On March 14, I stepped into a church building for the first time in months. I looked forward to this moment with an equal measure of dread and excitement. Excitement because I would finally gather with the saints to worship Yahweh, and dread because I knew things would be different. And it was.
Instead of seeing smiles welcoming me in, I saw surgical masks. Instead of receiving handshakes and warm hugs, I received a dose of hand sanitizer. And instead of socializing with brothers and sisters, I kept 2m (6ft) away from everyone.
These changes are not new. In Quebec, Canada, where I live, the government has been limiting and even banning gatherings since March 2020 because of COVID-19. During the summer, things got a bit better; businesses began opening; gatherings resumed, albeit in small numbers, and it looked like life was returning to normal. But because of a supposed second wave of COVID-19, restrictions gradually increased in the fall until it culminated in another lockdown.
The premier (governor) of Quebec announced on December 15 that the entire province would be in the red zone. Consequently, all non-essential stores would close; essential stores would only sell essential items (or rather what the premier considers essential); professionals must work from home, and gatherings (indoors and outdoors) would be banned. It was supposed to last two weeks, but unsurprisingly the premier not only extended it for another four weeks but also added an 8P-5A curfew. But he was magnanimous enough to allow churches to open with up to 10 people!
Four weeks later, the premier extended the restrictions again, but this time “non-essential” stores could open. And finally, on March 3, the premier announced that all of Quebec, except for the greater Montreal area, will be in the orange zone effective March 8. This meant, among many things, that churches could gather with up to 100 people, and curfew would start at 9h30P.
These changes prompted many churches to reopen their doors and joyfully invite members back. But as I suspected, though the buildings are now open, and people are filling pews, the church is still not in session. The restrictions imposed by the government prevent the body from gathering as established by Scripture. The bride of Christ is still in captivity in Quebec and all of Canada. And there is no end in sight.
Sure, things are getting better, and restrictions are once again loosening up, but for how long? There are already rumors of a third lockdown looming over Canada because of the novel Corona variant and a possible third wave. Should the body of Christ remain at the mercy of the government? Are we going to gather only when they allow it? The answer is a resounding no, and here is why.
1. The Government is targeting churches.
Perhaps it is different where you live, but here in Canada, especially in Quebec, the government targets churches. The restrictions for “places of worship” are more demanding than other places. For instance, when my city entered the red zone last fall, churches were only allowed 25 people, whereas entertainment places like movie theaters had up to 250. And towards the end of the second lockdown, movie theaters were allowed up to 250 people while churches remained at 10. At the time of this writing, the church limit has moved up to 250, but movie theaters and auditoriums do not have any fixed capacity limit.
By enforcing unfair and unnecessary restrictions on places of worship, the government is declaring loud and clear that churches are not essential. And every Sunday that churches comply and turn away congregants, they agree with the government’s assessment.
2. The Government is trying to dictate how we worship.
Not content with deciding how many people can gather, the government also wants to tell us how to worship. When churches could open in January, congregational singing was forbidden because it increases the risk of COVID-19.
Music and singing are essential elements of worship. The Lord inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3), and Scripture commands us to sing to the Lord (Col 3:16, Eph 5:19). The premier is not the head of the Church and does not have the authority to forbid what Christ has commanded. He does not have the power to tell us what to do or not do during worship services.
The government is also indirectly forbidding fellowship. We cannot do all the one anothers in the Bible, such as welcome one another (Rom. 15:7), serve one another (Gal. 5:13, 1 Pe 4:10), bear one another’s burden (Gal 6:2), encourage and build up one another (1 Thess. 5:11), show affection to one another (2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Pet 5:14) and pray for one another (Jas 5:16) with mask mandates, social distancing, and banned private gatherings.
3. COVID-19 is not that threatening.
The media and elected officials remind us daily of the dangers of COVID-19. It is such a dangerous disease that we must isolate ourselves, lose our jobs, and for Christians, not meet for months on end. I have even received automated voice mails during the second lockdown telling me to “stay home, stay safe.” But is COVID-19 as severe as the media say? Let us examine the numbers.
As I am writing this, Canada has 965k cases. 899k people have recovered, while 22,877 people have died. This means about 90% of COVID patients have recovered, while only 2.3% of people have been killed. In Quebec, where I live, there are currently 308k cases with 290k recoveries and 10,647 deaths. This means about 94% have recovered, while only 3.5% have died.
I am not trying to minimize COVID-19. I know people who died from it, and every life lost is tragic. But I do not believe COVID-19 warrants the draconian measures to curb it; the numbers don’t support it. The cure has been exponentially worse than the disease.
4. We obey God before men.
Last and most important of all, we must obey God before men. All authority in our lives, whether parents, school, the government, are subject to Christ. When they diverge from God’s commandments, then we are under no obligation to obey them. (Acts 5:49). Scripture tells us not to neglect the gathering (Heb 10:24-25, Acts 2:42), address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, sing and make melody to the Lord (Col 3:16; Eph 5:19), and fellowship with one another (Acts 2:44-47). And this we must do, regardless of what the government says.
Alas, it seems reasonable for most pastors in Canada to comply with the current regulations. The vast majority of churches in Quebec—if not all, either closed their doors or only allowed ten people during the second lockdown. And those who opened altered their services to accommodate the government’s mandates. I stared in disbelief as a pastor told us we would not sing because the government said so. He tried to justify his decision by telling us we could still worship in our hearts or even raise our hands. But his biblical gymnastics and inadequate explanation were as poor as the one he gave for ceasing in-person gatherings altogether.
I walked away from the “worship service,” wondering what was wrong with these people.
What happened to us? How did we become so fearful and weak? Where are leaders like Daniel, who prayed despite King Darius’s edict? Leaders like Peter and John who could not but speak of what they had seen? Leaders like Paul, who was beaten and imprisoned for obeying Christ? Where are men like the Church Fathers and the Reformers who obeyed Jesus at the cost of their lives? What happened to men like John Bunyan, who said, “I will stay in prison till the moss grows on my eyelids rather than disobey God?”
There are Christians right now in places where Christianity is outlawed, risking their lives to meet with one another to worship, and we can’t even sing because the government forbids it?
I know many professing Christians will say it is different for them because they are persecuted, and we are not. The government is not targeting the Church, they will say, so we must comply in the spirit of Romans 13. I have three objections.
1. Scripture does not say to obey God only when we are persecuted.
Persecution is not a motivation for obeying God; it is a consequence. Peter and John did not obey God instead of men because they were persecuted; they were persecuted because they obeyed. Fearing God and obeying Him is our whole duty (Ecc. 12:13). We obey whether or not we are being persecuted, whether or not the government submits to God’s law, and whether we like it or not. In any and every circumstance, we obey God. No ifs, no buts.
2. The Church is under attack.
As I explained earlier, COVID-19 regulations have been harsher toward places of worship in Canada. But for argument’s sake, let us say the government is not targeting churches. Guess what? “We do not wrestle 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” (Eph 6:12).
Even if the government is not purposely singling out believers, the devil is. He has been trying to deceive and destroy us from the beginning and will not stop until Jesus returns and crush his head for good. Believers waiting for an outright church ban before taking a stand will cower for a while because the devil works with subtlety and deceit (2 Cor.11:14). He knows that even the weakest, most immature Christians will rebel if the government brazenly targets the church. So the Father of lies misrepresents facts and makes up excuses to hide his attacks on the people of God (John 8:44). He has done it throughout Church history and is doing it today with COVID-19. It is the pretext he is using to divide, distract and destroy the Church.
Isn’t it interesting that the devastating ideologies of CRT and social justice exploded in the Church right when we are at our most vulnerable, separated from one another? Do not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. Instead of wasting time arguing whether or not we are under persecution, let us put on the whole armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil (Eph 6:11).
3. Romans 13 does not mean disobeying God.
Romans 13, which begins with, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God,” is not an excuse to disobey God’s precepts. We must indeed submit to the government. It does not honor God to rebel against the law of the land, and I would never support believers mocking governing authorities. But Romans 13 is not blind submission to all governing authorities. The government is subject to God. If it rebels against God’s commands or departs from its God-given area of responsibility and authority, we are not obliged to obey them.
Furthermore, the devil is not ignorant of Scripture. Twisting and misrepresenting God’s Word is probably his number one tactic. Take Jesus’ second temptation, for example. The devil tempted Jesus to throw down himself and quoted Psalm 91:11-12 out of context to support his claim. But Jesus, who knew the whole counsel of God, countered with, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Mat. 4:1-8)
Today, Satan is whispering, “Obey the government, do not go to church, stay home and protect others, for it is written ‘Let everyone be subject to the governing authority,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Are there men who will question “whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God?” And declare, “It is written, we must obey God rather than men?” (Acts 4:19; 5:29)
John MacArthur, James Coates, and Jacob Reaume
Glory be to God, there are still strong men in our day who would rather obey God than men.
John MacArthur
John MacArthur is the pastor of Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, California. In the summer of 2020, the state of California imposed many restrictions on churches such as social distancing, masks at all times, no congregational singing, outdoor services, shorter services, and more. While many churches complied, John MacArthur and the elders of GCC announced on July 24 that they would not comply but will hold services as usual. They issued a statement to explain their position, and their main reason is that Christ, not Caesar, is the head of the Church.
They write, “it has never been the prerogative of civil government to order, modify, forbid, or mandate worship. When, how, and how often the church worships are not subject to Caesar. Caesar himself is subject to God. Jesus affirmed that principle when He told Pilate, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11).
As the church, we do not need the state’s permission to serve and worship our Lord as He has commanded. The church is Christ’s precious bride (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23–27). She belongs to Him alone. She exists by His will and serves under His authority. He will tolerate no assault on her purity and no infringement of His headship over her. All of that was established when Jesus said, “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18).”1
James Coates
James Coates is the pastor of GraceLife Church in Alberta, Canada. Like many other provinces in Canada, Alberta also has COVID-19 rules that restrict worship, such as mask mandates, social distancing, and only 15% attendance. At the beginning of the pandemic, GLC complied and closed its doors for safety. But as the pandemic subsided and the crisis ended, James Coates and the elders of GLC also opened their doors against the governmental rules and resumed regular services on June 21. GLC gave a defense for their actions in a public statement and three sermons.
James Coates said, “The government receives its authority from God. God sets the limits on that authority and will hold them accountable, and they are in no way permitted to dictate to the church how to worship. Period. Paragraph. End of Story.”2
Jacob Reaume
Jacob Reaume is the pastor of Trinity Bible Chapel in Ontario, Canada. Like Quebec, Ontario had a second lockdown in December 2020, and churches could only have ten people in attendance. But Jacob Reaume and the elders of TBC informed the authorities that they would remain open and continue to meet. They also issued a statement explaining their stance and cited many reasons such as COVID-19 statistics, the unfair treatment of churches compared to other areas, and the constitution. But the primary reason for their refusal is their conviction that the Church must meet.
They say, “Scripture, which is God’s Word to us, commands Christians to gather in person for church (Hebrews 10:24-25). Regularly meeting in person was the pattern established by Christ’s apostles: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Christian meetings include fellowship, which entails togetherness, sharing of goods and food, showing hospitality, and presence of person, much like a family unit (Acts 4:32-37)… To operate as a church, Christians are expected to experience fellowship regularly with one another like a family that lives under the same roof.”3
This obedience to Christ came at a cost, as the governing authorities have repeatedly threatened all three churches.
California has fined GCC every Sunday since they reopened and dragged them to courts multiple times. They have threatened to shut down the power during service, rescind their parking lot lease, and even arrest 81-year-old John MacArthur.
GraceLife Church was charged as an entity for not adhering to COVID-19 regulations. Agents of the Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have been patrolling the church every Sunday. And James Coates had to turn himself in on February 16 for violating health orders. He was denied bail and spent five weeks in jail. The Crown dropped all but one of his charges, and his trial will take place early May.
The pastors and elders of TBC were all charged for holding church services. Each individual charge has a maximum of $100k fine and up to a year in jail, while the church has a maximum amount of 10 million if convicted. The church and the elders were fined $83,000 for holding services on January 24.
The government keeps treating them like a threat, but all these churches have remained careful, and none of them had a COVID outbreak. GCC only had three cases since July 2020, GLC two cases since June 2020, and TBC had zero reported outbreaks from June to December 2020.
My plea to Canadian pastors and church leaders
I am incredibly thankful to these three men and the many others who have opened their churches and cared for their flock. There are, unfortunately, too few of them, and most pastors still follow the COVID-19 rules. I do not know of any church in Quebec holding services as normal. In my city, all churches closed during the second lockdown and only reopened out of obedience to the government, not Christ. And I pray they would consider their stance.
The extended lockdowns and church closure have been challenging for many believers—including me. I moved to Canada from the United States three months before the pandemic. I did not know anyone in the city and was still adjusting when everything shut down. Now, I am not new to isolation. Having moved ten times in the last twelve years, I have experienced many seasons of loneliness. But last year was different because it was the first time I faced it without the Church. Going to church has always been a refuge for me. Even when I did not have close friends, I could always enjoy a sweet fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
But with all churches closed, my closest sibling 5 hours away, and no friends in my city, last year was the worst time of my life. It is only by God’s grace that I made it through. Without Him, I could easily have been one of the poor souls who thought death was preferable to isolation. Many are also suffering and need to reconnect with the body of Christ.
Pastors, the church is essential; I implore you to open your doors and tend to your flock. It has been too long. We need one another and thrive when we are together. If the bride of Christ is in captivity in Canada, it is not only because of the government rules and restrictions but also because of you, the undershepherds who keep your doors closed Sunday after Sunday and won’t let us worship and fellowship as our Head commanded.
There is an accountability like no other accountability to those of us who lead the church. We stand accountable to God, to Christ. How we treat His sheep is how we treat Christ. The church is the flock of the Lord given to the care of undershepherds. This is our life. This is our calling. This we must fulfill.
John MacArthur
Grace and peace to you!
Additional Resources
Articles
- Christ, Not Caesar, is the Head of the Church – John MacArthur
- Here We Stand: The Church Must Meet – Jacob Reaume
- 4 Things You Need to Understand About Christian Persecution – Michelle Lesley
Sermons
- We Must Obey God Rather Than Men – John MacArthur
- The Time Has Come – James Coates
- A Lesson in Uncompromising Faithfulness – James Coates
- Directing Government to its Duty – James Coates
- Jesus Commands the Church to Meet. Period – Jacob Reaume
- Church and State Class – Jacob Reaume
Miscellaneous
- Open Your Church – Canadian Pastors
- The Church is Essential – John MacArthur
- Canadian Doctors Speaking Out – Liberty Coalition Canada
