Many Churches are closing their doors in fear of the Corona Virus, or in compliance with the Government, while the abortion mills, bars & strip clubs remain open 😪😒😷
Next week President Trump will have spent one TRILLION dollars fighting an invisible virus that God decreed, and is in absolute control of. That trillion will be added to our existing 23 trillion dollar debt. As the media sensationalizes this melodrama, he will use the taxpayers’ money to fund this socialist stimulus/bail-out package. He even vows to send every American a $1,000.00 check. Perhaps when I receive mine, I should videotape burning it. Meanwhile, Trump’s “spiritual advisor” is the false Prophet Paula White. And many professing Christians support this agenda, and churches are willingly closing down.
Alright, I digress from my political soap box. Let’s discuss what’s most important.
I expect the world to respond in the unfaithful irrational ways they are, but not professing Christians (as I’m seeing via their posts on social media). Viruses come and go, they’ll always be a daily part of our lives. Fact is, more people have died this year from the common flu, than this virus. Therefore the Lord’s Church mustn’t act like the rest of the world. If we’re saved, we’re holy because He is holy. Therefore we should keep our sanctuary doors open on the Lord’s Day, keeping the Lord’s Day holy.
After all, as I stated on Twitter – “Let me see if I have this right. Your church closes down, while the abortion mills, bars & strip clubs remain open. And you can’t understand why God would send this plague?”
Though they should submit to their Elders, many faithful Christians are disappointed in their local churches for closing their doors, and sadly some have already left their church for this reason. Understandably so, for decades I’ve heard many pastors admonish their church while quoting the partial verse, “We’re not to forsake the gathering of the saints.” So today, Christians are reminding their pastors of their admonishments.
Albeit the whole verse says, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner [or habit] of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Nevertheless, if we’re going to examine the entire verse 25, then we ought to refer back to verse 23, which states we’re to practice and demonstrate our faith “without wavering.”
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner [or habit] of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:23-25).
Therefore, we should not make a habit out of missing church, and we ought to practice (or demonstrate) Christianity “without wavering” (though we all fall short).
It’s a shame that persecuted Christians all over the world are willing to die, so that they don’t forsake the gathering of the saints, but professing Christians in America are closing their doors because of a virus dramatized by the leftist anti-Christ media.
Though I am just another online layperson, so that I do not violate or offend the conscience of my fellow brethren, this is my mere advice regarding going to a church that is open during this coronavirus season.
If you’re sick on Sunday, you’re excused. If you’re in the high-risk senior citizen age range (like me), you can choose to stay home. If you have a compromised immune system (like me), you’re welcome to stay home. If you have COPD (like me), you’re welcome to stay home. If you have heart disease and heart failure, and/or previous cardiac arrests (like me), you’re welcome to stay home. If you require a Pacemaker and heart meds (like me), you’re welcome to stay home. And no I will not judge you, nor shame you, I will be gracious to you. But for me, I will not stay home, unless I am knowingly sick with the Flu (or this virus).
Although when I do go to church, or elsewhere, I will take reasonable precautionary measures.
As others have said, “Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” As I said in my second Podcast on the Coronavirus, “Christians ought to look forward to death.”
Though I’m not a Medical Doctor, nor a virologist, I suspect the Coronavirus will become a seasonal virus and will return annually (Lord willing). If that be the case, then tantamount to the regular Flu virus, eventually, we will all have the virus within us. For persons like myself, it is most likely to kill us, but Christians mustn’t be afraid.
As C.H. Spurgeon said, “Fear to die? Thank God, I do not. The cholera may come again next summer — Pray 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!”
Pastors and church web sites across America say they are closing their churches as a display of “love” for their neighbors and worldlings. But know this, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (Mark 15:13). Jesus’ demonstrated sacrificial love was for His blood-bought church, not the lost world, or all of our neighbors.
Nevertheless, the greatest most effective Biblical way to love our neighbors is not through “social distancing,” but to share the glorious Gospel with them. And the greatest way to love your church (Gods elect), is to give them the option of coming to that building we call church. Not to appease or acclimate to the world.
Looking at church history, Harry Reeder III said this of John Calvin during an even more deadly plague in Calvin’s time,
“During the first outbreak, in 1542, Calvin personally led visitations into plague-infected homes. Knowing that this effort likely carried a death sentence, the city fathers intervened to stop him because of their conviction that his leadership was indispensable. The pastors continued this heroic effort under Calvin’s guidance, and they recounted the joy of multiple conversions. Many pastors lost their lives in this cause. Unknown to many, Calvin privately continued his own pastoral care in Geneva and other cities where the plague raged. Calvin’s pastoral heart, already evidenced by the provision of hospitals for both citizens and immigrants, was further revealed as he collected the necessary resources to establish a separate hospital for plague victims. When believers died, he preached poignant funeral homilies with passion and personal concern.”
Harry L. Reeder III, ‘Calvin and the Plague,’ in John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Discipleship, ed. Burk Parsons (Lake Mary, Fla: Reformation Trust, 2008), pg. 65.
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Others say they are doing this in an attempt to “flatten the curve” of the progress of the virus. To “flatten the curve” seems to be the media’s favorite phrase, and their way of indoctrinating their viewers. Since when is it the duty of the Church to work in concert with the State, in an attempt to “curve” (or thwart) what is likely to be God’s judgment? The problem is many are worshiping man, rather than God.
America deserves God’s judgment. Americans have boasted in their “great economy,” they’ve boasted in their low employment rate, they’ve boasted in their President, they’ve boasted in their idols, they’ve boasted in their sins of abortion, homosexuality, and various other sins. And the Scriptures are clear that we’re to boast only in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:31), that God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14), that He’s angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11), that He hates those that practice evil (Psalm 5:4-6), and that God giveth and God taketh away (Job 1:21). Therefore, we must repent, not repeat!
Justifiably God is destroying many American idols. Including but not limited to. The economy is imploding from within, a recession is inevitable. Las Vegas (aka sin city) has become a ghost town, sports stadiums and ball fields are empty, and their idolatrous spectators are having withdrawals. Recently I saw a well-known pastor complain on Twitter, that he has no more ball games to watch. Oh, foolish man, when will you learn? Ironically it is pastors like this, that complain about Christians who herald the Gospel in the streets, calling it nothing but “yelling at people.”
Though Christians are commanded to be salt of the earth, and light of the world. But as I’ve been saying for a long time now. Sometimes we need to be salt and light amongst the emerging church movement. Moreover, Christians are to be a bond slave to Christ, not to the State. In faith, we are to trust and rejoice in the Lord.
Though we must be wise, we must also demonstrate courage. Because courage is not an option. Jesus told His disciples “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). I believe there’s a healthy balance to be seen and demonstrated here.
As C.H. Spurgeon said regarding this verse. “We are called to be martyrs, not maniacs; we are to be simple-hearted, but we are not to be simpletons.”
John Bunyan said, “Christianity – We can do it the easy way, or God’s way!”
If Motel 6 will leave their lights on you for, then the church should too – without wavering!
“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:50-58).
Satan and his Demons are alive are well, don’t be deceived by them.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Eph. 6:10-20).
For more about this church closure issue, I invite you to watch my second Podcast on this Coronavirus saga below. Lord let Your will be done!