It was a cold day, when the first churches began closing.
The first wave was the biggest churches, who applied the “out of an
overabundance of caution” and “limiting legal liability” mantras, decided that
getting ahead of any government action was prudent. At that time, the
coronavirus was a virtual unknown, but the expert epidemiologists and
bureaucratic representatives were forecasting the worst death rate in history.
Multiple millions would die, and we did not know how long the virus could live
on surfaces.
Large churches perhaps did the math, and decided that it was
wiser to shut down voluntarily, and be seen in the community as taking public
health seriously; rather than be shut down by authorities, and be seen as
selfish and uncaring. Many of the leaders of these churches also set the tone
for many smaller congregations, and as soon as the first wave of churches began
shutting down, nearly everyone followed suit. I think pastors felt a need to
show some kind of unity to the watching world.
We all want to be found faithful.
At that time, we were being told that the flu would kill
multiple millions of people, our hospitals would be quickly overwhelmed. The
infection rate was incredibly high, the number of infected doubling
exponentially every 4 days. The death rate was predicted somewhere between 5
and 20%. Most people would be asymptomatic. You could have it, and you wouldn’t
know, meanwhile you would be infecting and killing many of the people around
you. BUT, if we closed down everything and sheltered in place for two or three weeks,
we would flatten the curve. We would give the hospitals and healthcare system
that extra bit of time to treat people and gear up a massive national effort.
Two or three weeks.
There was no conversation about giving up our constitutional
rights. There was no dialogue about whether we, as pastors, were doing the
right thing. Perhaps this was as an effort to be united. Perhaps we did not
feel there was time to explore the issue. Either way, most churches went with
the lockdown; though a few went ‘underground.’ Again, we are all trying to be
faithful.
This, of course, is a massive sacrifice for smaller
congregations. Most smaller churches are barely making it, even when open every
week. To be closed for nearly a month, very possibly, means a financial hit
that cannot be recovered from. Larger churches already have a significant
online presence, have a donate button, and have a big enough presence in the
community, to be able to use the situation to create buzz about something new
and exciting the church is doing. They have an AV team, camera and mixing
equipment, etc.. There is opportunity for the operations that are big enough to
take advantage of it.
So, on March 23rd, 2020, Governor Inslee put out
a stay at home order. The churches that weren’t on board, or most of them, shut
down. The authorities didn’t just close church services though. In the state of
Washington, at least, home visitation, small groups, any physical contact at
all was outlawed. Most pastors did their best to call, zoom, Skype, and do
everything to help, during the two or three weeks the authorities would keep
the order in place.
Then, the situation changed. We weren’t inundated with
cases. None of our hospitals were overwhelmed. The infection rate was extremely
low, not doubling every four days. In fact, the rates were far more similar to
the seasonal flu. Mortality rates were low as well.
And rather than two or three weeks, we are still in
lockdown. As of this writing, it has been seven weeks. And, churches are
rethinking their position. Some will stay closed, because they believe such
action is faithful. But, I believe that reopening churches should be considered
a faithful response, even against government proclamations, as an act of
faithfulness. Why?
Firstly, it has become plain that this government lockdown
is unlawful. The founding of our nation was with the guarantee which we know to
be true: that each person, each family, each community, can worship God as they
feel convicted; without any worry that the government will interfere. Some
rightly call this our First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of
grievances.
Yet, Proclamation 20-25, the Stay Home Stay Healthy Order,
operates “… by prohibiting all people in Washington State from leaving their
homes or participating in social, spiritual and recreational gatherings of any
kind regardless of the number of participants, and all non-essential businesses
in Washington State from conducting business, within the limitations provided
herein.”
One man does not have the power to override the Bill of
Rights, no matter what they say about emergency powers. Emergency powers were
not meant to cancel church meetings.
Secondly, this order is immoral. Complete panic would
overtake all society if nobody was allowed to go anywhere. This is what this
order presumes to say. But immediately following in the order, the Governor
allows for exceptions: “(1) to conduct or participate in essential activities,
and/or (2) for employment in essential business services.” The Governor has then
decided which activities he deems essential, and it surely is not the practice
of ones faith. In fact, listed right after the exceptions, he again proclaims:
“All people in Washington State shall immediately cease participating in all
public and private gatherings and multi-person activities for social, spiritual
and recreational purposes, regardless of the number of people involved, except
as specifically identified herein. Such activity includes, but is not limited
to, community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events;
parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers; and similar activities.
This prohibition also applies to planned wedding and funeral events.”
How has one man been given the power to close all of our
churches, without a single instance of protest in the State? Where has the
church leadership gone? Is it right for us to leave the entire state without a
gathered church?
In so doing, Mr. Inslee has made immoral judgements about
which activities are essential, and which are not. By doing so, he has used the
power of the government as an institution of moral judgement, granting
exceptions to recreational marijuana retailers, alcohol retailers, and retail
super stores. These, Mr. Inslee has decided, are essential. Yet, from the beginning
till now, Mr. Inslee has outlawed church meetings by the threat of force. He
proclaims, “Violators of this of this order may be subject to criminal
penalties pursuant to RCW 43.06.220(5).”
Lastly, this order is spiritually deceptive. This series of
proclamations pigeonholes the Church as a place where people get sick. It tries
to convince the public that the holy and sacred gathering of the saints is
nothing more than an entertainment venue; a place, a people, where coughing
sneezing slobbering people spread disease. This is not the whole truth.
The local church is the place where believers gather to
minister to the Lord with our worship. We gather to hear the preaching of God’s
Word, and listen for the voice of the Spirit to us. We pray together for the offerings
of thanksgiving, the sacrifice of praise, and the offering of supplications. We
practice the ancient and sacred mysteries; the sacraments. We lay on hands and
pray for healing. We confess our sins and receive forgiveness. We eat and drink
of the Lord’s body and blood, the bread and wine.
Anyone who has faithfully participated in the holy gathering
of saints ought to know, and be convinced, that a church gathering is not an
entertainment venue. It is a gift of God to His people, and to the rest of the
world. Nobody can take away that gift. Nobody should. Surely it is faithful to
open one’s church doors, and allow the saints to come in and worship together.
Human beings cannot live just by eating bread. We are not
just meat. We are spiritual beings. We have spirits to keep alive by union with
Jesus. Being a part of a local church that actually, physically meets together
to practice the Word and Sacraments is essential to our spiritual survival.
That is why the book of Hebrews instructs we believers to “hold fast to the
confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And
let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one
another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb 10:23-25)
The Church has always affirmed the need for physical safety.
We have our commission from Christ to feed the hungry, give to the poor, and
ensure people have clothes and shelter. Historically, nobody does this better
than the Church. We have also affirmed that human beings are not just physical
beings. We have hearts and souls which need care and tending to. And then,
there is eternal life. We believe that we have the Gospel, the Words of Life,
the Way. How can we, in good conscience, keep from preaching and teaching the Good
News to people who are desperate and in need? Has a sickness ever kept the
Church from being physically present with their neighbors?
In no way is this an attack on the digital gatherings of the
Church. It is, however, a proclamation that the digital church can never fully
take the place of the physical local church gathering. If we cannot be together
physically, in the real world, we will exist at the pleasure of those who
control the digital world. We will be one button press away from non-existence.
That is not acceptable.
This Sunday, many churches will silently open their doors,
convinced they are being faithful. The goal is not to make a public statement about
rights, politics, or partisanship. The goal is to practice our faith in full
commitment. While other churches might remain closed still, there certainly
should not be any condemnation, as we all look to be true to our Lord.
Opening our churches at this time, is a faithful response.
