Fox News has a story, Pastors object to NYC mayor’s threat to shut down churches , that is spurring outrage among various religious groups. Predictably, there are some leaders of Christian groups who are quite outspoken about this. The shutdown threat stems from some congregations’ insistence to continue corporate worship in their facilities in defiance of the COVID-19 social distancing orders. Many of their arguments are based in the doctrine of separation of church and state. Others base their insistence of God’s ability to protect those who place their faith in Him from suffering harm when they do so.
Let’s look to the Scriptures for guidance.
In Romans 13:1-7, the Apostle Paul is quite direct instructing us to obey the civil authorities.
Submission to Governing Authorities
1Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Resistance to our political leaders is opposing God’s command. Government servants are also God’s servants. Forget any US Constitutional Law doctrine, how about obeying God’s Word?
What about the idea of Divine Protection? What did Jesus do when confronted with a similar situation? In Luke 4:9-12, we read that one of Satan’s temptations of Jesus was to trust God and His angels to protect Him should He hurl Himself from the pinnacle of the temple.
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
12Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Jesus’ response in verse 12 was to not test the Lord our God. If He wouldn’t do it, why should we think is alright for us to do it? Conducting a large gathering in this environment seems to mirror this exact situation. Don’t test God!
Church leaders, this is serious stuff. This is no time for posturing or for defiance trying to prove your god is better than someone else’s. If your god is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Father of Lord Jesus the Messiah, then you should turn to the Scriptures for your guidance. They are very clear as to what you should be doing.
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