We need to “get in touch"
One of the amazing benefits of technology is having the ability to do online services. This opportunity especially came in handy while going through a pandemic and being socially distanced. Technology is great but it will never replace in-person relationships.
It’s been 13 weeks since we last gathered as a church family. I realized a few things while being displaced.
I realized how much I missed seeing body language, feeling volume, negotiating space, shaking hands, hugging – all the physicality of togetherness. I’m not a touchy-feely person, “not a hugger,” but I think we all realize as we’ve distanced, how much we miss physical contact.
Creator’s imprint hardwires us to be physically connected with each other. It is the nature of the Trinity and is the image that we are created in.
Bonding and intimacy needs tactile interaction. It needs human exchange.
It certainly explains why social distancing has been so life and soul sucking – even for introverts! It is our divine design to feel each other.
There are two Greek verbs for “knowing.” One describes cognitive knowledge, like knowing the names of colors. The other describes intimacy and experiential knowledge. It is used to describe the physical joining together of husband and wife in procreation. We can only intimately know somebody when we draw close and touch. Experiencing others only occurs when there is life to life connectedness.
We need to “get in touch.” We lack proximity. It is the way of Jesus.
Incarnation/presence
Other’s interests before ours
Willingness to die
Read what Paul says in Philippians 2 “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God,[a] he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b]; he took the humble position of a slave[c] and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,[d]8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Greg Yee said, “This pandemic has taught us to not touch anything and to stay far apart. But this racial pandemic calls us to walk closer and touch each other more than ever. It is the close and experiential knowing we need. We are not safe and right just in our own worlds. We are incomplete and will absolutely languish without each other’s touch.”
He goes on to say, “George Floyd in Minnesota, Ahmaud Arbery in Atlanta, and Breonna Taylor in Louisville are merely recent examples. We cannot act like this is somehow different and now we’re shocked. We’ve heard and read about these things so many times in the past, but chose to not draw closer. Don’t get it twisted, we are not just seeing this new because we have video-capable cell phones. In 1991, 7 years prior to the first iPhone, we had very clear video of Rodney King being beaten by multiple peace officers who were later not found guilty- but no. We saw LA burn and looted. What did we do? What has changed in our hearts and in our actions? “
We see people mistreated and murdered over and over again…injustices being justified and we move on…and away…but now is the time to come together.
We need life to life connectedness & relationships.
We need to “get in touch.”
It is the way of Jesus.