How COVID Helped Kill the Local Church

I miss the days when the recorded voices on the phone were actual human voices.

I grew up in the 1960s and ’70s in Laguna Beach, California. In Southern California, you could pick up any phone and dial 555-1212, or dial POPCORN (767-2676), and the voice at the other end would say “At the tone, Pacific Daylight Time will be 12:17 and 45 seconds, exactly” then a beep.

All that ended in the 1970’s

Even though the voices are mostly electronic now, my memory flashes back to hearing the voices of the past. “We’re sorry, the number you have reached has been disconnected or is no longer in service. If you believe you have reached this message in error, please hang up and dial again...beep...beep...beep..beep…

The Great Disconnect

The COVID-19 years exacerbated disconnects in life. Normal daily life was no longer normal. In some cases, it never returned to “normal”.

The Church is no exception.

Far too many pastors and Churches went along with the program, and the “free exercise of religion” guaranteed by the Constitution was replaced by the iron boots of a global totalitarian agenda to squash human relationships.

Families were told they could not see their loved ones dying in a hospital. Grandparents were forbidden to see their grandchildren. Holidays were canceled. Everywhere we went, signs told us to stay six feet apart. Wear a mask. I know of one man arrested for refusing to wear a mask in the grocery.

In some places, you couldn’t even go to the beach or a park to sit in the sun!

I had a heart attack and was in critical care, but only one family member at a time was allowed in my room! Unless you were a family member or clergy, none could visit me.

The result appeared to be a planned outcome. Destroy relationships, isolate individuals, and prevent the creation or continuation of groups that might give individuals influence, strength, or power. The government alone would control what you could do, who you could see, or where you could congregate.

Many Churches were devastated and shutting down would eventually mean their demise. Many that shut their doors have never recovered. Some congregants quit attending church in person in favor of YouTube church, some quit church entirely.

I know some fellowships lost over 50% of their flock. Even a loss of 20% was too much for some. The decimation of Churches continues even now.

Some members moved on to Churches that stayed open, developed new friendships, and found a new home.

I think this is the Key that unlocks the question, of why Churches are dying in such great numbers.

Christianity = Relationship, not Religion

We were designed for fellowship and relationships. The global order used a designer disease to instigate a broader scope of socialism. It worked.

People who are lonely, displaced, isolated, insecure, cut off from friends and family, and lacking in social constructs are more easily controlled. Mental Illness increases, and paranoia can begin to rot away at common sense.

Governments suppressed any voices that contradicted the official narrative. Truth was only truth if the government said it was. All other truth was conveniently labeled “misinformation” and lumped together with lunacy and lies.

You were born for relationships. Dwell here for a moment. It’s an important thought.