March 13, 2025
Virtually every group or institution was divided by lockdowns.
March 15 is the five-year anniversary of “two weeks to flatten the curve.”
And now, there’s a book coming out about it – A House Divided: Technology, Worship, and Healing the Church After COVID by Benjamin D. Giffone.
Today’s episode of Gracearchy with Jim Babka was recorded as part of a longer interview in January. But it’s being shared today because it’s been five years since the start of what was, for so many of us, a national nightmare.
I’m socially conditioned to feel embarrassed by my ongoing obsession over what happened in our country from 2020-2023 during the “worldwide sickness” – a phrase we use because when we started this show in 2022, the word “pandemic” put you under a spotlight for strikes at YouTube.
Yet, I press ahead and speak up anyhow – just as I did on March 15, 2020 on my own Facebook page, as my Governor (and then nearly every other governor) did what I still maintain was constitutionally illegal.
I’m returning to the old wounds because I fear people will learn nothing.
What the hell is the value of history if no one learns a damned thing from it?
And what is the use of a theology or doctrine if it becomes bland, instead of salty, fearful, instead of faithful?
Seriously, I ask… What good is a Christian who is afraid of Death?
That was one of the questions Bill and I discussed with Doug Stuart, of the Libertarian Christian Institute, in a commute-length episode titled, “Churches Five Years After Lockdown.”
OR…
Most people were compliant and quiet at two weeks, and only a few grumbled for the next couple of weeks. But we Americans were more divided by lockdowns as they hung on past their initial “sell by” date and did rotten things to our mind, emotions, social harmony, and pocketbooks. Some businesses never recovered.
So you don’t need to be a church attendee to appreciate this discussion. In fact, I’m a DONE – as in “done with church.” We Dones value our relationship with Jesus but have parted from the white washed religious buildings. During the interview, Doug and I discussed the Dones and their approach to the worldwide sickness.
Moreover, it’s very hard to believe the civic handling of the crisis itself wasn’t religious. This situation had saviors and scapegoats. There were purity rituals along with clean and unclean persons.
Near the conclusion of our discussion, Doug brought up one of the best-known teachers and his lesson was about how ancient Christians weren’t scared of helping the sick – they went toward the risk. That was novel. Special. But, well…
You’ll have to tune in to catch the ironic twist in that story.
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ZAP The State and have a nice day,
Jim Babka
Host, Gracearchy with Jim Babka
Co-creator, Zero Aggression Project
Jim Babka is the co-creator of the Zero Aggression Project. However, the views expressed in the show do not necessarily reflect those of the board, staff, or supporters of the Zero Aggression Project (Downsize DC Foundation).