Community Presbyterian Church, Charlestown IN -- Message 03/15/2020 FEAR NOT

F E A R   N O T
Psalm 18:1-6         Matthew 8:1-4

I’m going to do something this morning that I have done only one time before and it was about 12 years
ago. As you may have figured out now, I’m a lectionary preacher. The lectionary is a listing of scripture
readings highlighted for worship on a given Sunday. Ours is called the Revised Common Lectionary
and consists of readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament and Gospels. The passages
are organized into three-year cycles of readings. The years are designated A, B, or C. Each yearly
cycle begins on the first Sunday of Advent. Currently, we’re in Year A.

In my preparation for a message, I’ll read the passages for that particular Sunday, choose one to preach,
and write my sermon...hoping to finish by Wednesday. That way, I have a couple of days for it to set. I’ll
go back to it by Saturday and make any edits I think might be needed before proclaiming on Sunday
morning.

This week was different. Everything was right on schedule up through Wednesday. The message for
Sunday was completed. Then...President Donald J. Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office
that evening about the COVID-19, or coronavirus, outbreak. Shortly after that address, and seeing the
reactions from the media, the stock market and every-day people on Thursday, I asked a friend via text,
“What is wrong with our country?”

McDonald’s All-American basketball games cancelled

Kentucky Derby may be postponed

World Wrestling Entertainment events will have no spectators

College athletic conferences suspended all sporting events

Professional soccer leagues cancel remaining season games

Men’s and women’s professional tennis tours suspended for six weeks

World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal canceled

PGA Tour cancels Players Championship, all other events before The Masters

Then PGA announced The Masters is postponed

All college conference basketball tournaments cancelled

NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments cancelled

NIT men’s and women’s basketball tournaments cancelled

IndyCar auto racing events suspended or postponed

NASCAR events postponed until further notice

Boston Marathon postponed

The new XFL football league’s season cancelled

NBA season suspended

MLB season suspended

NHL season suspended

So our sports are over for a little while. OK...we sports fans should move away from television and start
reading some more good books instead. But in addition, school systems are shuttering an extra week or
two during spring break, but may be closed longer. Greater Clark Co Schools closed until April 3. West
Clark, Clarksville, Jefferson Co Public Schools in Louisville, University of Louisville, Indiana University
Southeast and Ivy Tech approved similar measures.

Broadway shows in New York City closed until April 12. National Guard units activated in many states.
Women...women fist-fighting over rolls of toilet paper. Runs on hand sanitizer, bleach wipes and paper
towels. Parents spraying their children down with disinfectant before entering school. Homemade
hazmat suits. Declaration of national emergencies. Mayors in towns banning the sale of products and
allowing them authority to shut off water and power as needed. I’m not making any of this. All of this
starts to remind of REM’s song, “It’s the End of the World as We Know It.”

But then I heard Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear say this: all Kentuckians should avoid crowds and
large gatherings, including church services and other community gatherings, in an effort to prevent
community spread of the coronavirus. Beshear added: “I know it is a big step, but I can tell you the
direct connection between at least two Harrison County residents is that they go to church together,” he
said. “We would not be suggesting” that these services should be canceled “if we did not believe this
coronavirus can be or is currently being spread in those areas.”

Not to be outdone, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on Friday urged local churches, mosques,
synagogues, and other houses of worship to aid in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic by
cancelling religious services. The Mayor acknowledged that cancelling services is "a very, very
significant request," but said it's a prudent measure to prevent congregants from possibly contracting
and spreading the COVID-19 virus. In addition, many faith leaders joined Mayor Fischer at his press
conference to support this measure.

Within our presbytery, Executive Presbyter Susan McGhee released an email to pastors and leaders
with this message: “One question that many church leaders have is whether it is prudent to cancel
worship services, and what advice the presbytery may have. At this point, we do not have definitive
advice to give.  Every congregation is different.

“In a statement on March 12, Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced that non-essential gatherings
should be limited to no more than 250 people ‘who are in the same space at the same time, such as
cafeterias, churches, stadiums, meeting and conference rooms, auditoriums, and the like.’

“In the end, this decision is up to each session, as the governing body of the congregation. Should a
session choose to cancel worship, please let the presbytery office know. The link I shared above
suggests some alternatives to in-person worship.” Some of those ideas were virtual meetings over the
Internet on platforms like FaceBook Live or other streaming services. The headline on PCUSA’s main
page regarding the coronavirus is this: Faith, not fear. I never would’ve thought our national church office
would lead the way on common-sense responses.

I’ve talked with several friends this week and to a person, every one of them has agreed that we haven’t
seen this kind of mass hysteria and panic since September 11, 2001. That was a day when nearly 3,000
American citizens were killed by airplane hijacking terrorists...not 54 by an  unseen virus. Where’s the
perspective? Why so much anger? Panic? And fear?

Allow me to remind myself and you of some quotes that speak to our fears. I hope we all recognize them
and find some comfort:

“Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the
beginning of wisdom.”   — Bertrand Russell

“Of all the liars..., sometimes the worst are our own fears.”  — Rudyard Kipling

“Ignorance is the parent of fear.”  — Herman Melville

“We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.” 
— Seneca

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  — Franklin D. Roosevelt

“...say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with
vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’”   -- Isaiah 35:4

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for
the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”  -- Joshua 1:9

“But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do
not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”  -- Isaiah 43:1

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your
staff, they comfort me.” -- Psalm 23:4

“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?” -- Psalm 27:1

“The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?  -- Psalm 118:6

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes
with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  -- Deuteronomy 31:6

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help
you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”   -- Isaiah 41:10

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The
one who fears is not made perfect in love.”  -- 1 John 4:18

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” -- John 14:27

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the
future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  -- Romans 8:38-39

Let me be clear...there is nothing wrong with being cautious and vigilant. Governments should govern.
Media should report facts. We should wash your hands (always, not just during times of crisis). We
should limit your exposure to sick people. We must stay home if/when we’re sick. All of these are
common-sense strategies to protect ourselves and those we love.

But when we devolve to forming ½ mile long lines to get into Costco, fighting in grocery stores over
basic necessities, blaming others for the cause and spread of a virus, or segregating ourselves from
people, we bend the knee to fear and serve a master other than The One we are called to serve. Fear
has no place in the heart or mind of a believer. May God Almighty, Jesus our Lord and the Holy Spirit
grant us all peace, comfort and assurance through this time and those to come. Amen.