Does God Care?

God created a perfect world…

There was no sickness, sorrow, death, pain, cancer, COVID, dementia, or Alzheimer’s—but he wanted man to have a relationship with him so he gave man freedom. Man had the freedom to obey God or disobey God—to love him or not love him. We all know the story. Man chose against doing what God wanted him to do. So the original world ended. Eden was over...

Now we live in a cursed world. The Bible says that the devil is the god of this world. ¹ When Jesus was tempted, the devil said, “If you’ll bow down to me, I’ll give you all the kingdoms of the world.” ² Jesus didn’t dispute that he could.

The Bible also tells us that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. ³ The apostle Paul tells us that creation groans awaiting its redemption and that now it’s kept in futility. ⁴ Nothing is like it was supposed to be. This is why we have earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and all the rest. Nature is not what it’s supposed to be.

Paul goes on to say that we also groan within ourselves. ⁵ Why? Because we are made for perfect. We’re made for Eden. We’re not made for imperfect. We are not made to bury the people we love. So now we’re all frustrated. We groan.

Not only do nature and humanity groan—the Holy Spirit himself groans. ⁶ God looks down and says “It’s not the way it was supposed to be...” It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Mothers weren’t supposed to bury their sons. Wives and husbands weren’t supposed to bury their spouses. We weren’t even supposed to bury our parents. But everything has been broken by sin. You ask, “Does God care?” Yes! He does.

God sent his son Jesus into this world ⁷ —lived the righteous life that none of us did, would, or could. Then he died on the cross in our place. God punished him for our sin so that we could be forgiven. ⁸ Once we are his, his Spirit lives inside of us. ⁹ It doesn’t mean we will never have problems. We still live in a cursed world. Jesus never promised that tragedy wouldn’t come to the home of the believer. In fact, he promised us in this world—we will have tribulation. ¹⁰ But he did say that he would always be with us. ¹¹ He did say he would give us the strength we needed to manage what we had to face. ¹² God does this even when we don’t feel like we have strength. He is with us—even at times when it feels like he’s not. He gets us through. He uses the bad for some kind of good. ¹³ God’s word also tells us that Jesus came to rescue us from this present evil age to take us to a place where there is no sickness, sorrow, suffering, or death. ¹⁴ A perfect place called heaven.

“Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places…I go to prepare a place for you [and] I will come again and receive you to Myself—that where I am, there you may be also.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” —John 14:1-6

—Dr. Rocky Ramsey

¹ 2 Corinthians 4:4
² Matthew 4:4
³ 1 John 5:19
⁴ Romans 8:19-20
⁵ Romans 8:23
⁶ Romans 8:26
⁷ John 3:16
⁸ 2 Corinthians 5:21
⁹ Romans 8:9-11
¹⁰ John 16:33
¹¹ Matthew 28:20
¹² Philippians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9
¹³ Romans 8:28
¹⁴ Galatians 1:4

Reopening for Church Amid COVID-19

Reopening for Church Amid COVID-19

Breaking news! We are reopening services this Sunday. Three of a leader’s responsibilities are defining reality, developing strategies, and dispensing hope. This is a lengthy note, but brevity would undermine its clarity.

Defining Reality

The fear of COVID-19 continues to dictate what governments are allowing businesses, people, and churches to do. Decisions made locally continue to be driven by places where the epidemic is much worse. This virus is highly contagious, and (like the flu) can be deadly to those whose health is already otherwise compromised. Those people need to be quarantining themselves.

“Doctors and scientists are all over the place in their opinions on what Americans should be doing—including decisions about shut-downs, staying at home, and medications to fight the virus.”

Some doctors who are actually treating the patients and seeing what works are in disagreement with those in the labs who are dictating government decisions. Sweden quarantined the vulnerable, encouraged distancing, and didn’t shut down anything. Their death rate is similar to those in the United States, even though we’ve taken a much different approach. They claim that they are about to reach herd immunity, which is what vaccines seek to accomplish.

Knox County has 470,313 residents. As of April 27—there have been only 214 confirmed cases in Knox County; 29 cases are still active but 181 have recovered. Do more than 29 have the virus? Likely.

An article in the paper about those tested in North Carolina prisons said that 90% of those who tested positive had no symptoms (had no reason to think that they had the virus). The bad news in this and similar findings is that a person can carry the virus and not know it—and carry it to someone who is vulnerable.

The good news is that the virus has no effect on most of those who have it. Knox County has 4 virus related deaths. There were more than double that many suicides locally in ten days attributed to the economic shut down and layoffs. One article claimed that there were 14 flu related deaths last month. There are pages of obituaries in the paper each day. There are far more people dying from other issues than from this virus.

From the beginning of this pandemic, the great fear was overwhelming the hospitals. Only 33 people in Knoxville have been hospitalized related to COVID-19. Only six were in the hospital as of April 27. Hospitals across the country are basically offering only emergency and virus related care. They are, therefore, essentially empty, have laid off staff, and many of them likely will go out of business—especially outside of big cities.

Nonetheless, the mayors, and those they consulted, have set the latest rules for behavior in Knoxville and Knox County. Restaurants and other businesses will get to reopen under strict guidelines. Churches can reopen under the following guidelines:

• Those attending have to wear cloth masks.

• People are supposed to keep six feet apart. Multiple services are encouraged to facilitate this as well as only having 50% capacity present.

• No hugging or shaking hands.

• Hard surfaces are to be cleaned.

• Groups other than our core services are not to meet. This includes preschool, children, youth, community groups, etc.

• Food and drink are not to be served.

Developing a Strategy

“Most of life is making the best of what you wished wasn’t.”

This is our present reality. You’ve heard me say many times, “Most of life is making the best of what you wished wasn’t.”  Our hope was originally to have everybody back in one big service and have a great big celebration. There was incredible music planned for Easter that we were going to use. And then, we were going to do two services to create space. Now we find out that these are our parameters…so we’ll do what we can, make the best of what is, and be grateful that those who are ready to be back can be back.

We are reopening our services May 3. There will be a service at 9:00am and one at 10:15am. Only the 10:15am services will be live streamed. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified of our latest content and when we go live.

We are going beyond what is expected to create a safe environment.  We will be using a disinfectant designed to kill viruses in the worship center and restrooms. Unless you’re leading worship, you will need to be wearing a cloth mask of some sort—children included. I’ll bandana-up when I’m not speaking. The only doors you might need to touch will be restroom doors. But you can wear gloves or bring wipes or paper towels. We will be setting up all of our seats so you can spread out as you choose to do.

If you have any symptoms at all—stay at home and watch online. If your immune system is compromised, we encourage you to stay at home and watch online. If you want to be here but are concerned at all about doing so—attend the first hour; we think it will have fewer people. If you are among our older folks, we ask that you attend the first hour to help us adhere to the 50% capacity rule and to ensure more space for you to distance as needed.

“If it will bother you in any way if someone is not distancing to your satisfaction, please stay home.”

And this is really important—if it will bother you in any way if someone is not distancing to your satisfaction, please stay home. Some have been consumed with this virus. Others think that the response to it is an overkill. Judging those who differ on this is strictly prohibited. Everyone will be in the service and everyone will be in masks. I hate it as much as you, but it is what it is.

Dispensing Hope

On a human level—we are fortunate to be in an area where this virus is extremely minimal. Unless your health is already compromised, even if you get COVID-19, you may not have any symptoms. It is almost a nonissue (unlike the flu) with those who are healthy and those who are young. The government has taken great measures to help businesses and people financially and may take even more. Even though the current inconveniences we face are bothersome—they are still somewhat minimal for most of us.

“On a spiritual level, as believers, we have been delivered from the fear of death.”

We know how our story ends. We will be okay whatever happens. We serve the God of Hope. God is our source and provider. God is our protector. God is with us. God gives us sufficient grace and strength for whatever we must face—be that social, emotional, or physical.

“God uses bad for good and turns curses into blessings because He loves us.”

Philippians 4:6-9 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Be smart and be safe. For those who are able, we look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

—Pastor Rocky

Watch Pastor Rocky’s Message on the God of Hope