An Appeal to Appeal COVID-19 Church Closures

This past week, I've been quite passionate and vocal concerning church closures in response to COVID-19. Some have rendered me and those who share my sentiments as selfish, unwise or foolish, as they believe the church needs to do its part to help the world overcome a global pandemic. Yet, that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to communicate these last several days: that the church does its part. And by closing its doors in a time of crisis, I fully believe we are doing the opposite of that.

Even those who have disagreed with me on this topic don’t believe church closures to be ideal. The issue comes when we discuss the best course of action in light of government mandates and public health concerns. I am sensitive to and certainly respect our need to obey our government. I also respect the concerns some may have regarding the potential spread of COVID-19. Yet, with all of these elements at play, we can’t surely believe we should continue to forsake assembling should present conditions extend beyond April.

So what should we do?

MIGHT WE APPEAL TO OUR GOVERNING AUTHORITIES?

Indeed, I am of the mind that Hebrews 10 and Acts 5 apply to our current affairs as our government, through these bans and recommendations, is actually asking us to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, even if indirectly. I originally figured Believers across the country could and would simply obey the size limits by breaking into smaller groups or holding multiple services - that way we’d also obey Romans 13 while keeping Hebrews 10:25 intact and not have to resort to rebelling against the government in order to honor the Lord, as Peter and the Apostles do in Acts 5:42. Yet, many of these regulations are beginning to threaten even that prudent arrangement.

Still others see Romans 13 as most applicable to our situation, and don’t believe a suitable workaround exists other than to live stream services. Yet, in keeping with Romans 13, might we consider this an opportunity to act in good faith and petition our political leaders for permission to meet/gather before their policies get too restrictive/lengthy? This isn’t about a rebellious, revolutionary protest, but a humble request that we could submit to our leaders. If they grant our petition, those who aren’t comfortable with meeting don’t have to attend, for everything must be done in faith. But at least those of us willing could gather, and we might even consider getting tested for COVID-19 to put anxieties at ease and to ensure we and others are not left operating on presumptions and speculations. How we go about doing this could be further discussed and fleshed out, but I was just wondering how we might work to ensure everyone’s concerns are addressed as we seek to obey our God, consider one another and respect those who rule over us.

Requesting “Essential” Designation

Cannabis sales boom while Churches fiddle with Zoom — *Cannabis sales boom* *while Churches fiddle with Zoom*

Perhaps in requesting permission to gather, we could do it under a petition to be designated as an “essential” service/resource to our community.

I make this suggestion because New York and California, where near or full lockdowns have been instituted, are exempting some entities from the limit on gatherings because they are said to provide a good or service deemed “essential” to their residents and communities during these uncertain times. In San Francisco, for example, cannabis stores are deemed "essential", so much so that they are exempt from amassing day-long crowds and long lines, even as their patrons don’t all have a doctor’s prescription for medicinal marijuana. The rationale is that because many are anxious at this time they need a source of relief. Marijuana is considered that source of relief...ergo, cannabis is a necessity.

Is the Church not of greater benefit to our society?

By not including churches on the list of exemptions, it’s clear our culture doesn’t deem God “essential”. This is certainly a sign that our society is growing further and further away from its reverence for its Creator. Yet, that’s where pleading our case before our governing authorities would come in. New York’s list of essential services, for example, excludes churches, but it does make an invitation to those not on the list to request designation. Moreover, while the state strongly requests houses of worship cancel their gatherings, they do not order them closed. Perhaps the same would apply in other states.

As Believers, we are salt and light, and that entails our willingness to stand up for truth and righteousness that we help slow the spread of darkness in our society. I believe our present circumstance is an excellent opportunity to live that out. There are many either “soul searching” or sincerely panicked and in fear thanks to this crisis. Wouldn’t this be the best time for our light to shine? Some would argue we are doing this by not gathering; that by being willing to forsake our assembling, we are loving our neighbor. But to love our neighbor as Christ would have us, we’d first have to love God - and to love God is to obey His commandments (1 John 5:3). We are called to gather together and also stand out in this world. It is challenging to see how “social distancing” the Body is sincerely an example of our being called out of the world and set apart for God’s holy service. How do we love our neighbors in the world as Christ would have us if, especially in this moment, we look just like them?

So again, might we consider requesting our governing authorities for permission to be set apart? Of course, this isn’t something we have to request nor do we need their permission to do what God has instructed of us, but this would be an example how we’d show good faith. We pray for our leaders all the time. Perhaps we could pray God would soften their hearts in our favor and grant us our petition. It wouldn’t hurt to try.

Daniel was in an entirely different land, where he was expected to adopt their culture and ways, and, as much as it depended on him, he submitted to that. But where their culture and decrees infringed upon his faith practices, he continued to honor God according to his faith-based customs. And when he requested a special diet, for example, it was honored and God was glorified when they saw the outcome (Daniel 1).

Speaking of Romans 13...

Now, Daniel was a stranger in a foreign land, yet his governing authorities granted his petition in this particular case. We know it was ultimately because God was on his side, so what more might we gain? We are citizens of this land, so wouldn’t it be all the more possible that our government would grant our petition? Technically, these measures are infringing on our constitutional rights, so, again, if our concerns are obeying our earthly government, won’t we be willing to appeal to that? For now, our First Amendment rights are still on the books and remain intact, we just need to apply them. So why not exercise wisdom along these lines and appeal to them on the chance God would change the heart of the “King” in our favor? Again, this isn’t a request to start a revolution, simply to be wise and exhaust every legal opportunity available to us under the premise of obeying our government. It isn’t a sin to speak up for what would best serve our ability to worship our God. Indeed, as Believers we give up our rights that we serve others. But we don’t give up our rights that we do not serve God as He’s prescribed.

I’ve seen it argued that we as Believers should go above and beyond, and not merely do the bare minimum; that we should follow the spirit of the law and not simply the letter of it. I agree. Except I am concerned that we might be going above and beyond to obey our government and giving our God the bare minimum in exchange. Do we sincerely believe “virtual gatherings” obey the spirit of Hebrews 10:25? If so, why would Believers subject themselves to persecution when they could have all scattered and written letters to one another? Why the need for the book of Acts and the pastoral epistles, where we see the Apostles establish various local churches, appoint elders in every city, and institute God’s order for corporate worship? It sincerely seems our eagerness to obey our earthly government is causing us to lose sight of the oracles of God. Indeed, we cannot serve two masters, for we will love the one and hate the other (Matthew 6:24). Why go above and beyond to obey man when it would be more beneficial to go above and beyond to avoid sinning against God?

MIGHT WE APPEAL TO OUR GOD?

Ultimately, we serve God, and His Church is His Body. And as a Body, in the Scriptures, we are commanded to gather together for worship and fellowship on one accord - even often admonished by Paul to greet one another with a “holy kiss” (Romans 16:16; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26, and elsewhere).

It is clear from the Scriptures that it is God’s intention that our gathering be in person. Unless a member is imprisoned or rendered physically and sincerely incapable of joining the gathering (ex. by illness or distance), our conscience shouldn’t be able to reason that our in-person gathering can be rightly forsaken. Even if one is sick or in prison, the Church should still visit them (Matthew 25:36, James 5:14) and if one is separated from us by distance, they are admonished to join a local fellowship.

Yet, there are some who have sincere concerns about the spread of COVID-19. Even as they wish to obey our government, they are perhaps mostly concerned that by gathering with the Body, they are placing themselves or others in harm's way. But as I’ve previously noted, such individuals, being sincerely convinced in their own mind, could simply not gather and they could opt to join online if they wish and are able.

Even still, as Believers in Christ, I would hope they would consider the following:

Jesus made physical contact with the sick: Jesus was charged with breaking the law for not only healing on the sabbath, but for touching a leper, whom the law deemed unclean (Leviticus 5:3; Matthew 8:3). Jesus made physical contact with someone the law said was unclean and contagious. Some today would consider Jesus unwise for that move, given that He could have spread the disease to His disciples or others. Yet, Jesus always appealed to the greater, spiritual work of God in those moments (Matthew 12:10-11; Luke 6:7, etc). The point of not touching the unclean person was to prevent the spread of disease. But Christ made the leper clean! When the unclean has been made clean, there is no disease to spread.

Consider this nuance between the letter of the law and the spirit of it - the reason a law was written and how the truth addresses it that the law is no longer necessary. Scripture says the Law was written to show us our sin (Romans 7:7). Yet in Christ, we don’t keep the letter of the Law, because we are now walking in the Spirit rather than the flesh.

The government is limiting/prohibiting gatherings to prevent the spread of disease. Yet, God’s people are not only clean, but in His presence, He says we are protected from the pestilence even as it plagues those around us (Psalm 91). Or don’t we believe that to be true? Don’t we believe that when we are gathered we are in the presence of God (Matthew 18:18-20)? For the sake of unbelievers or those weak in faith, we can get tested to show that our results are negative. But Believers should have an inherent ability to trust God more than our present actions tend to suggest we do.

2. Technology does not foster unity: Some would consider our forsaking the in-person gathering to be bearable because we have technology. Yet, that seems to be a stumbling block, for now our faith is placed in technology rather than Christ. We can surely thank God for technological advancements. Yet a day is coming when even that won’t be an option for us, as our faith is increasingly censored or banned in online forums. But we do have it for now, and it certainly keeps us connected. But our internet connection isn’t what unifies us, the Holy Spirit does - and He saw fit to give each part of the Body gifts that when we gather together we are equipped and able to edify one another.

I understand the concern that COVID-19 could spread amongst our members, namely our children and senior members. Thus some find meeting in person to be unwise. But is it unwise to believe God, to whom we pray would stop this disease globally, is capable of preventing its spread amongst us? Does it truly make sense to pray and ask God to stop the spread of COVID-19 around the world if we don’t believe God can stop the spread of it amongst His own people, namely His people who are gathered together in the name of Christ that we honor Him in corporate worship? Is it logical to pray for the Lord to stop this disease globally, in a world that rejects Him, but we don’t believe He can stop it amongst His children assembled in our respective local gatherings?

Again, it seems many governments have shown a willingness to waive restrictions on gathering sizes so long as the entity is designated essential. There are more people in the lines at Target and Walmart than in many of our congregations - even more when we consider the number of those who regularly attend service.

Yet we cannot gather?

Meanwhile, abortion clinics are open. Marijuana dispensaries are open. Doormen, whose job is to hold open the doors to luxury residences for the wealthy, are among the workers who are exempt from staying at home.

But God’s house is closed?

Pastors are the Church’s “doormen”, as they usher us, the rich in Christ, into the mansion He has prepared for us. Yet they are home. They are essential as well! Streaming their teachings certainly gets the truth out, but this also threatens to render them non-essential to their respective flocks, as one could just tune into any old body come Sunday morning for “a word”. But they are our shepherds who watch over our souls. How can they do this effectively from a “social distance”?

I SAID ALL OF THIS TO SAY...

If I’m honest, I ultimately see all that’s going on as a spiritual attack on the Body of Christ, even as these regulations and recommendations appear to be for everyone and are not (yet) faith-based. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). As such, we must consider the spirit of the age. We are in the last days, when Biblical prophecy says many will fall away (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:3). We must be sober-minded and alert, for our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). I’m sincerely afraid that by many churches closing their doors, individual members of the Body are now prime for the picking. Pushing us online only makes silencing us that much easier, as regulations will eventually come to ban our faith-based speech - let alone our online worship services. Even as some might lose our jobs for the sake of Christ, there may come an inability to pay for internet connection. Any of these scenarios are possible. Satan is crafty.

Yet, Christ is greater, which is why we should trust the warnings He saw fit to give us in His word. He tells us to always be watchful of our adversary’s schemes. The hour of temptation is upon us, so we must watch and pray that we are kept from it and endure to the end. If we ignore these warnings - if we opt to depend on our human wisdom and ingenuity and submit to our flesh, we will be weak, and we won’t make it (Matthew 26:41). We need to walk in the Spirit and lean heavily on the Words of Christ and one another in this hour.

As the Apostle Paul admonishes…

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Please consider our essential need to gather in person, Saints. I make this appeal to you in love and with much grace.

~ Veriteetfeu

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

— Ephesians 4:11-16

Correction: An earlier version of this post simply noted that the state of New York does not list churches on its list of essential services. While this is the case, according to Governor Cuomo’s Guidance on Essential Services Under the ‘New York State On PAUSE’ Executive Order, houses of worship (churches, mosques, synagogues, etc) are not ordered closed. An excerpt from the Guidance appears below.

“Houses of worship are not ordered closed however it is strongly recommended no congregate services be held and social distance maintained.”