The pandemic we’ve been enduring for most of this year, along with so many other disruptions to our ordinary lives, might make us think more deeply about how we answer the customary question, “How are you doing?” Many have found it not so easy anymore to answer with the usual, “I’m fine.” Few seem to be unfazed by this extraordinary past year.

There are obvious struggles, things like our children’s education and economic anxieties. But there are also many not-so-obvious hardships that have come, the results of which are often not immediately seen. The damage of prolonged isolation from people and the long-term effects of children not being in school. The more apparent the difficulties and stresses, the more attention we naturally give to them. But it’s those hidden hardships that we also need to be sure we don’t ignore.

Is It Well with Your Soul?

The challenges of the past year can remind us that as important as it is for us to be concerned about the well-being of our physical lives, we must not neglect the condition of our souls. In the little biblical letter called 3 John, the customary greeting recorded in verse 2 reminds us to consider the condition of both. The author of the letter (the “elder”) writes this to his friend Gaius:

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. ~3 Jn 2

“There is biblical warrant here for desiring the physical as well as the spiritual welfare of our Christian friends,” writes John Stott. In this case, the author knew that his friend was doing well spiritually, having recently received a good report that Gaius was “walking in the truth” (3 Jn 3). It was right for “the elder” to wish that Gaius would also do well physically, even though there is no hint here of any kind of prosperity theology. Physical hardships are certain for Christians, but more concerning is what these physical hardships can do to our souls (1 Thess 3:1-4).

That’s why it is important that Christians take into consideration the condition of their souls as we deal with the hardships we face in our lives. We who believe in eternal realities must never seek the well-being of our temporal bodies while ignoring the state of our souls. But the problem here again is that it is not so easy for us to accurately assess how our own soul is doing. We need our Christian brothers and sisters to give us a more accurate assessment. We need the Christian community to have their eyes on us.

Don’t Be Careless

Our family had to cancel our Thanksgiving plans with our extended family. We are disappointed. It was not an easy decision, but it’s the right thing to do right now. Our church also had to cancel in-person worship this past Sunday due to the horrifying infection rates of COVID-19 in our city. The elders didn’t make that decision lightly, either. It is clear that not assembling together is good for our physical health, but we also know that not assembling the church together is a very serious threat to our spiritual health. It has been over eight months since we’ve all been able to assemble together for corporate worship. This is not good. As we enter into the colder months we have to calculate the risks not only to our bodies but also to our souls as we make decisions about gathering together for worship and fellowship. We do not want to be careless about the real threat to our bodies that comes from gathering. But we also do not want to be careless about the real threat to our souls that comes when we don’t.

So pray for the elders of Crosstown and the healthcare professionals in our church who advise them. There are difficult decisions that have to be made.

But every single one of us who is a disciple of Jesus also has to make difficult decisions here. There are good reasons for the well-being of your physical health to stay away from in-person contact with others who do not live in the same house as you. But there are also good reasons, for the well-being of your souls, to risk getting together with others, not for a Turkey dinner, but for fellowship in the word and in prayer.

Mitigate the Risk

If you choose to get together with others, take the appropriate precautions, not only for yourself, but also for the safety of others around you. Wear a mask. Social distance. Practice good hygiene. It’s not just for your well-being. It’s about loving your neighbor.

But if you choose to stay away for now, take the appropriate precautions for the sake of your soul and for the soul of your fellow Christian. We need each other now more than ever. Hop on a virtual meeting with your Missional Family or at least set up a regular time to meet virtually with some of your brothers and sisters at Crosstown to share some Scripture with one another and to pray. There are things we can do to mitigate the risk to our bodies when we gather. And there are also things we can do to mitigate the risk to our souls when we don’t.

Brothers and sisters, I pray that in the months ahead you will be in good health, both in body and in soul.