COVID-19 and church
I was having a conversation with a friend of mine the other night about churches still having church during the COVID-19 shutdown. He asked me how I would reconcile Romans 13:1-2 with going to church? This is our conversation:
Me: “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.”
Romans 13:1-2 HCSB
This is the verse that we would use to stay out of the church during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our government leaders are set up by God to keep us safe.
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
Hebrews 13:17 HCSB
This verse tells us to listen to leaders who watch over our souls. I would say that no one in Washington, Columbus, Charleston, or another capitol is watching over our souls. But our pasters are watching and trying to do the best for us and our souls.
“And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 HCSB
This is Paul telling us to gather as much as we can so we can encourage each other till Jesus returns.
“Watch out, brothers, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.”
Hebrews 3:12-13 HCSB
This is the writer of Hebrews telling us to encourage each other every day.
“The one who is clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and the seventh day. After he purifies the unclean person on the seventh day, the one being purified must wash his clothes and bathe in water, and he will be clean by evening.”
Numbers 19:19 HCSB
This one is a bit of a stretch but those who come in contact with a dead body is to wash on the third day and the seventh day. If Monday was day 1 then Wednesday would be day 3 and Sunday would be day 7. So we should gather on Sunday and Wednesday to be washed by the word of God because we are touching this dead world.
So how do we reconcile obeying Government authority to stay out of Church and God who says stay in church?
I would rather listen to God than man.
“But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;”
Acts 4:19 HCSB
You do what is best for your family. A pastor will do what he feels is best for his church. The government does what they feel is best for their state or nation. And God will sort it out in the end. Thank God for Facebook live and other social media outlets that will still let us post church services so that those who need to stay home can still engage in church.”
Him: ”I feel if God is telling you to go then go. And if He is telling you to stay then stay. This how I would feel on the COVID-19 pandemic. ”
Me: ”I don't blame anyone for going or not going. It is a smart decision either way.”
Now if they were to completely shut down churches and forbid being a Christian. I would say GO. Do not forsake God because man tells you to stop. But for now, the government is just doing what they think is best to stop this pandemic.
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