Small Groups for the Apocalypse
A lot of crazy stuff has happened since last Friday’s e-news: Forest fires have ravaged northern California, a once in a lifetime hurricane hit Texas and Louisiana, professional sports were boycotted, and an unfamiliar city in Wisconsin erupted in protest after a cop shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back. And we’re watching all this, of course, from the safety of home because a global pandemic continues to take the lives of thousands of people every day.
These are hard times. In the language of the Bible, they’re “apocalyptic.” Though often thought to mean the end of all things, “apocalyptic” might be better understood as the revealing of all things. An “apocalyptic” moment is when the underlying reality of a situation - causes and explanations that may be misunderstood or explained away in ordinary times - is laid bare. The scourge of Covid-19 on communities of color, for example, reveals connections between public health and income inequality typically easy for many of us to ignore.
Apocalyptic times aren’t all bad. Good things get revealed too. Amidst the turmoil of this week, I have been inspired and heartened by the way people of goodwill are responding to injustice and how Christians in particular are interpreting our upheaval through the lens of Scripture. Every week I come across a pastor, writer, artist or musician giving just the right word in just the right way at just the right time. Many of these voices would have remained unknown to me if 2020 had gone as planned.
It’s in the hope of good things being revealed that I invite you to join a fall group. We often talk about Neighborhood Groups this time of the year, but things will look different this semester as we strive to keep our community safe. Be encouraged to read about the different studies being offered, make contact with leaders, and participate in one (or two!) for the duration of the fall. I’ll be praying that God renews and provokes us all as we navigate these perilous times with the unchanging truth of his Word.
Nick