Should I Go to Church During Coronavirus?

Right now, it's safer to practice your religion from home.

The church is a wonderful place to go to practice your religion, to connect with your community, and to set intentions for how you want to live your life. But if you're wondering if you should go to church during the coronavirus outbreak, the answer is probably no.

Many churches have taken steps to close their doors already, but even if your church is still open, the CDC is recommending that gatherings of more than 50 people be canceled — and that's in addition to its guidelines about the remaining six feet away from others. Even if you're feeling perfectly healthy, social distancing is important for slowing the spread of the virus.

But staying home doesn't mean there aren't ways to practice your religion and stay in touch with your church community. Here are some things you can do.

Read a daily Bible verse

Take a few minutes out of each day to read a bit of the Bible. It can help you find calm amid the stress of the world, and it can make you feel centered in your religious practices. Focusing especially on some uplifting scripture can be a great way to culminate a sense of peace within.

Listen to a religious podcast

A great podcast can feel like listening to your best friends having an interesting conversation. It can create a sense of community and socializing even when you're by yourself. So a religious podcast can be a great substitute when you can't physically be with your religious community. Try out a variety of Christian podcasts to see what you like best, and soon enough you'll feel right at home with your favorite hosts.

Stream church services

It's 2020, which means even the church has befriended technology. There are so many churches right now that are streaming services and prayer groups so you can "attend" services from the comfort of your home. Look into a variety of church services that are being streamed from around the country, and of course check in with your local church to see if they're streaming, too.

Check-in with members of your church community

In times of crisis, the community is so important. A little kindness goes a long way, and there are so many ways you can help others during the Coronavirus outbreak. One great way to help others and keep your community connected is to check in with other community members. Whether that's picking up the phone and dialing through numbers in your church's phone directory, or sending emails to the members of your Bible study group, it's important to make sure that others are okay during this time. Be sure to check in with elderly members of your congregation who may be feeling uneasy about the situation and who might be looking for help buying groceries or picking up their prescriptions.

The term "social distancing" might make you think that you can't interact with other people, but especially in times of crisis, it's important to keep in contact with those who matter to you. Though maintaining a physical distance is advised, now is the time to develop other methods of communication. Bring your church practices into your home, and spend time talking on the phone or video-chatting with other members of your community who are doing the same. You might be isolating, but that is so reason to be alone.