A Call To Gather: Testing Mandates Against Scripture

“Do not gather with people from other households. No indoor or outdoor gatherings, except with immediate household members. No person from outside your immediate household should enter your home.”

Does this sound like something from a tyrannical socialist/communist society? Nope, this is a mandate made in the Great US of A, the land of the free and the home of the brave… right?

Yeah… what you’ve just read is the Minnesota mandate in regards to any personal socializing for the time being (They say four weeks but that seems very doubtful). So, that’s fun.

Just kidding. It’s not fun. It’s more than a bit disconcerting, I must say. But ya know what? In many ways, I think we’ll survive much of it. Our children won’t die if they don’t play with friends for a bit. I won’t spend too much time crying over passing on hosting our annual ugly sweater Christmas party (though I’ll make big plans for next year, let me know if you’d like an invite!). I’ll live if we spend a winter cooped up at home. I mean come on, we have warm cozy homes, lots of food, plenty of music to fill the rooms, and plenty of laughter to go around. (I have three little boys, our house is never dull.) Can’t complain about that can I? I’m blessed beyond what I deserve and I don’t want to negate that at all.

What I am about to say has nothing to do with those things. Eating at restaurants, working out at the gym, taking kids for fun outings, and ugly sweater Christmas Parties are not biblical mandates for followers of Christ, and thusly, I would not say it’s wrong to go without them. It’s sad, but it’s not wrong.

But now let me ask you a question: How should we feel about this current mandate when tested against the Scriptural commands to the church?

When we read in Hebrews 10:24-25…

…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...

What do we think those verses mean?

I think we generally think of “not neglecting to meet together”, as simply an hour on Sunday morning. So long as we make it to church, or maybe catch it online, we’re good! And right now, we’re allowed to do that, so, yay, we’re all set! Or are we?

Now, don’t get me wrong… I am BEYOND thankful that we are able to meet right now. That was taken from us in the spring and hope it will never be again, and that we’ll continue to meet regardless. I am not making little of the fact that the churches (at least in MN) haven’t been shut down. That’s a huge blessing.

But here’s the reason I ask: especially right now… when “church” consists of limited time, struggling through muffled, masked conversations, and making sure to stay 6 feet from everyone. And of course, no physical contact. And some of us, for personal reasons, are staying home and worshipping virtually, in contact with no one at all.

Is one hour on Sunday morning what was meant by the words “meeting together”?

I have to think, maybe not.

After all, check out the church in Acts:

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their nu. Acts 2:42-47

Now, am I saying we should all sell everything and move into together? No (at least, I don’t believe that to be a Biblical command.) But being content to only see and speak with one another for an hour on Sundays, allowing no one into our homes, and refusing to enter anyone else’s seems about as far from the church in Acts as we could be. Especially when you think of the difficult circumstances and persecutions they were under.

Now, I know, I understand, and I respect that some people within the church are following this mandate fully because they feel led to by the Scriptures themselves:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. (Romans 13:1)

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him… (1 Peter 2:13-14)

Once again, I have respect for this point of view. I wouldn’t even argue it. I’m just trying to be sure that we are taking the whole of scripture when we approach this. And testing every situation we encounter against the word of God. And if we consider the emperor (the constitution), as supreme, then governors sent by him (it), should be leading according to it. And they aren’t. Because, well….

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. – 1st Amendment

I don’t believe “the free exercise thereof” is just speaking to an hour long service on Sunday morning, which has already been at times prohibited and at other times majorly hindered or changed. The point of living in America is to be free, to worship freely. What’s happening here?

And if we see how we, as the church, are to support and encourage one another according to the scriptures, then we must see that we will be left wanting if we anticipate receiving all that through the one brief, weekly gathering that we are allowed, whether in person or virtual.

Let’s read a chunk of one of the most practically applicable passages of the new testament.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect… For as in one body we have many members,and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another… Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep… Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  (Romans 12)

And let’s also look to Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians:

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (1 Thess 5:11-14)

Oh, and then there’s Paul’s letter to the Colossians,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

We are commanded to do all of these things as the body, as the church of Christ.

Now, yes, some of this can be done on a Sunday morning… if you’re there in person. If you attend virtually, there is even less in which you are able to take part. And even if you are there for the brief time you are “allowed”, it’s hard to squeeze it all in, isn’t it? Andrew Murray once said:

“Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays.”  

And I find that to be so true.

Now… am I encouraging everyone, no matter their situation or conviction or health status, to throw all care to the wind and completely disregard this mandate at all cost? Go against conscience, throw a huge Christmas party, kiss everyone you see, and barge in, uninvited, to the homes of all your loved ones? Absolutely not. Am I asking you to attend church in person if you are high risk and uncomfortable to do so? No, I am not. People have reasons for choosing to stay home. I know of many weak, many sick, many elderly, many with children who are immune compromised, etc. and I highly respect the wisdom that each of you are showing according to your own situation.)

(Sidenote: IF you find yourself staying home simply out of fear, or because other people are, or with no real, practical reason for it, I would ask you to pray about attending in person. Many people throughout the world have risked their lives to gather with other believers, so if we abstain, we absolutely must know why, and be able to stand firmly there.)

But no matter how you are choosing to worship on Sunday mornings, I’d like to address this mandate concerning the days in-between Sundays. The days where we are supposed to completely keep away from one another at all costs. That may be a state mandate, but it can also be a danger to each and every believer.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran Pastor and Theologian who gave his life in his stand against Nazi tyranny once said:

“If the world despises one of the brethren, the Christian will love and serve him. If the world does him violence, the Christian will succor and comfort him. If the world dishonours and insults him, the Christian will sacrifice his own honour to cover his brother’s shame. Where the world seeks gain, the Christian will renounce it. Where the world exploits, he will dispossess himself, and where the world oppresses, he will stoop down and raise up the oppressed. If the world refuses justice, the Christian will pursue mercy, and if the world takes refuge in lies, he will open his mouth of the dumb, and bear testimony to the truth. For the sake of his brother, be he Jew or Greek, bond or free, strong or weak, noble or base, he will renounce all fellowship with the world. For the Christian serves the fellowship of the Body of Christ, and he cannot hide it from the world. He is called out of the world to follow Christ.” 
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

The Christian must always take into account first his Biblical call, then his earthly authorities. We cannot step out of the day to day lives of fellow believers and truly think we are being Biblical. We will suffer, they will suffer. Encouragement, true relationships, and growth together in Christ will be next to impossible. It will effect your relationship with the Lord as well as that of your fellow brothers and sisters. If you are obeying this mandate by doing your Sunday duty and then always neglecting to be in contact with fellow believers throughout the week, you are in a very dangerous place. If you go from one Sunday to the next on a regular basis without any kind of fellowship, encouragement or accountability, this is a problem. And the state mandate is currently giving you an easy pass to do just that.

Here is a quote from Corrie Ten Boom. She was a faithful follower of Christ who was imprisoned and sent to a concentration camp during WWII (along with her sister and elderly father, who both perished in the process), all because they went against the German authorities and hid Jews in their home.

“When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy.”  

Corrie Ten Boom knew the danger and downhill slope of stepping away from christian fellowship. And that’s exactly what we are being mandated to do.

Bonhoeffer and Ten Boom knew all too well what it was to sacrifice for others. To be willing to give all for the sake of loving others more than self, of adhering to the Word of God before any human authority. They resonated with Peter when he said:

“We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29

If we disconnect from our faith family in the name of “loving one another”, if we feel vindicated to keep totally to ourselves for the foreseeable future all “for the greater good”, we have deceived ourselves and ignored our call to love and to sacrifice. Please don’t be deceived by the intentions of Governors who make mandates calling for peaceful citizens to stay completely separated under threat of fine or imprisonment, while mobs of angry protesters burn down businesses and riot in the streets, unrestricted, with next to no consequences.

“In Oregon, you can be jailed for having too many people over for Thanksgiving…But if you want to riot and loot in Portland, no sweat!” – Representative Jim Jordan

There are many leaders in our country who do not desire the greater good. There is an agenda that has nothing good to offer you or those you love and if we simply adhere to mandates without first testing them against scripture… we are making a detrimental mistake. Be sure that as you strive to live peaceably, and follow authorities so long as you are able, never do so in ignorance.

Three Things To Consider:

First, consider those who will suffer greatly from the LACK of personal contact. There are simply some people who will not be better off spending the winter in complete isolation. Consider those who will feel unloved and forgotten if every person in their life who claims Christ will not step close enough to show his love in tangible, practical, sacrificial ways. Consider your friend with anxiety and depression who could use a hug or just someone to be there and hear them out and pray with them. (Suicide rates are skyrocketing in the name of loving people by staying away.) Consider your grandmother whom you’ve refused to ask over to protect her, no matter how she may feel. Don’t go forcing hugs on granny, but if she wants to come and you are well… please let her. Or if she’s in a home, call her or go stand outside with signs… a lot. Even in crazy cold temps. I wonder if we aren’t losing more elderly to the “cure” of isolation and loneliness than to COVID. (I saw a family of 20 standing outside a nursing home window on Thanksgiving and it made me so happy.) Consider the members of your church who live alone, making this isolation much harder than it is for those of us with families to keep us company, or offer a helping hand… consider those who might NEED real contact, who might NEED a physical hand, who might NEED you to sacrifice your time, overcome your fear, or go against what might be an unbiblical mandate to be there for them. Keeping in mind:

…if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? – 1 John 3:17

Second, consider the desperate need to encourage, listen to, and hold one another accountable. An hour long service on Sunday morning should not satisfy your need for fellowship. We’ve always said that, but now we REALLY have to put it into practice. Consider what it will do to a church if they don’t share one another burdens, joys, sorrows, and memories. We are CALLED to this, and we shouldn’t take the neglecting of it lightly. Don’t pull away from those you need and who need you so badly.

Lastly, consider exactly how, while still following your conscience, you will keep from neglecting the gathering of believers. I cannot say exactly what this will look like for each person, but I can certainly say that you need to stay in the lives of your brothers and sisters:

1. I would implore those who feel, according to their own conscience, that they must stay home and away from others, to do all they can to love and fellowship from a distance. I respect you and I know that we all have hard decisions to make these days. I know it could be so easy to snuggle up with a good book, or bury yourself in your home office and escape the world… but please… Write letters, set up virtual chats/bible studies/prayer meetings, make phone calls. And above all pray, pray hard for your brothers and sisters. And all of this, not just randomly, but consistently and with purpose. Make sure you’re reaching out to those in need, that you’re encouraging your fellow believers, and that you’re accountable to someone. The virtual world is a blessing. Use it faithfully.
2. And I would implore those who might be struggling, according to their own conscience, with NOT hosting, or visiting, or gathering… to keep doing so, with discretion. I might be stepping out a bit here, but I think I have laid out a Biblical argument, not for carelessness, but for loving when it’s scary, and physically being there, even when there are risks of sickness, fines or imprisonment. (Our brothers and sisters all over the world have suffered as much or more, so no shame, my friend, no shame). If you are seeing needs that need to be met in person, if you still feel the call to hospitality, if you are willing and are able to sacrifice for the sake of another… than I encourage you to do it. Use discretion, don’t be flippant, don’t push this on others but reach out and just be available. There are some who need to feel the love of Christ in a very personal way. Some people struggle with virtual communication (That “some people” would be me. Maybe there are others like myself who find that FaceTime and Zoom do little to make us feel connected to others). Love all of these as Christ loved, unafraid and moved with compassion for those in need. Even when society treated his kindness and compassion with disgust and disdain.

And, no matter which of these categories you fall into, let’s treat one another in a patient and understanding manner. We all have convictions. Many which we feel we can back up Biblically. This is very hard. There is no perfect answer. But let’s walk in unity so long as we aren’t walking in sin. Let’s strive not to think of ourselves or our own feelings more highly than we ought. Let’s give grace and only speak truth in love.

And remember, dear friends, that while COVID-19 is very real and we should respect it, we should never live in fear of it. Hear the words of Charles Spurgeon as he navigated his ministry to his church in the middle of the Cholera Epidemic.

“Who is the man that does not fear to die? I will tell you. The man that is a believer. Fear to die! Thank God, I do not. The cholera may come again next summer—I pray God it may not; but if it does, it matters not to me: I will toil and visit the sick by night and by day, until I drop; and if it takes me, sudden death is sudden glory.” ...Hast thou known what it is to dwell securely in God, to enter into the Most High, and laugh to scorn the anger, the frowns, the sneers, the contempt, the slander and calumny of men; to ascent into the sacred place of the pavilion of the Most High, and to abide under the shadow of the Almighty, and to feel thyself secure? And mark thee, thou mayest do this. In times of pestilence it is possible to walk in the midst of cholera and death, singing— ‘Plagues and deaths around me fly, Till he please, I cannot die.’ It is possible to stand exposed to the utmost degree of danger, and yet to feel such a holy serenity that we can laugh at fear; too great, too mighty, too powerful through God to stoop for one moment to the cowardice of trembling.”

In Closing…

Let’s make sure we are testing everything we do, every mandate we follow, against the word of God. Let’s stop being satisfied by only an hour on Sunday mornings. Let’s make sure we are living according to conscience, not fear. Let’s be sure we aren’t submitting to earthly authorities ahead of the Ultimate Authority. Let’s be sure we aren’t so afraid of death that we’re ceasing to live. Let’s number our days and live them with courage.