The worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has changed during 2020.

Due to the Chinese coronavirus, many people have stopped going to church in person. Some watch services online and others Zoom for Sunday School and other Bible studies.

Easter was canceled at many Christian churches. Christmas programs have been curtailed.

In California and other parts of the nation, government officials will permit the casinos to open yet they try to shut down churches. They try to impose restrictions if churches do meet, including a ban on group singing.

Funerals are canceled or curtailed. Weddings have a limited number of guests.

Children’s ministries and youth groups are suffering. Christian summer camps closed or were limited.

The not-so-subtle message is that gathering at church or for any religious purpose is dangerous, maybe deadly.

The good news is that the church prospers in adversity and persecution. Let’s face it – a lot of people who went to church before the pandemic were not serious about their faith. With this crisis, they must decide if there is value in going to church and associating with God’s people in a local fellowship.

Those who endure this season of hardship should be stronger in their faith. The deadly nature of the pandemic has forced some nominal church attenders to ponder their eternal destiny.

The ultimate good news is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus came as a baby, lived a perfect life and then died on the cross to save mankind.

That is a message that overcomes any challenge presented by a pandemic.