 33, TPT, emphasis mine)