What has the lock-down ever done for us?
This Covid-19 is evil. We’ve become all too aware of the daily toll - lives lost to this aggressive virus. Tens of thousands of people have died in this country; now, officially, over 41,000, but probably many more. So much so, we in the UK now account for 10% of all Covid-19 deaths across the world
Then, there are all the additional, unexplained deaths that don’t have Covid-19 on the death certificate. And, we are now realising just how long the road to recovery will be for some survivors. No wonder, with its catastrophic symptoms, Coronavirus has spread fear and isolation around the world. 
Without a vaccine, the only answer has been lock-down; an unprecedented strategy for an unprecedented virus. 
Remember, ‘Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives’? Now, almost thirteen weeks after the Prime Minister's first big lock-down announcement, we are slowly, cautiously, starting to re-emerge. Some say too soon, others say life must go on.
Before we rush into what’s to come, the NEW ‘new norm’, it’s worth pausing to ask, what has the lock-down ever done for us?
It turns out, as horrid as Covid-19 is, and as tough as the lock-down has been (though not as tough as in some other countries), lock-down appears to have also done us some good too.
Some have learnt new skills. Maybe you’ve discovered you’re better at technology than you realised. My 82 year old mum is now Zooming, emailing, texting….
Maybe, with so much time suddenly available, you’ve been able to catalogue all your photos. If you’re lucky enough to have one, has you garden ever looked so good? You’ve finally finished that decorating job you’ve been promising for years. You’ve learnt to bake bread, dusted off the old instrument you used to play, or simply learnt how to be more at ease with your own company.
None of this would have been possible without the lock-down. As tough as it’s been, the lock-down, has been a gift. It’s done us some good.
For sure, there’s less focus now on so-called 'celebrities'. More focus on those that make a real difference - key workers. Less time wasted commuting/ more flexible working. Less pollution. More time communicating with others. Time to reassess life. What really matters? How do we want to live? 
Lock-down has brought us all together more. Fancy standing outside your front door every Thursday evening and just clapping. How many of us now know our neighbours better. We’ve been introduced to each other by the Lock-downs. Some of you have been bombarded with neighbours offering to do your shopping, fetch prescriptions...
As a church, we’ve been able to accelerate progress. We’ve introduced our eBulletin and Online Giving. We’re discovering a new freedom and joy in our worship. Not just about singing the songs, but entering into worship, in God’s presence - for an audience of one. And we’re praying more. Covid-19 maybe evil – it is - but the lock-down has done / is doing us some good.
Of course, we’re not the first to experience lock-down. Back in the time of the Pharaohs in Egypt, Joseph had experienced than his fair share of lock-downs. First, his jealous brothers had beaten him up, locked him in a pit to die a horrid, slow death, before then deciding to ‘monetise’ him by selling him to traffickers. Bought as a slave, he so impressed his ‘owner’ he was soon given special responsibilities. That was until, he was falsely accused and locked-up in prison. Again, because of his honest and open character, he was eventually released and given yet more responsibilities, only to find – on his watch – the 7 years of economic boom were quickly followed by 7 years of economic bust – as a global catastrophe swept through the land. And all this hardship because his brothers sold him down the river. The irony was that, years later, his brothers came to him for a bailout. They didn’t recognise him. Why would they? As far as they were concerned, he was dead.
Maybe you’ve felt betrayed in the past. Let down by the ones who should have been there for you.
That could have been the moment Joseph got his revenge. Instead. In Genesis chapter 50 verse 20, he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”  God has a long track-record of helping good come out of bad; resurrection, out of death. It wasn’t that God said, I’m going to make you suffer just so that I can then be seen to do something good. Nor is it that evil calls the shots; only if God allows suffering, does evil then permit some good. It is simply that what evil intended for our harm, God is able to redeem for our good.
That’s what Paul later meant when he said in Romans 8:28 “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” God is the Master of bringing about good out of bad situations.
So, years later, Paul – Saint Paul – was in lock-down, in prison. Held simply for being a follower of Christ. As tough as that was – and it would have been – Paul could also see good coming from it. In verse 12, he says: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.“ Paul’s experience was the same as Joseph’s: what evil intended for harm, God was redeeming for our good.
Being in prison, he was meeting people he wouldn’t otherwise have met – fellow prisoners and members of the Imperial Guard. Has the lock-down enabled you to get to know people – new people? Or others on a deeper level?
What’s more, Paul found they were taking an interest in his faith.
That’s been our experience too. The lock-down closed our building and forced us to go online. We’ve been learning fast how to do this. But we’ve found, far more people now take part in these Sunday Online services. #GrowingCommunity.
24% of all UK adults say they have watched or listened to a religious service since lockdown. That rises to 34% of ALL 18-34 year olds. Maybe that’s your story. BC – Before Covid-19 – you didn’t “do” church or at least, not this one. But somehow, during the Lock-down you’ve stumbled across us, and been surprised by taken you’ve become, not necessarily so much with us, but with faith. It’s felt like coming home. If that’s your story, drop me, Carys, or  Liz a line. We’d LOVE to hear from you.
Paul went on to say, lock-down was also strengthening the faith of regulars too.  In verse 14 he says: “Because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”  With Paul tied up, the rest had had to step-up, doing things for themselves and others. 
We’re seeing that here too. The scale of lock-down has made us realise caring for one another is what we ALL do. Pastoral care starts with US – all of us. It’s been so good to see and hear all the phone calls, text message, socially-distanced doorstep visits that have been spontaneously happening. It’s brought us all together more. Again, #GrowingCommunity.
Instead of sitting at home, waiting for others to call us, we’ve all been calling one another. It’s done others a lot of good. It’s done US even more good. 
The lock-down has also forced us to dig deep in our faith. Whether it’s:
•	Daily Office twice a day, 7.30 am morning office or 9.00 pm evening Compline
•	taking part in the recent 24 hour Prayer challenge
•	simply cultivating time to “be” in the presence of God
•	praying more for others and ourselves

Like Paul, we’ve become more confident in the Lord. And more open – bold – in our talking openly to others about our faith. If you haven’t yet, why not like and share this service. Pass it on to others. Text the link, ChesterRoadBaptist.org.uk/Watch
Now, it is true that not everything you find on the Internet is as helpful as our Sunday Online services! Yes, there is some fabulous content out there. But there is also a lot of nonsense – religious nonsense. Nonsense, because it makes NO sense. Paul pretty much said the same to those he was writing to. In verse 15, he says: “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.” Some are driven by love and a desire to simply lead people to Christ. The point is not them, it’s Christ.
But others are driven more by selfish ambition and their own needs. They may use religious language, they may even quote Jesus (usually twisting His words, quoting out of context), but actually it becomes all about THEM and making them look better, richer, more powerful.
Paul doesn’t waste time calling-out the insincerity and selfishness of others, he simply doubles his efforts to speak well about Jesus. He is driven by a desire for others to come to know Christ, for their lives to be changed, as his had been. 
We all know that counterfeit money exists. We don’t stop using money just because we’ve heard that sometime, somewhere, some notes were counterfeit.  Likewise, you may have experienced counterfeit religion in the past.  Maybe it took you in at first – only later did you discover it was counterfeit.  And that’s put you off faith altogether. Just because some is not authentic, don’t let that put you off discovering the genuine, life-bringing love of Christ.
Have the confidence to reject the specific cases of fraud and pursue whole-heartedly.
We need the same drive, desire, that Paul had to see others come to know Christ too. When people encountered authentic Jesus, he rejoiced. He was elated. Why? Because it really matters.
So, what had the lock-down ever given us? An opportunity to discover authentic Jesus, free from some of the religious trappings and nonsense. Our church building may be closed, but our church, our Growing Community, is alive and active as ever. During lock-down, church is a bit different. And it’s doing us some good.
How have you grown in faith through this lock-down?

DannyBrierley@ChesterRoadBaptist.org.uk