Posted on 04/05/2020 7:20:41 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
There is precedent in Scripture for godly people saying no to the governing authorities. There are times when, to use the words of Peter, “We must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29). Is today one of those times?
One of the slogans of the American Revolution was, “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” Is our government being tyrannical when it forbids us to gather? Is this the right time to rebel, despite the Bible’s clear teaching that, generally speaking, we are called to obey the authorities? (See Romans 13.)
Let’s examine this from several angles.
First, are local authorities guilty of unconstitutional overreach and/or uneven enforcement of the laws?
In some cases, the answer is yes. This happened in Greensboro, North Carolina, where pro-life workers were arrested for praying outside of an abortion clinic.
As announced on April 3, “Alliance Defending Freedom sent a letter Thursday to the city of Greensboro on behalf of pro-life advocates whom police arrested for engaging in peaceful prayer outside an abortion facility. As the letter explains, the arrests should not have occurred because the pro-life volunteers, who are members of the Christian ministry Love Life, were in compliance with a Guilford County emergency proclamation related to the coronavirus crisis.”
North Carolina’s Governor Cooper had determined that abortion clinics provide “essential services” and so should remain open. Love Life believes that, as long as babies are being killed in the womb, they should be there to offer an alternative. So, several workers, with their attorney, showed up at the clinic, following the state's safety guidelines to a tee. Their arrest was unjust. The pro-lifers did the right thing.
A second, closely related question is this: Do churches provide “essential services”? In that case, should any of their activities be shut down?
Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne felt that the state of Florida was being inconsistent in its application of the law, allowing crowded stores to remain open but forcing churches to close. (He also felt this violated the next question we’ll ask, namely, is the government acting tyrannically?)
Getting national attention, Howard-Browne called for his church to meet, yet went to extreme measures to follow safety guidelines.
(For his detailed statement, explaining the lengths to which the church went to preserve safety, see here: https://lc.org/newsroom/details/040220-statement-of-dr-rodney-howardbrowne ).
He was subsequently arrested, but after Liberty Counsel threatened the state with a federal lawsuit, Florida Governor DeSantis changed the state’s policy. DeSantis recognized the church as providing an essential service, and he lifted the ban on meetings, also dropping all charges against Pastor Howard-Browne.
Was this a good outcome, a bad outcome, or a mixed outcome? I respect Howard-Browne’s determination, his forcing the issue of unjust laws, and the measures that he took to comply with safety guidelines.
On the other hand, it is not essential for the church to gather in a building on a Sunday morning to be the church. Churches can provide essential services to the community (such as providing food for the hungry) outside of large, corporate gatherings. They should be allowed to function as such, in conformity with safety guidelines.
After all, if gun stores or abortion clinics or liquor stores are allowed to remain open in some states, providing alleged essential services, why not church buildings? (Again, I’m not speaking about public gatherings; I’m speaking about providing other services).
This, then, leads to the third, and larger question: is the federal government restricting our most fundamental liberties? If so, are we setting a dangerous precedent for the future if we surrender those liberties now, even briefly?
Pastor Cary Gordon of Iowa has provided eloquent reasons to push back, arguing that “we are able to use this opportunity to stand together against the statist abuse of power that is so tempting for those in positions of authority when they are compelled by emergencies and fears to act beyond the limits placed directly against them by the Constitution of the United States.”
He defied the state’s order not to gather but had his congregants stay in their cars in the parking lots, listening to a sermon through an FM frequency on their radio. Like Howard-Browne, he felt it was essential that he push back against a dangerous government precedent.
Did he do the right thing? I do respect why he did what he did, which is part of his larger, Christian worldview. Gordon is a clear-headed, Constitutional thinker, and his full letter should be read carefully. And he, too, went out of his way to preserve the safety of his flock.
Yet there is a fourth question that, in my view, trumps the question of our liberties, namely, what do practical wisdom and sacrificial love require of us now? What is our highest calling? Personally, I believe we should gladly restrict our liberties, for the moment, to save the lives of others.
When it comes to our public gatherings, that has been my position all along. We recognize that the federal government has not singled us out for persecution, any more than bars or restaurants or sports venues have been singled out. All are restricted from public gatherings. Plus, in President Trump, we have a strong advocate for our religious liberties.
Again, when local authorities go too far, we push back and speak out (as with the case of New York City Mayor de Blasio’s overreach; Pastor Howard-Browne felt the need to do this in Florida as well, since the law allowed for 42 paragraphs of exemptions, excluding churches).
But, as a general principle during this intensive, short season, I believe we should not be gathering together based on principles of wisdom and love. Bishop Joseph Mattera has provided 9 biblically-based reasons not to assemble as churches at this time. I believe he offers sound wisdom.
Other churches felt it was fine to go on with their activities, but have paid the price, like the church in Washington State that held choir practice as usual on March 9. As of March 29, dozens of members had COVID-19 and two were dead. (For a tragic parallel with some ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in Israel, see here).
Across America, missionaries, bishops, pastors, and elders have died from the virus. Were they all lacking in faith? Were they any different than the leaders or congregants in other churches across the nation?
We simply cannot guarantee that, when we meet together in large groups, we will not contract and spread this super contagious and highly-deadly virus, perhaps sealing the deaths of others in the process. Does Jesus want us to do this in our zeal to preserve “our rights?”
We must also realize that the vast majority of our congregations cannot spend $100,000 installing air purifiers, as Rodney Howard-Browne did. Nor can we enforce social distancing guidelines if our church buildings are filled with worshipers.
And what happens if any of these churches that meet together during this season become hotbeds of infection? What if they become chief carriers of the virus? The world will have two words to describe those choices: selfish and stupid.
Worse still are the leaders who disparagingly mock other Christians who feel it is right to follow the government’s guidelines. May God forgive them for calling us “sissies” and “pansies.”
Again, I realize there are complex issues involved, and I respect pastors like Rodney Howard-Browne and Cary Gordon who have different perspectives. But I believe the law of love trumps other concerns and should be preeminent in our thinking today.
I believe the law of love trumps other concerns
is that like “it’s for the children”?
Have to smile when DeBlasio goes on his rants. He threatened to close permanently churches and synagogues that did not comply with his no services order. Somehow, someway he did not threaten the mosques.
Is it not in the New Testament to obey your leaders, because they were put there by God?
Not when they contradict the Word of God.
Which is why the rebellion of our Founding Fathers was in line with Biblical precepts, (which they all knew very well).
If obedience to leaders is God’s will, then why did St. Peter escape from prison?
Whoa up there. Because they were put there by God? That’s an extrapolation if I ever saw one.
God didn’t put these leaders into office over us. We did it ourselves. God merely let us have a republic.
It will bring a mark of everlasting infamy on the present generation – enlightened as it is – if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of designing men.”
-Sam Adams
A pastor who holds religious gatherings against government orders is one thing, but if he's doing this with a congregation full of Medicare and Medicaid recipients then he's nothing but a fraud and a charlatan.
If you really want to be free from government oversight of your religious practices, then do it like the Amish. I'll bet they don't even know they're supposed to be running around with their hair on fire and hoarding toilet paper in the midst of this fiasco.
When a MOSQUE gets closed, then I’ll sit up and take notice...
Well balanced commentary that gets to the heart of the issues in this current crisis from a clearing thinking, God honoring, people loving perspective.
In the United States, the people are the government. Christians do not give up their right to participate in the system (or oppose tyrant of the elected official) simply because we believe in the saving work of Jesus Christ.
In the US we have such things as emergency declarations during which the president or the governor has extraordinary powers to protect us. All of us.
When you violate those decrees and gather a group you not only endanger them you endanger everyone they come in contact with for the next fews days. this is how a regional virus can become a pandemic.
Your freedom to assembly and worship is superseded by the protection of all of our lives.
Learn to worship at home for a few weeks It’s good for your soul.
What if his name is Bernie Sanders and he's up to no good?
When you violate those decrees and gather a group you not only endanger them you endanger everyone they come in contact with for the next fews days.
Try not to equate violation of emergency decrees with endangering people. Depending on the nature of the "emergency" and the probity of the issuer, it could actually be the opposite.
The point is this; even in emergencies, some activities are deemed "essential". People may gather at supermarkets, for instance. So why must churches be completely shut down? Why are they not "essential"? Most churches see people for an hour, once/week. They see far less traffic than a supermarket. There has to be a reasonable alternative to their complete shuttering, which involves common sense and suitable precautions.
In Louisiana, the Governor explicitly DOES NOT have the authority to close churches. Period.
Here’s the law Bel Edwards cited in his 3/16 EO.
https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=85667
CHAPTER 6. THE LOUISIANA HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER ACT
Now here’s the exclusions.
https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=85685
RS 29:736 Exclusion
D. Nothing in this Chapter shall be interpreted to diminish the rights guaranteed to all persons under the Declaration of Rights of the Louisiana Constitution or the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. This Chapter shall not violate Article II (Distribution of Powers), Article III (Legislative Branch), or Article V (Judicial Branch) of the Louisiana Constitution. The courts shall be open, and every person shall have an adequate remedy by due process of law and justice, administered without denial, partiality, or unreasonable delay, for injury to him in his person, property, reputation, or other rights. The orders of all courts shall have their full force and effect. The legislature may call itself into session at any time and shall exercise its powers and duties. Its ability to enact law, appropriate funds, and confirm appointees shall be in full force. The privileges and immunities of legislators shall be respected.
In Acts 5:29, Peter was saying no to religious elite leaders, not to government leaders.
In fact, note that Romans 13:1 says that all authority has been established by G-d. So tread carefully when you rebel against authority.
Regarding government temporarily expanding its powers with emergency restrictions, in this case telling everybody not the leave their homes, arguably presuming everybody "guilty" of having a contagious disease by doing so, Thomas Jefferson, Mr. Declaration of Independence himself, had put it this way about our "inalienable" freedoms, including religious freedoms.
"A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen: but it is not the highest. the laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. to lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law, would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property & all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means [emphasis added]." —Thomas Jefferson to John B. Colvin, 20 September 1810.
"Whatsoever is lawful in the Commonwealth or permitted to the subject in the ordinary way cannot be forbidden to him for religious uses; and whatsoever is prejudicial to the Commonwealth in their ordinary uses and, therefore, prohibited by the laws, ought not to be permitted to churches in their sacred rites. For instance, it is unlawful in the ordinary course of things or in a private house to murder a child; it should not be permitted any sect then to sacrifice children. It is ordinarily lawful (or temporarily lawful) to kill calves or lambs; they may, therefore, be religiously sacrificed. But if the good of the State required a temporary suspension of killing lambs, as during a siege, sacrifices of them may then be rightfully suspended also [emphasis added]. This is the true extent of toleration." —Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Religion, 1776.
Regarding our "inalienable" rights versus emergency government powers, philosopher Voltaire had long ago identified the reason for confusion imo…
"It is sometimes said, common sense is very rare." —Voltaire, Dictionnaire Philosophique (1764)
And when government emergency powers last for too long, Jefferson had this to say.
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that . . . it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.” —Letter to John Cartwright, 1824.
Insights welcome.
Send "Orange Man Bad" Democrats and RINOs home in November!
MAGA, also KAGA! (Keep America Great Always!)
Supporting PDJT with a new patriot Congress that will promise to fully support his already excellent work for MAGA and stopping COVID-19 will effectively give fast-working Trump a third term in office imo.
I never said elected officials didn’t have some emergency powers, but such powers are not absolute (https://www.google.com/amp/s/reason.com/2020/03/18/police-powers-during-a-pandemic-constitutional-but-not-unlimited/%3famp). If elected officials overstep their authority, we the people have the right to disobey. That is a bedrock principle of our country and as a conservative you should embrace it.
Many states have listed churches as “essential” during this crisis. Churches provide much needed services and community support. It isn’t just about “workship”, it is about exercising our Christian values. It doesn’t surprise me that California has not recognized the value of Christian community service. Californians long ago foolishly placed their trust in the State apparatus. For those of us in other parts of the country, we still recognize that churches are “essential” to dealing with these situations.
I respectfully think you are far too quick and willing to give up your rights for a strategy that may prove more deadly in the end. The only way to beat this virus is through herd immunity. There are two ways to reach that goal, either through a vaccine or through 40-70% of the population contracting Covid-19.
A vaccine is at least 12-18 months away and our economy cannot survive like this that long. That means natural herd immunity is the most expeditious means of dealing with this virus.
If we quarantine everyone, we slow down how fast we reach herd immunity. The present strategy may end up killing more people because it lengthens the time to reach herd immunity. The only clear advantage to the present course of action is limit overload to the healthcare system, but it may not save lives in the long run. We’ve got to pay the “herd immunity piper” at some point, so dragging this out only ensure that the elderly and weak will be exposed to it for much longer.
Can we not worship outside? i notice the leftist churches are open and practicing their sacrament of multiple abortions every day. People are still going to grocery stores costco and the like. if society were really shut down maybe but it is not. I like the advice of Martin Luther. Whatever you do do i in faith and humility. It may be right for some churches to shut down it may be right for others to keep meeting. What is not right is for the government to selectively shut down christian worship
Here citizen, take this mark on your hand or forehead, you cant buy or sell without it.
You gonna obey the government?
Take this vaccine cultured from aborted fetal cells. Its mandatory, and if you die or are permanently damaged you have no recourse.
And ifnthe government tells you to do things it doesnt have the cpnstitutional authority to do. You going to roll over and let them do things they aren’t allowed to do?
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