--- title: God is Unconcerned About When We Reopen description: Regardless of when we go back, I am pretty convinced that God cares more about how we go back, how we treat people as we think through this, and how we care for those whose opinions differ from ours.  image: https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/God%20is%20Unconcerned%20when%20blog100.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/god-is-unconcerned-about-when-we-reopen#main-content) [![cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp?width=342&height=95&name=cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp "cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95")](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [How We Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [How We Help Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [How We Help Churches](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/church/) - [Our Team](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/team/) - [Our Mission & Strategy](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [Churches](https://chemistrystaffing.com/church) - [Hire New Staff](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/2021-churches-new-staff-hiring/) - [Free 30-Minute Church Consult](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Chemistry Solutions – You Don’t Have to Do Ministry Alone](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/solutions/) - [Final Fit Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/final-fit-assessment/) - [Senior Pastor Succession](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/succession/) - [Job Seekers](https://chemistrystaffing.com/candidate) - [Add My Resume / Profile](https://chemistry.fyi/kwq) - [Current Openings](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [Free Resume Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/free-resume-self-assessment/) - [Step-by-Step Job Search](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/cjb) - [How Chemistry Can Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Resources](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Free Playbooks & Downloads](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/) - [Chemistry Blog](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [2024 Youth Pastor Compensation Survey](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/2024-yp-compensation-survey/) - [Contact Us](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate-contact-page/) - [Churches](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Find a Job](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [My Church is Hiring](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) [Current Events](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/tag/current-events) # God is Unconcerned About When We Reopen Regardless of when we go back, I am pretty convinced that God cares more about how we go back, how we treat people as we think through this, and how we care for those whose opinions differ from ours.  ![](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/God%20is%20Unconcerned%20when%20blog100.png) # He's more concerned with how we do it   Over the course of the last eight weeks, I have had a ton of conversations with pastors who are wrestling through what reopening their building looks like. In some ways, the conversations are encouraging: *pastors are leaning into the hard work and thinking well through this process. *In other ways, these calls are heartbreaking: *the divided state of our nation has forced pastors into a no-win situation where regardless of what they decide, someone will let them know how stupid they are being. *   Church, we are better than this.  On Sunday morning I watched Pastor Kevin Myers of 12Stone Church walk through how they are approaching reopening their building. Kevin used the metaphor of a traffic light to describe three types of people right now: red light people are not ready to go back out, yellow light people are being cautious, and green light people have been back to normal for weeks. He then said something that describes where the Church needs to be better than anything I have heard so far: > *"We are not a green, yellow or red light church. We are a Traffic Light Church with all lights on. We should honor one another's opinions."* Let that sink in.  Regardless of when we go back, I am pretty convinced that God cares more about how we go back, how we treat people as we think through this, and how we care for those whose opinions differ from ours.  I think the world around us cares about this too. [You can see the whole service here](https://www.12stone.com/watch/traffic-light) or you can watch below, it is well worth your time: [![blob](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blob.jpeg?width=600&name=blob.jpeg)](https://www.12stone.com/watch/traffic-light) As you wrestle through these decisions and shepherd your people, I am praying for you.  Matt     ![matt](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/matt.png?width=124&name=matt.png)   PS. It's not too late to sign up for tomorrow's *Now What? Webinar.* We know that the current pandemic is changing everything about the church, at least temporarily.  Join Darrell Roland, Caleb Smith, Matt Steen and Todd Rhoades as we talk about what Chemistry Staffing is learning during this time, and what long-term changes we think COVID-19 will bring to the way that you staff your church in the future. [This will be a great conversation... click here to register](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/virtual/)!   [![Schedule A Free Consultation](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5045578/b77ee3a2-d157-494b-a4fc-d4c3b22d6364.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5045578/b77ee3a2-d157-494b-a4fc-d4c3b22d6364) ### [![Matt Steen](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/IMG_4588.jpg) Matt Steen](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/author/matt-steen) Matt has served the local church for over two decades as a youth pastor, church planter, and executive pastor. Originally from Baltimore, Matt currently lives in Orlando, with his wife Theresa, and has a B.S. in Youth Ministry from Nyack College and an M.Div. and MBA from Baylor University. Certified as an Urban Church Planter Coach by Redeemer City to City and as a StratOp facilitator by the Paterson Center, Matt has made a career of helping churches thrive through intentionality, clarity, and creating healthy cultures. He is convinced that a healthy church is led by a healthy team with great chemistry, and loves partnering with Chemistry’s churches to do great things for the Kingdom. [![Facebook Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/snoop4jc) [![Twitter Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/matt_steen) [![Linkedin Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsteen/) ## Latest Resources Browse Articles ![What's Actually Killing Your Church? The Surprising 250-Year Diagnosis](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/blog-images/featured/featured_158.png) #### What's Actually Killing Your Church? The Surprising 250-Year Diagnosis Church decline isn't what you think. Discover what's really threatening the church today vs. 1776 and the 1900s—and why low numbers aren't ... ![What's Actually Killing Your Church? 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Learn why competency should trump credentials in your ministry staff se... ![Stop Screening Out Your Best Candidates: Why Competency Matters More Than Seminary Degrees](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) ###### Todd Rhoades July 06, 2026 [![Elements Logo](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/logos/logo.svg "Elements Logo")](http://chemistrystaffing.com) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecteturor adipiscing elit. Tincidunt donec vulputate ipsum erat urna auctor. 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