Is It A Sin To Not Go To Church On Sunday During A Pandemic?

4/9/2020

This passage of Scripture comes to mind, when the question of temporarily suspending Sunday services comes up: God let David take the sacred bread of the tabernacle on behalf of his men, even though it broke God's ecclesiastical law of the time, because it was an emergency & would prevent the loss of life.

Under normal circumstances, God forbade David from doing this. The tabernacle bread was sacred, and David had no legal right to touch it. But God made an exception to a commandment, because life was at stake. David's men were starving because they were all on the run from wicked King Saul. Christ used this example as justification for letting His disciples to glean grain on the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-27), which was also a violation of ceremonial law.

The claim that God never approves exceptions to His commands is false.

Think how that principle applies to us as we temporarily refrain from gathering together on the Lord's Day. Next to the worship of God, there is no higher ethical value in Scripture than the protection of innocent human life. It's the major reason why we Christians strenuously oppose abortion and euthenasia. We are pro-life.

Because we are pro-life, we also avoid situations where the possibility of communicating a potentially deadly contagion to others is real. The virus is not a hoax. People who say that probably think the moon walk was staged. No Spirit-filled Christian wants to accidentally sicken or kill an elderly brother or sister in the name of Hebrews 10:25.

Under normal circumstances, it is God's will that we gather on the Lord's Day. But these are not normal circumstances. The threatening nature of the COVID-19 problem brings our group activities under the rule of "love thy neighbor".

There have been other, similar situations Christians have faced. In other places our brethren have had to sneak around and meet in tiny groups, in cellars and barns, behind blacked-out windows, because an evil government would have swooped in and arrested everyone. But where just two or three are gathered in Christ's name, there He is in the midst of them.

In addition, some are condemning others with Hebrews 10:25, "even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions." (1st Timothy 1:7).

Specifically, the sin described in Hebrews 10:25 is habitual, which means it is not caused by external circumstances. It is a case of neglect, not a choice occasioned by dangers like disease epidemic. And "assembling together" is not the same thing as "everyone meet closely together in a room." Christians continue to assemble in small groups, even while they waited for Sunday services to resume.

This misapplication of Hebrews 10:25 is the same as that of the Pharisees' errors about the Sabbath, which we see described in Luke 13. Jesus did in a sense break the Sabbath, because He performed a "work" -- of healing. But really He did not, because the Bible clearly said God had given exceptions to the sabbath law. Temporarily suspending Sunday services is that same form of exception: a work of life-protection, charity, and necessity, no different than helping a neighbor's donkey out of a ditch on the Sabbath.

So no, it is not a sin to refrain from meeting until this crisis is past. Hang in there, keep praying for God to drive off this pestilence, but also for Christ to draw many into the safety of His salvation. And let's plan on having a grand party when all this is done!

Jennifer Koehler

4/9/2020 08:15:10 pm

Church leaders are denying Christian congregants the choice and ability to worship together in obedience to God (Hebrews 10:23-25) when they close church doors out of fear of an over-hyped virus (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ex-nyt-reporter-challenging-the-coronavirus-narrative)--a virus that has failed to produce the mass loss predicted on any model presented. Yet, church leaders who are supposed to be examples of walking in faith and trusting in God's Word are failing to do so. God makes it clear that He will protect those who obey Him and trust in His Scriptural promises to save us from the deadly pestilence (Psalm 91 and others). There will ALWAYS be sickness that can pass from one to another without those who carry it knowing it (the annual flu kills way more every year than this virus), so do we permanently cancel church? Repeatedly, the news tried to hype this virus.

It always struck me as a condemnation of the church when the final nail in the coffin was when the media reported, "and even the churches are closing down." In other words, "even where one would expect to find faith, there is fear, so it must be true." But it isn't.

This response is overblown, makes the church look terrible, and isolates people when they need spiritual support the most from the fellowship of the believers. It also shows the congregants that those in leadership do not really believe what they preach the rest of the year about trusting in God and acting in faith upon His Word.

No general Scripture about "loving your neighbor" should be used to cancel out a clear and relevant Scripture to "not neglect the gathering together of the believers." Also directly relevant: "Surely he will save you from ... the deadly pestilence." "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7" RISE UP, CHURCH!

Charles Patane link

4/14/2020 04:11:17 pm

A Response
As a newly elected elder of the IPCC I feel an obligation to respond to a public comment and not in an offensive way, rather in the spirit of love. I would like to address the scriptural references mentioned, “Psalm 91 and others;” “Hebrews 10:23-25;” ”Loving your neighbor;” and “2 Timothy 1:7.”

Let’s look at “Psalm 91 and others” first. (I am not sure what “and others” refers to, but perhaps some are: Psalm 103:3; Exodus 15:26; Deut. 7:15). Generally speaking, this Psalm is one of assurance and deliverance from any kind of peril including diseases (v. 10) for God’s people who abide in the shadow of the Almighty. The Old Testament verses that speak of protection from diseases are interesting because the Israelites did experience them. Concomitantly, God gave Levitical laws that instructed the use of quarantine until an affected person could be reexamined by the Priest to be “clean.” Once the disease appeared the Priest had to quarantine the person. It was not an act of fear rather obedience, faith, and wisdom. We know that these sanctioned laws were practiced during Jesus’ day without condemnation from Him.

It is interesting that Satan cites Psa. 91:11-12 when tempting Jesus in the wilderness (Matt. 4:5-6). Satan quotes Psalm 91 that promises safety and protection. Jesus knew that that particular promise of God was not applicable to His circumstance and so He applied the full counsel of the wisdom of God by countering Satan with Deut. 6:16, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” By faith not fear of the height of the pinnacle Jesus trusted God and the full biblical theological purport of Scripture to frustrate Satan’s deception. As a result Jesus did not leap off the pinnacle of the temple when tempted by Satan’s use of Psalm 91. Therefore, Jesus’ response to the “protection” noted in Psa. 91 was explicit in terms of not testing the LORD. Jesus knew that God was omnipresent and all omnipotent and would be faithful to His Word without testing it. These two attributes of Yahweh, too, is what the Psalmist was expressing.

Therefore, though it sounds good to apply the promises of God to our circumstances we have to carefully discern whether they are “general” (conditional) in nature or “absolute” (apodictic) in nature. It is that difference that helps us particularly with the book of Psalms and also that of Proverbs so that we do not misapply Scripture.

I would like to interact with the assertion that “no general Scripture about “loving your neighbor” should be used to cancel out a clear and relevant Scripture to “not neglect the gathering together of the believers.” On the contrary, the clear and relevant verses are those that speak about “loving your neighbor” and the not so clear verse is that of Hebrews 10:25 (though on first glance it looks clear).

Let’s look at the former first “loving you neighbor.” In the NT there is no greater faith-attribute than love: “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13). Do I have to say more? Yes, let me be clear, loving your neighbor is not a “general or conditional Scripture.”

Jesus Himself in Mark 12:30-31summed up the 10 Commandments by into 2 while quoting Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ (31) The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
In addition, there is John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (comp., 1 John 4:7-9, 1, 21). Therefore, loving our neighbor is not a “general” admonition rather it is the quintessential expression of the love of God through His body of believers, the Church.

Now let’s return to Hebrew 10:23-25 and assertion that “no general Scripture about “loving your neighbor” should be used to cancel out a clear and relevant Scripture to “not neglect the gathering together of the believers.” Permit me to quote Hebrews 10:23-25 are of importance:
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; (24) and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (25) not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
There is a lot going on in these verses some of which may be sociologically related to the community of faith in the first century. Remember this is the Boo

Charles Patane link

4/14/2020 06:01:45 pm

Continued from previous:
Remember this is the Book of Hebrews. Traditionally thought the book was written to Jewish believers. Let’s just keep it there. Let’s observe the word “hope” in verse 23 and connect it to the last phrase “the Day” in verse 25. Sandwiched in between is the phrase “to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” This word for love is agape it is not the self-seeking, selfish autonomous love of the sin nature. It is the agape love that hung Jesus on the cross (Jn. 3:16; 1 Jn. 4:10). It is the same love I believe we are exhibiting by caring for our neighbor presently. Now and importantly, verse 25 is a continuance of the love stated in verse 24. I know this is true, because of the grammatical construction of the word “forsaking” is a present active participle extending the thought “consider how to stimulate one another to (agape) love” in verse 24 over to the thought of not “forsaking our own assembling together.” There are a number of interpretations with regard to this verse (especially with the Greek word for “assembling”) to much so to elaborate here. But what do the words “forsaking our own assembling together” refer to? It may be simply Christians meeting together. However, it may refers to Jewish believers who continued to go to the synagogue instead of the assembling with fellow Christians. In any case, we elders and deacons have decided to ask that we not meet together in order to stimulate one another on toward loving our brothers, and sisters, and neighbors in order to save lives. We are not asking anyone to substitute fellowshipping together with other believers in order to meet with unbelievers (May it never be!) as may have been with Hebrews 10:23-25. . I would say, also, that the ‘love God and your neighbor’ verses I have quoted above with the intent to save lives and protect others take precedence over the application of verses that do not save lives of believers and unbelievers. In addition, we are not “forsaking” our assembling together. Rather we are withholding assembling out of the love principle for others.

As far as the powerful verse of 2 Timothy 1:7 I do not, nor do the other elders or deacons, stand in fear of the government or of COVID19. Rather, we do stand in the fear of the LORD who through love cast out all fear: 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”

In addition, sometimes our well-meaning theological or even cultural worldview presupposition(s) rustle in ideas that produce faulty exegesis (interpretation(s)) and even applications. That unintentionally we all fall prey to.

Jennifer Koehler

4/14/2020 02:27:35 pm

I was told that my post had been deleted and I needed to resubmit it. This is a revised version of my earlier post:

It has always been understandable for those who are sick with a contagious condition to stay home (see the Old Testament), but there has never been a valid reason for healthy Christians to neglect in-person fellowship. When church leaders close church doors, they deny Christian congregants the choice and ability to worship together in obedience to God (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Corona virus’ threat is based on models with errant human assumptions. Reality has not borne out the mass loss predicted on any model presented. See this analysis: (https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fpolitics%2Fex-nyt-reporter-challenging-the-coronavirus-narrative&data=02%7C01%7C%7C586e5627e4694016c3b408d7e0948b83%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637224800911427057&sdata=iUAC6ykZWpQ2%2B7uk5V78WSkyRLvZb5DWcD4mQrdsn9g%3D&reserved=0).

There will ALWAYS be sickness that can pass from one to another without those who carry it knowing it (the annual flu kills way more every year than this virus), so do we permanently cancel church?

Repeatedly, the news has hyped this virus. It is a condemnation of the church when, as the final nail in the coffin, the media reported, "and even the churches are closing down." In other words, "even where one would expect to find faith, there is fear, so it must be true." Is it?

Church leaders are supposed to be examples of walking in faith and trusting in God's Word but are failing to do so. God makes it clear that He will protect those who obey Him and trust in His Scriptural promises to save us from the “deadly pestilence,” from “the sickness that attacks in the darkness” and the “plague that destroys at noon” (Psalm 91 and others). Those promises are for His people, not the world.

Pastors closing their church doors is clear consent to the KY Democrat governor’s belief that church is a non-essential service, which is unbiblical. AZ doesn't have this problem, because the Republican governor has deemed church as essential as grocery stores; it is more so. Religious freedom is our FIRST right granted in the FIRST Amendment to our Constitution for a reason. It is also the first of God’s commands.

Closing churches is unnecessary, makes the church look hopeless--as if we are no different than the world--and isolates people when they need essential spiritual support the most from the fellowship of the believers. It also shows the congregants that those in leadership do not really believe what they preach the rest of the year about trusting in God and acting in faith upon His Word.

No general Scripture about "loving your neighbor" should be used to cancel out a clear and relevant Scripture to "not neglect the gathering together of the believers." Also directly relevant: "Surely he will keep you safe." "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7" RISE UP, CHURCH!

Jennifer Koehler

4/15/2020 09:48:34 am

In response to Charles’ post:
The first point made is that even though God promised protection from diseases to His people, they still became sick; thus, we cannot generally apply these Scriptures. What is neglected is the whole of Scripture that makes clear that these protective promises are conditional (Deut. 28) on their collective (Num. 11:33) and individual (1 Cor. 11:30) obedience to God. If Christians today are walking in faith and obedience, we have no reason to fear. Are we?
Further, the point was made that Levitical law quarantined those who were sick to protect the community, which Jesus did not condemn. True—the sick were quarantined, not the healthy!
The second point made is that we cannot necessarily apply Psalm 91’s promises to Christians today, because Jesus did not apply it to Himself when Satan tempted Him to. Jesus rejected Satan’s prompting to do something clearly foolish and unbiblical (throw Himself off of a building); He did not reject the Psalm; He rejected the false application of it by an enemy who wanted Him to act in prideful disobedience. God never tells us in His word to throw ourselves off a building. He does tell us “not to neglect the gathering together of the believers” in church fellowship.
The third point was to suggest that by calling the command to “love your neighbor” a general command, it was in someway diminished. That is not the case. To say that “Love your neighbor” is a general simply means not to make it out to be whatever is convenient at the time for one’s argument—in contradiction to God’s Word.
Is it loving your neighbor to ask healthy people to stay home, stop working, lose their ability to provide for their families, and become indebted to survive (in violation of God’s word—Rom. 13:8, Pro. 22:7)? God commands His people to work and provide for their own or they are worse than unbelievers (1 Timothy 5:8). Is it loving to ask family members to avoid one another, for individuals to be isolated and lonely, for children to be without their friends, for church believers to forsake the fellowship of the believers for fear? Or is it actually loving for those who are afraid or are at high risk to self-isolate for their own protection while allowing the rest to assist them as they carry out their lives in obedience to God’s commands?
If there was a fear on the part of a church leader for his own safety that might lead Him to forsake the gathering of the believers, he ought not bar the door for others who still wish to do so. He also ought not chastise the believers or provide cover for those (in the government or elsewhere) who wish to hinder the ability of the church to do what God has commanded. There are so many solutions that could be found to allow the body to gather, even while respecting safety concerns. Is anyone willing to make the effort?

Charles Patane link

4/16/2020 03:09:08 pm

To the first paragraph I respond: It is true, “we have no reason to fear” but we don’t tempt God by inappropriately applying Scripture when the evidence, counsel, and prudence demand the wisdom of God applied to a dangerous and deadly virus. If a person believes it’s all a hoax or just fabricated hype then no wisdom or just reason will convince that person against their Will. The verses provided in response to my comment are 1 Cor. 11:30; Num. 11:33; Deut. 28 these have to do with disobedience and its consequences. The OT Scriptures cited are not applicable: Because, we leaders did not act in disobedience, nor did we grumble, nor mummer, nor complain like the Israelites in the wilderness against their leaders, Moses and Aaron and ultimately Yahweh. In addition, the NT Reference should never been taken out of its Lord’s Supper context (abuses mentioned in vvs. 21-22) used against the decision to postpone Church Services in this situation. Rather, we leaders earnestly sought the will of God and applied the wisdom of God while assessing the counsel and warnings regarding a deadly virus and our decision was to apply wisdom (Prov. 1:7; 11:14; 15:22) in prayerful obedience to God. For us to have done otherwise would have been foolish.
The second short paragraph: I’ll quote: “Further, the point was made that Levitical law quarantined…. True—the sick were quarantined, not the healthy!” The healthy are not absolutely quarantined (I have visited various places and people and have had visitors to our home) by exercising preventive mitigating measures against an indiscriminate airborne deadly threat. If the circumstance were different I would agree.
The third paragraph with reference to Psalm 91. To clarify, I did not say and I quote “we cannot necessarily apply Psalm 91’s promises to Christians today.” Rather, we can apply Psa. 91 today, just not as a shield against the wisdom of God and to tempt Him with it in the process. All Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16, et. al.) is Inspired by God and applicable for faith and practice. It is true and I quote: “Jesus rejected Satan’s prompting to do something clearly foolish and unbiblical (throw Himself off of a building); He did not reject the Psalm; He rejected the false application of it by an enemy who wanted Him to act in prideful disobedience.” That was my point. Jesus did not reject the Psalm (God forbid) but the foolish application of it. We should not act foolishly and apply the Word of God when the wisdom of God tells us otherwise.
The fourth paragraph: All I can say about this paragraph on “love your neighbor” is re-read my comment again. From your comment: “To say that “Love your neighbor” is a general simply means not make it out to be whatever is convenient at the time of one’s argument – in contradiction to God’s Word.” The inference is, that’s what our leadership did. Anyone who knows the leadership of our church knows that we would not deceptively use Scripture for “convenient” sake in order to win an argument.
The fifth paragraph is not directly related to my comment so I will refrain from providing a response. But I will say, I am in sympathy with the sacrifices that everyone is making for the wellbeing of others.
The Sixth and last paragraph. We leaders voluntarily made a faith decision to postpone corporate worship based on the application of Godly counsel, wisdom and prayer (Prov. 4:5-6) and not of fear or coercion or intimidation. Because as “Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). We even re-evaluated and assessed the situation a week or two prior to Easter but because of the clear and present danger decided to maintain the course until we had enough evidence to safely worship corporately.
I thank God that each of us has a faith conscience and “whatever is not of faith is sin.” On that basis and in love without condemnation I can agree to disagree (that is, as long as the Word of God is not violated).

To the first paragraph I respond: It is true, “we have no reason to fear” but we don’t tempt God by inappropriately applying Scripture when the evidence, counsel, and prudence demand the wisdom of God applied to a dangerous and deadly virus. If a person believes it’s all a hoax or just fabricated hype then no wisdom or just reason will convince that person against their Will. The verses provided in response to my comment are 1 Cor. 11:30; Num. 11:33; Deut. 28 these have to do with disobedience and its consequences. The OT Scriptures cited are not applicable: Because, we leaders did not act in disobedience, nor did we grumble, nor mummer, nor complain like the Israelites in the wilderness against their leaders, Moses and Aaron and ultimately Yahweh. In addition, th

Jack Brooks

4/14/2020 02:40:12 pm

We are including both versions of the post, since Weebly inexplicably dropped the first, shorter one.

Jennifer Koehler

4/26/2020 06:50:43 pm

Reality supports what God's word has said all along.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfLVxx_lBLU&feature=youtu.be

Jack Brooks

4/29/2020 09:09:01 am

https://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2020/04/krutsinger-responding-to-drs-daniel-ericksons-and-artin-massihis-covid-19-claims/?fbclid=IwAR0hepcEJFJLHpQ2QD0GpsutpfhaVPzPCY1z3UCa3qtVo40VS2SKIMmdeMw

Jennifer Koehler

4/29/2020 01:23:10 pm

Above all, Christians should trust and obey God's Word before any man-generated "facts." Even still, common sense supports God's Word, too.

Jack's link cited New York, the worst hit state. New York is likely the worst thanks to verifiably-inflated numbers--such as counting a person who died after getting hit by a truck as a COVID death just because they were positive for COVID--and stupid governance--putting COVID positive patients in elderly care homes where they will infect the most vulnerable.

Despite this, there is still no justification for shutting down society and quarantining healthy people for an air-borne virus (in other words, you cannot contain it) that has killed a tiny fraction of the population.

Total reported COVID deaths in New York State as of 4/29/20: 17,968
Total Population of New York State: 19,440,469
Death Rate: 00.09%

This rate is less than the seasonal flu, less than car accidents, abortions, and so many other everyday things that are allowed to go on without a suspension of our Constitutional rights and God-given rights to assemble and worship as God has directed.

Pastors submitting to arbitrary government dictates that church is non-essential and encouraging others to do the same is not rooted in Scripture or common sense.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/new-york-city-doctor-why-america-should-reopen?utm_source=theblaze-breaking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20200429Trending-ERDocOpenUp&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%20TheBlaze%20Breaking%20News

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