I hear and read many posts / articles / emails that suggest much of the corona-culture will become a new normal. I don’t agree and I want to say so as publicly as I can.
It’s true that many have been exposed to technology – the creative use of technology – that will become part of their on going traditions. It may become a permanent option for some programs and groups. It should!
It’s also true that people have rediscovered the value of sabbath, quiet, even solitude.
People have found out what they can live without. All this is true and will be fascinating to observe unfold.
It will be trendy and profitable to sell business or products or services that are more sanitary, more protective (look for supplements and wearable paraphernalia that aid immunity). For a while, everyone will want everyone to know just how vigilant they are regarding cleanliness and safety.
There have always been germaphobes. There will be more. We may need show greater respect toward subconscious concerns about safe handling of food and other products.
However, I believe it is a massive mistake to assume that humanity will cease being fundamentally human.
We won’t avoid large crowds – not for long. I will wager that, soon, events will be held specifically for the purpose of just having large crowds together – for the energy of it – even for the “edgy-ness” of it. Fear is not a long term deterrent of social behavior. We’ve seen more deadly viruses, shocking and devastating plagues… but none of them have prevented humanity from being human – in the long run. We are risk takers. We are rule-breakers. We crave one another, often in copious portions.
A more immediate and urgent trend will be people seeking meaningful connection in person. Sharing meals together. Singing together. Sharing experiences together. We’ve always identified ourselves (to one degree or another) by our clan, our group, our people. People will crave and cling to groups.
And church: I don’t believe people will drift more toward or settle for screen-time. We SHOULD continue online presence and proclamation!! But there will never be a substitute for the gathered community. There will be an increased desire for authenticity, for real presence, for God’s presence, for participation over presentation.
Some will remain impacted by the fear and trauma. Folks that lived in the Great Depression kept certain spending and saving habits. But those habits soon evaporated (within a generation) in the heat of human nature’s desire for ‘more.’
Hope. Hunger. Passion. Joy. Community. These cannot be restrained, not at length.
History, anthropology, sociology, and THEOLOGY are better guides for navigating the future than are trends, fads or fears.
We will be more human, not less, after all of this. I plan on it anyway.
Thank you Dr. Davenport,
Good words.
And yes, I too believe that people will once again gather together as before when this blows over, it’s human nature to see and be seen.
I also believe that many will take away lessons from this time that will help people to become more self sufficient such as a lot more home farming than usual.
In doing so I hope and pray that we look upon our neighbors with a greater sense of compassion as there will also develop a lack of foods and groceries in an over populated world that will further strain the population.
If we prepare for such things as we should be then the strain will not be more than we can handle.
Look at the example of Joseph preparing Egypt before the famine where Egypt survived the drought and even supplied others as well.
If we plant and grow now then when others come knocking there will be an extra seat at our table for the hungry.
Let the better nature of our hearts overcome the fears of the world and show compassion for our brothers and sisters.
“More human, not less.”
Thanks Pastor Dav. You are so right.
Very well said. I hear it often said these days that our country and life have changed and will not return to the way things were. Your words are encouraging us to believe that YES, we will return to gathering together, being more authentic, and fulfill the craving of our human-ness, perhaps to an even greater extent, which is connecting with one another at a more meaningful level. Thank you, Pastor, for your words of life and not death!
I agree with you whole heartedly, Pastor Dav! We were created for relationships, not isolation!
Blessings, brother.
Dear Pastor,
I have never heard it put more accurately, and clearly. Thank you, we applaud your courage, or is it faith, to stand for Truth. Truth is Jesus, and Truth will always win out in the end. “I plan on it anyway.”:)
Amazingly, this was, in my humble opinion, prophetic. People were not created to be loners. In Genesis God said it was not good for man to be alone.
Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms to keep them steady until sunset- or else Joshua would not have prevailed over the Amalakites.
Jesus selected for Himself 12 men to assist in His ministry and carry on his Church after His ascension.
During this pandemic, I read in a psychology magazine that the rates of depression in children soared when schools closed. They also noted that the overall suicide rate increased in our country over the past 2 years.
Working from home was fun at first but has proved to cause more problems in marriages, as I’ve also read in another article.
We were created to be social. Especially to reach out to our neighbors with the love of God through tangible Acts of Mercy. We were created to use our 5 senses for His Glory to aid mankind.
We cannot do this behind a screen. People are tired of being cooped up- even diehard introverts in my own family are out and about!
I believe if we all commit to using common sense: wash those hands, get tested when needed, mask up when appropriate, cover your sneezes, stay home when you’re sick, keep the social distancing, if necessary, and please let’s look up from our phones!
Get out there and really LOOK at one another again in the eyes and SMILE. Yes, we can tell you’re smiling behind that mask! 🙂
You may be the only ‘Jesus’ that person ever meets. We cannot let the homeless and hungry wander the streets while we sit comfortably on our sofas watching Netflix!
Give out some food and coats to the needy or help charities that do those kind of things because the Evil one wants the fear of spreading germs to stop us from spreading God’s Love!
Thank you again,Sir for your (what I think) was a prophetic and wise post. God bless you!