by Jeff Reed

A pastor of a Tampa Bay church was arrested Monday for violating the State’s order against large crowds. The executive order was given because Covid-19 is spreading exponentially in the State of Florida. I watched some of the church’s replay from the Sunday services and it can be easily observed that the crowd was in the hundreds and closely packed together. They did this in defiance of government believing that their “faith” should be enough to protect them. This was considered a dangerous act that could seriously harm or kill someone in that congregation. The pastor faces criminal charges.

A couple questions arise from this. First, is the government violating the first amendment rights of this religious group by ordering them to not assemble? Second, does God want us to demonstrate our faith and face down a deadly pandemic?

The first questions is simple. Asking a church not to meet during an emergency situation that puts the lives of the members in danger is a basic responsibility of government. Whether it is a hurricane, fire, or deadly disease. It does not diminish freedom of religion. It would also be incorrect to make the argument that we need to obey God’s laws above man’s law in this situation.

We are told in Romans 13:1 to “submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” But how do we reconcile it with the statement in Acts 5:29 that “we ought to obey God rather than men”? How do we make this distinction? I believe it is simple. Always keep God’s law even if the government make’s this action illegal. We have the clear example in the book of Daniel, chapter 6, where Daniel continued to pray to God in defiance of Kind Darius’ decree. God rescued him from the lions’ den. He was protected for obeying God rather than men. 

God’s Sabbath day is referred to in Scripture as a “sacred assembly.” The law concerning the upcoming Holy Days say that “three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose” (Deuteronomy 16:16). So are we required to go to a packed church to keep the upcoming Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread? Do we need to defy man’s law and assemble?

The church is not a place. The people are the church. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). The place God chooses to place His name is us! We can keep these days at home. We are blessed that we can still connect online to our brethren and watch live sermons during this unprecedented time of international crisis. By not assembling at a crowded church we are actually obeying God. I’ll explain as I answer the second question.

Does God want us to demonstrate our faith and face down a deadly pandemic? Some take Mark 16:18 very literally. It says the disciples of Jesus “will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them.” There are churches where the members intentionally handle poisonous snakes and drink poison. Many of them die from this and they are marked as “not having enough faith.” So usually these churches are small in number through attrition.

In Matthew 4 Jesus is taken by the Devil to the highest point of the temple. 

“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Matthew 4:6-7).

Jumping off the temple would be intentionally placing Jesus’ life in danger. For Him to survive, His Father would have to supernaturally save His life. Jesus clearly says this would be testing God. We should not test God! Unfortunately assembling at church during this pandemic would be testing God.

Meeting during a plague is not an example of humble faith. It is really an act of pride. “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). We need to be careful and not let pride cause harm to others. We need to instead put the needs of others ahead of our own. 

If we are truly humble and faithful, God will protect us. 

“Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (Psalm 91:9-10)

That is a tremendous promise to remember as we shelter in our homes. He will protect us in our dwellings! Let’s continue to assemble together online, pray for each other, our leaders, and that this uncertain time will end soon.