Change, Wash, And Live

by Eric Elkin

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

— Acts 2: 37

What should we do? This is the most pressing question of the day. The question seems to take a new spin every day of our pandemic response. Each day the desire for an answer becomes more intense. The shelter-in response is a good answer, but for how long? In my profession, I can adapt to limited physical contact. Many jobs like mine can, but some cannot. What should those who cannot operate this way do?

Pundits love the catchphrase a "new normal." Yet, when I listen to that phrase, I'm left with more questions than answers. What will the new normal look like? And, when do we start forming it? I'm ready to get moving on the answer, but what should I do to make it happen?

Nothing happens these days without conflict. Opposing ideas sell advertisements, draw viewers, and get the most extended playtime. Most news sources seek to bring the divide deeper into the hearts of the people. None of us can control it, so what do we do to lessen the impact?

The enemy in this fight is invisible. It is not entirely understood, nor discerning. The virus does not care about your political affiliation, country of origin, or street address. It doesn't even care about your wealth and status. With such anonymity in play, it is easy for people to put out misinformation about how to confront and defeat the enemy. So, who should we listen to?

Every time the normal flow of life is so radically interrupted, we are left with this same question, what should we do? The answer is never easy. It is never universally accepted, nor is it quickly offered. Those who are wisest to adapt are patient, willing to listen to criticism, and remain focused on the common good.

“Every moment of light and dark is a miracle.”

— Walt Whitman

When I was reading Acts this morning, I found my answer. Granted, the answer I found is not very authentic to the context of scripture. Let's just say I am not the first preacher to read something foreign into a Bible passage. Paul was not preaching about coronavirus response to this ancient crowd. However, he does offer some good advice when you twist it.

First, repent. People tend to associate the word repent with confession, self-denial, and punishment. English dictionaries define repent as "to feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin." The Greek word for repent, though, is metanoeo. It means to "change one's mind, or, to think differently after." We need to repent in that we need to change our thinking about how to live well.

Second, be baptized. Now, stay with me, because this is the stretch that could get me in trouble. In ancient times, the literal act of baptism defined its spiritual impact. People who were baptized were literally washed clean. The act of being made clean spoke to their new spiritual identity in Christ.

Today, we only think of the spiritual meaning of baptism. No one comes to a baptism expecting to be made physically clean. Well, there was that one baby who pooped on my arm when I was washing him with baptismal water. Even then, I did not stop to clean him. Maybe we should think more about the physical act of being made clean. And our role in the process.

Third, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. To receive the Holy Spirit, to me, is to live in it. People who live in the Spirit do not let political identification or personal opinion stand in the way of a relationship. They do not see people by their classification but as children of the Creator God. And, they see God working in and through all things.

What should we do? Change how we think about life and living. Wash your hands, and be mindful of cleanliness. Live abundantly, see the needs of others as important as your own. A better pastor probably could have said this in fewer words, but I have not met that pastor. Yet, as I read the simpler version, maybe I'm not that far off on my theology either.

Click to read Acts 2:35-42