T
he question before many Christians in America: Should
I attend Church?
Before you read on, if you believe it is essential
are you actively attending Church, if you desire to go to Church? If not, why
not?
Many defer their obedience to Romans 13 as sacrosanct.
Let us look at it and see.
“Let every person be subject to the governing
authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that
exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the
authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur
judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.
Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good,
and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's
servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the
sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out
God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in
subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of
conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for
the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay
to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom
revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”—Romans
13:1-7
Christians hold the principles of this portion of scripture
as set in stone. It is in fact, good that we understand we have an obligation
to follow the Pauline statement in Romans as GOD inspired scripture. However,
in today’s world, specifically in the USA – because this author is not knowledgeable
about the national laws of other nations – where the current situation in many
states and local communities is directed by the respective governing authorities
to shut the door of their churches as nonessential. From the first of April to May
1, per the federal government, pretty much all things were shutdown especially anything
deemed nonessential. Churches fell in the nonessential category. Because the
Federal Government took that stance it laid the groundwork/precedence for the various
state and local governments to follow suit when after May 1, the Federal
Government then deferred to each state for management of their state’s cases per
the tenth amendment. Initially, [April 2-May 1, 2020] the entire ‘church’ as a
body followed the request with obedience and good conscience, even if in
ignorance of this powerful statement of fact from their LORD’s own voice “He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no
one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See,
I have set before you an open door, and no one
can shut it.
Thereafter, many governors and mayors decided to maintain
the closure of alleged ‘non-essential’ businesses which included the religious centers
of worship. By doing so it interrupted
the consciences of many pastors and their church members. After prayerful contemplation,
researching GOD’s Word and following the lead of the Holy Spirit, they opened
up for services on the Day of Pentecost, May 31, 2020. Pastor’s did so with a
vow never to close their doors again! The churches provided safe places for
members to worship with much expense to provide every conceivable way to
worship, in the sanctuary, in a courtyard with proper physical distancing, in park
space on their properties, in their vehicles in the parking lot all with the option
for masks. Sanitizing stations aplenty. For
those who truly are susceptible to the virus an online live service was provided
in order to respect their need to self-isolate. From that time to the writing of
this post, there are some churches in California who have been cited and taken
to court allegedly in violation of the state’s rules for CoVid-19. Some have
had their utilities cut off during services. One who has leased a property
adjacent to their church for several decades for parking during church services
has lost the right to that property, others being held in contempt. There is
one Pastor who carries multiple days of life saving medicine to Church each
time in case he might be arrested.
So, how do YOU, the Christian, decide to go to
church in defiance of the governing authorities, if that is your situation?
Please note the following commentary:
Commentary by Calvin:
“21. Render therefore to Caesar those things which are Caesar’s. Christ
reminds them that, as the subjection of their nation was attested by the coin,
there ought to be no debate on that subject; as if he had said, “If you
think it strange to pay tribute, be not subjects of the Roman Empire.
But the money (which men employ as the pledge of mutual exchanges) attests
that Caesar rules over you; so that, by your own silent consent, the
liberty to which you lay claim is lost and gone.” Christ’s reply does not leave
the matter open, but contains full instruction on the question which had been
proposed. It lays down a clear distinction between spiritual and civil
government, in order to inform us that outward subjection does not prevent us
from having within us a conscience free in the sight of God. For Christ
intended to refute the error of those who did not think that they would be the
people of God unless they were free from every yoke of human authority. In like
manner, Paul earnestly insists on this point, that they ought not the less to
look upon themselves as serving God alone, if they obey human laws, if they
pay tribute, and bend the neck to bear other burdens, (Romans 13:7.)
In short, Christ declares that it is no violation of the authority of God, or
any injury done to his service, if, in respect of outward government, the Jews
obey the Romans.” – Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible Matthew 22. [Referenced to
Studylight.org™ https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cal/matthew-22.html
]
Notice, in both Jesus’ and Paul’s statements the
Christian is free to be subject to the governing authority in good conscience
their standing with GOD is untouched. But each person clearly understands their
obedience to man – those with authority of your outward subjection – is itself
subject to the unequivocal statement that we shall OBEY GOD rather than man
when GOD’s Law is being subjugated by civil authorities. Acts 5:17-42 is
exactly the case we face. To that end, what is our command by GOD closure may
impede?
- We are
to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Matt 28:19,20/Acts 1:8
- We are
‘not to forsake our meeting together’. Why? “And let us consider one another in
order to stir up love and good works, 25 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 10:24,25
- Would
you not agree, we are now 2000 plus years along into the ‘day’ which is drawing
near? – 2 Peter 3:7-10/Rev 3:10
Each Christian must be comfortable with their own
conscience. If you have studied GOD’s Word and feel not going to church is a
right decision for you then sobeit. Are you being stirred up in love and good
works through association with your Christian family away from church? Are you
effective in doing the same for them? If you cannot leave your home due to
susceptibility to the deadly results of the virus among seniors especially with
many senior related pre-existing health issues, or your immune system is immune-compromised,
then staying home allows you to live to fight another day for our LORD in your
circumstances. If you are staying home because of the government edict, then
please consider praying that you are in fact in line with our allegiance to GOD
rather than man when it comes to our free assembly with one another. In the
many services the church performs for their community apart from their
religious services, the Church feeds the hungry, brings comfort to those who
face incredible grief, to visit the sick who may need prayer and anointing.
There is more the Church contributes as an essential and integral part of its
community.
We now know the way to keep ourselves safe…personal
hygiene regularly. Physical distancing and if you feel the need wearing face covering.
Of course, never meet with anyone if you have a fever, symptoms of the virus,
etc.
Many Churches have been open for over 3 months and
the incidence of Corona being advanced through the assembling together obviously
has not been overwhelming, if at all, or
it would be plastered all over the news as justification for relegating our 1st
amendment right -- ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..’ -- to conflict! For instance, in the county
this author lives, the incidence of CoVid-19 since the first of June to present
spiked twice: 2 weeks after July 4 and again August 5. Otherwise, the case
loads have maintained a steady decline in positives. And since the last of
August the criteria of testing individuals have changed—federally, yet some
states have yet to change accordingly.
To the point of this article obedience to civil authority
vs GOD – in the USA we are actually guaranteed the right to worship in our Church.
‘The Congress cannot even make a law prohibiting us from meeting together.’ If
you decide to stay at home, it is your conscience you must uphold. Please remember
when viewing another’s -- whose choice is to attend -- the Apostle Paul’s words
about conscience in 1 Cor 10:29 ““Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of
the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?”
Clearly, in context, this scripture is offered as the ultimate truth, but Paul
also says in 1 Cor 6:12 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things
are advantageous. All things are lawful for me, but I will not let myself
be controlled by anything.” In other words, we may be free to do something,
but we must be aware while doing it we do it we do so in good conscience rather
than being controlled by the desire to do it. We exercise wisdom in the choices
we make; even so, we may wish to withhold our freedom because it may stumble
someone else.
In the words of the Aaronic Prayer [Numbers 6: 24-26]:
““The Lord bless
you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’
†
NOTICE: If you are feeling inclined or
feeling led to want Jesus as your Savior, your leader, your King, your source
of Peace and Joy but are feeling woefully inadequate, uninformed on how best to
get to know HIM, or find yourself at wit’s end because you believe yourself
trapped and in need of GOD, please know Jesus stands ready to welcome you with
HIS Holy Spirit. Believe these words: “16 For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “—John 3:16
“Repent therefore and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may
come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He
may send [c]Jesus Christ, who was [d]preached
to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until
the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the
mouth of all His holy prophets since [e]the world began.” –
Acts 3:19-20
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most
assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when
he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is
born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of
God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which
is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you,
‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you
hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So
is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8
If you need help, please feel free to leave a
comment and I will respond. †
EM: contact@lightwritingmatters.com
DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this
blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the
writer/author of every post published. It is assumed that research by the
reader will lead the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s
intent to make a judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does.
“For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints,
and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the
heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD’s
sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to
whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]
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