In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, government officials implemented drastic measures to reduce the spread of the virus. One of these precautions was a ban on gatherings of more than 250 people. This means churches with large congregations must close their doors on Sundays.
But some Christians strongly objected.
They asserted their right to worship and boldly proclaimed they would still go to church regardless of what the government said. Some pastors even went so far as to call people who chose to stay home or close their doors cowards. And some congregants said they would leave their church if they decided to obey the government.
All these bruhaha just reminded me of the plot of God’s Not Dead 3. In the movie, officials of a university wanted to demolish the old chapel on campus to build something else. The pastor who was understandably upset fought tooth and nail to thwart this scheme. He called in lawyers, organized protests, etc. to prevent it from happening.
The whole time I thought that he should just accept it and move on. After all, the church is the people, not a building.
And it took over an hour before the pastor finally came to the same reckoning and gave up. I wonder if some of us aren’t making the same mistake in giving too much importance to a building or numbers.
Some Christians see the ban on gatherings as a ban on worship altogether and feel justified to disobey the authorities because it violates God’s law. But the order was not an attack on churches alone, nor did it forbid Christians to worship God. So obeying the authorities here doesn’t make us disobey Scriptures since we can still meet in smaller numbers and elsewhere.
Brick and mortar buildings may have been empty last Sunday, but millions of voices still lifted the name of Jesus in worship, in a sweet aroma pleasing to the Lord. Albeit not in unison.
True, the Bible says we should not forsake the assembling of the believers, but it doesn’t specify how many of us must gather. In fact, the establishment of brick and mortar churches is a recent phenomenon and wasn’t always the norm.
The early Church met in small groups in each other’s houses to worship. What we call today “house church” was just church back then. Small groups are how it was always meant to be, and it is the setting in which we thrive the most. That’s why churches always put such emphasis on joining a small group or life group. This pandemic is a good reminder that we do not necessarily need to gather in large numbers to worship, nor do we need to be in a particular building.
There was a time indeed when worship was confined to a place. In those days, Jews were only allowed to worship in the temple because that was where God’s presence dwelled. But it was before Jesus tore the veil; before He gave us unlimited, and unrestricted access to God via the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
Why, when the Samaritan woman challenged Jesus on where to worship, Jesus said, “believe me the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father…But the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. (John 4:22-24).
So it doesn’t matter if the government shut down our buildings because worship is no longer confined to a place. It doesn’t matter if we do not gather in considerable numbers to worship God, because He is still in our midst whether we gather in thousands or are just two or three. What matters is that we worship Him in Spirit and truth. (Do note I am not saying it’s okay not go to church after the pandemic)
I do not think less of churches who closed their doors during the pandemic. Neither should you. And I do not hold in higher esteem churches who remained open. Neither should you.
We are in unchartered areas, and each pastor decided according to the needs of his congregation, his conscience, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
I find it interesting that the people with the most criticism are the ones who are not in the pastorate. They do not bear the privilege and burden to shepherd God’s flock, and will not stand in a much stricter judgment for their stewardship. These critics sit comfortably with no responsibilities and cast stones to those who do.
It shouldn’t be so. This attitude only causes unnecessary strife between the body of Christ at a time when we must more than ever come together and be light to a fearful and panicking world.
Whether church buildings will close or not close, the Church will always be open.
