This is a really complex question theologically. Firstly, let me say that I am not aiming for this to cause division or give ammunition to either side of the conversation. I will just unpack some of the issues the 'closures' raise and what our reactions say about our beliefs. The purpose is purely to have dialogue and ensure that we are leading with eyes open.
Here are some of the issues in a list which we are going to unpack:
The Bible tells us not to stop meeting
The Church is a hospital for the sick
We believe God can heal and protect us
We are to obey the laws of the land vs we are to obey God and be kingdom expanders
It is counter cultural to the Gospel
Don't stop meeting - Ok, so number one; let's deal with the command to 'not stop meeting' in Hebrews. This is really not directly applicable to this situation. The context is those who, by free will, are not fellowshipping with other believers. The reasoning for meeting is expanded upon later in the verse 'to encourage one another'. So if a church is choosing to abstain from meeting, not because we have a blazé attitude to fellowship but rather a desire to protect each other, it is not the same thing. The other consideration is that many would point out that we can 'meet' and encourage each other in many amazing ways thanks to technology which would have been unthinkable even 2-3 decades ago.
Hospital for the sick - Throughout history the church has been present to take care of the sick and dying. The church, being in the thick of the trouble, goes right back to plagues in ancient Roman controlled cities through to the modern hospitals and hospices around the world often established by Christians. We invite the sick regularly to our churches/gatherings for prayer and healing. We must acknowledge that closing the doors is uncharacteristic and unnatural for the Church in times of war/pestilence. Moreover, it really is in contrast to the church historically which has been a place of refuge, safety and healing. Is it possible to maintain this societal perspective and practical outworking of our faith whilst closing our doors?
So, how can we navigate this as the Church at this time, which respects the national effort to slow down the virus, whilst still 'being there' for those in need?
God can heal and protect us - The Bible is clear and many can testify to God's healing in their lives as well as God's protection. Theologically I will make it clear that I believe the same power that raised Christ from the dead is able to both protect and heal the sick today. The Bible also tells us that we can 'trample snakes and scorpions' in Luke 10 and I for one believe what the Bible says (not always literally!). The emphasis on the passage in Luke, I believe, if understood 'sitz im leben' more directly is addressing the defeating of the active work of Satan rather than encountering venous animal. HOWEVER, the Bible clearly states the Jesus has commissioned us to 'heal the sick' and Paul is protected from the effects of snake bites (Acts 28). So with Covid-19 there should be no difference. There is no limitation of God's healing power to any particular disease and it extends as far as seeing the dead raised back to life. There is Biblical precedent and teaching to support both immunity to things affecting health and the healing for sickness. The balance to this is that Jesus never once told us to try and get infected just to see God's healing. In fact, we are told not to test God (Deut 6) and so putting ourselves in harms way for no good reason would be a bad idea! So, I believe the question lands on, is it 'testing God' to meet when there is high risk of exposure to disease or is this faith? Does not meeting by action give evidence to our beliefs around God's ability to protect and heal?
Obey the law - The Bible teaches us very plainly to obey the laws of the land. This of course is unless obeying the law of the land would conflict with following Jesus whole heatedly. On the whole this is usually easy to square, especially in countries with a strong Jewdeo/Christian history and thus law bias. However, on the subject of Coronavirus and the 2020 pandemic, the church does have a difficult path to tread. I think that closing the doors to the church for mass meetings is a no brainer from a secular state perspective. By closing meetings the church is not directly contravening the faith and there is no promotion of any idol to take God's place... Though for much of us, (confession!) Netflix is perhaps creeping up the list! Nevertheless, the commission by Jesus was more than just to preach the Gospel, it includes healing the sick by the 'laying on of hands'. See Gospel of Mark. To not be permitted to visit the sick to lay on hands for healing should be as much, perhaps even more, theologically difficult to ask for of Christians as not meeting.
Counter Gospel - the Kingdom culture we are to spread is totally different to the world. I am not sure at this point we are distinguishable in anyway. We are to seek out the lonely and marginalised, we are to feed the poor, we are to heal the sick, we are to be a 'neighbour' to the wounded etc etc. We are also called to proclaim the Good News that Jesus is King and that death does not scare those who follow Him; that the real disease is sin and the Jesus' loves us enough to give us an eternal home. Sin is a pandemic which has already infected the world and though we can try millions of ways to eradicate it we will never be saved without an antidote / vaccine ... Jesus is that vaccine! Ok so I am getting in to preachy mode, lol, but you get my point. We are in a time of huge potential to tell the everlasting story of God in new relevant ways... Sunday gatherings are the primary evangelistic outreach of the church, no question, that is not to detract from projects missions etc. But it's the gathered Sunday which reaches most new people with the Gospel week in week out across the world. Whilst the gathering of seekers is being restricted evangelism is being restricted also.
Some conclusions
It really winds me up when people are lacking the boldness or grey matter to draw some conclusions. Yet, I fear, I may not even placate myself on this occasion. I feel as church leaders we need to think through carefully the implications of these issues and the many more I haven't mentioned.
Firstly, whatever we do speaks louder about our beliefs than any sermon will. If churches close their doors we by default cause questions over one of all of the below:
Does the state has the final say on our meetings?
Do we believe beyond doubt in the protection of God?
Do we believe beyond doubt in healing for us today?
Are we consenting to our availability to the world being restricted by a virus or governments?
We perhaps don't believe our message of eternal life is even more important at a time when people are dying?
Ok so I know it might ruffle some feathers, and I certainly don't want you to think that I am saying these things glibly, I am not. I understand the very complex issues. Nevertheless, if we close our doors it is very hard for us not, by definition, to be agreeing with at least one of the above statements.
I think the most significant issue we should take with us closing our doors is that the world has been in need and we have 'shut shop'. Yes, I know that there are online meetings and so forth. Yet it is a far cry from the comforting of the lepers like Mother Teresa, or ministering to those dying in the black plague, or caring for the sick and injured in church building as bombs dropped. See post about personal dealing with call to heal sick amidst Covid...
I feel like the church has very easily been dictated too. As I write this different sectors are being allowed to open and people allowed to meet in larger groups. The church is awaiting a green light.
This is not a dictate to the church to ignore the guidelines or break the law. This serves to poke at the questions that should be raised. It serves to ensure that the church does not align itself with government or non spiritual institutions. The church is the body of Christ, it is not just another social club to be shutdown.
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