Thursday, March 28, 2024
39.0°F

OPINION: Staying home honors God, neighbors

| March 31, 2020 10:11 AM

Should Christians obey their government when asked not to gather, though the Scriptures compel God’s people to gather?

How do Christians love their neighbors when the authorities tell them to stay away from those neighbors -- for their own good? These are some of the tough questions Christians throughout North Idaho and beyond will continue to wrestle with as the coronavirus pandemic alters everyday life – and church practice – more than anything else in recent history. Easy answers are elusive. And every answer begs a rebuttal.

As always, Scripture is our best compass when the way forward is so fuzzy.

We are glad that most pastors in our region have recognized the biblical mandate to cooperate gladly with our government whenever possible. “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities,” says Romans 13:1. “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” Christians ought to be the very best citizens in their communities, obeying civil authorities willingly and even cheerfully unless those authorities demand that we disobey God. Only then ought we say, as did Peter and the other apostles, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

The “Stay-at-Home” orders now in place for Idaho residents are not aimed at Christians, nor churches, and thus have nothing to do with government interference in religion. These orders are a matter of public health, not private religion, and following a “stay home” directive relates to God’s own orders that His people love others.

To ancient Israel, God said: “…you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” Many centuries later, God incarnate, Jesus, declared the greatest commandments to be these: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Quarantine and isolation for health purposes are not modern dilemmas for the church. God told His people in ancient times, according to Leviticus 13 and 14, to respond to outbreaks of leprosy in ways that are eerily like what is now suggested in response to coronavirus. Yes, you read correctly; the first social distancing orders were from God Himself.

Right now, the biblical mandates to honor governing authorities, and love our neighbors, suggest that postponing in-person gatherings and keeping a safe distance from others is not only prudent for public health, but honors both God and neighbor.

Not all Christians agree. For them, live-streaming church services and meeting via FaceTime or Zoom do not constitute “gathering” in the biblical sense. However, the churches are not “forsaking” the injunction to assemble together (Hebrews 10:25), we are simply postponing the face to face gatherings for a short period of time.

We can all agree that this current pandemic is teaching us to run to God earnestly in prayer, asking for wisdom, discernment and protection. It is also teaching us to run to our Bibles for God’s own direction, rather than relying on quick answers based on religious scruples.

We pray fervently that this pandemic and the chaos it’s brought to public health and the economy ends soon. And we know the church that comes out on the other side of this crisis will be stronger in obedience to God, better at loving neighbors, and more focused than ever on proclaiming the gospel of salvation through faith in Christ alone.

Sincerely,

Paul D. Van Noy, Pastor, (On behalf of the Coeur d’Alene Ministerial Association)

Coeur d’Alene Ministerial Association, President