"We must obey God rather than man."
As Christians; we pledge by means of nonviolent civil disobedience to resist the federal and State government where it, in any measure, seeks to modify or abolish the true worship of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by opening our churches for unrestricted worship. Proclamations which ban, restrict, or demand changes to Christian worship are dangerous, inappropriate, and morally wrong. As churches, we do not, and should not, allow any civil authority to impose these measures on the practice of our faith. The Christian response is not mutiny, revolution, or strife, but rather the peaceful and open worship of God.
In our resistance, we will not cease to pray for those who enforce such rules. We pledge to always love and care for our families, our neighbors, our communities, and even our oppressors. We are kind and generous, even at great cost. We urge Christians everywhere to join in our civil disobedience; in prayer, and by attending and advocating for local church services. We urge our fellow citizens to help protect all religious rights from a clearly oppressive government—which now wrongly claims ultimate authority to dictate what is essential, valuable, and therefore permissible.
What Christians Should Consider:
God has instituted the Church to worship Him[1], fulfill the great commission[2], and love and care for those inside, and outside the church.[3] As a matter of obedience to God—the Church must meet, worship, make disciples,[4] care for the poor,[5] and teach the way of eternal life.[6] We also teach as Jesus did: to render unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar, and to God the things that belong to God.[7] Civil authority should punish the wrongdoer.[8] But, it cannot regulate the Church’s worship; without corrupting both the Church, and itself. As Peter councils the church, if we are to be in trouble with our governing authority, it should be for serving the Lord in peace.[9] And this is what the Church is now in trouble for— worshipping God in peace.
Christians remain faithful in their witness by obeying God, rather than man; even at the cost of their own lives. These martyrs are a treasure to the church, keeping Her pure and steady. Those who choose to peaceably obey God rather than man are a light to the world, giving hope to those lost in darkness; that there is ultimate Truth and Salvation, and His name is Jesus.[10]
Decisions to suspend church gatherings, modify church worship, or create mandatory prophylactic health measures should be left to the conscience of individuals and churches. Disturbingly, these decisions have been made by State officials, reported by anonymous neighbors, and enforced by destroying the financial and legal status of the local church. Throughout history, governments who use such methods to regulate the practice of faith have terrified, oppressed, and destroyed the doing of good. If we allow the State to dictate when, where, and how we worship; we participate in the deception that there is no God above government. Instead, we must peacefully stand for the truth by not recognizing the State’s ability to control our worship of God, especially in a time of emergency.
Local church leadership is bound to fulfill the call of God in accordance with Scripture,[11] to lead our people in troubling times. We cannot turn over to the State the governance of the church, the interpretation of Scripture, the preaching of the Gospel, the worship of God, the serving of the Lord’s Supper, nor any other Christian mandate. Churches can, and should, make decisions to offer worship services based on their own conscience. Though local churches may come to differing conclusions as to what each will do, we should all support one another’s right to disagree with the State on matters of church worship. Christians should not be under condemnation, from Church or State, for following their conscience, the commands of Scripture, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.[12] This is a call for unity in the Christian community. Even if we disagree, we should stand together, and insist the State cease from its current oppression.
Civil disobedience is the only way we can both submit to the civil authorities, and fulfill our ultimate allegiance to Jesus. Because of the State’s current stance towards public worship, civil disobedience demands sacrifice. Noncompliant churches face legal and financial punishment. We should keep in mind that financial stewardship is not our highest calling. Rather, we rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ.[13] We must keep our focus on the founder and perfector of our faith.[14]
One error is to deny that the State has any God-ordained boundaries, and assume the church must obey it’s every whim. The other error is to declare the Church master of the State. Neither is the way Jesus taught us. The Christian way is unlike any other: to insist on the truth, and peaceably, lovingly, gently, firmly, do good and love our neighbors more than our own selves. This is the way of life.[15]
We gladly give to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar: taxes, respect, honor,[16] peaceful submission insofar as possible.[17] But, we cannot surrender to Caesar that which belongs only to God: worship, obedience, Lordship, and the defining of good and evil. May God help us display the way of life. For publicly worshipping God, they may punish us as they see fit.[18]
We know that our fight is not against a person, nor against people. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.[19] We are expressing this civil disobedience by simply keeping our churches open, and not enforcing the governments mandates which try to regulate our worship. We pray you will too.
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Rev. Palmer
[1]
EXO 8:1, LEV 23:3, DEU 11:1, PSM 5, PSM 66, ISA 56:6, MAT 4:10, JOH 4:23, ACT
22:16, ROM 12:1, PHP 3:3, HEB 12:28, REV 14:7, REV 22:9, etc.
[2]
MAT 28:18-20, MAR 16:15, LUK 24:45-49, JOH 20:21-23, ACT 1:8-11, etc.
[3]
MAT 5:43-46, MAT 19:19, MAR 12:30-31, LUK 10:27, JOH 13-16, ROM 8, ROM
12&13, 1CR 13, 1CR 16:14, GAL 5, 2TM 1:7, etc.
[4]
MAT 28
[5]
PSM 9, PSM 82:4, ISA 3:14-15, MAT 6:2, LUK 4:18, 1CR 11:22, GAL 2:10, JAS 2,
etc.
[6]
JOH 3-6, ROM 5&6, 1TM 6, 1JN 5, JUD 1:21, etc.
[7]
MAT 22:15-22, MAR 12:13-17, LUK 20:19-26,
[8]
ROM 13:1-7, 1PT 2:13-17
[9]
1PT 2:16
[10]
JHN 3:16
[11]
ACT 5, 2TM 4
[12]
ROM 14:4
[13]
ROM 8, HEB 11, PHP 1, ACT 5:41
[14]
HEB 12
[15] DEU
29-30, JOS 23-24
[16]
ROM 13:7
[17]
ROM 12:16-21
[18]
1TM 4
[19]
EPH 6
