Soul Guardrails for State Guidelines - Scriptures for the Church in Divisive Days
A few days ago, California gave guidelines for churches and other houses of worship in California on how they can safely re-gather amid the ongoing pandemic.
Under these guidelines, places of worship can gather up to 100 attendees or 25% of building capacity, whichever is lower. Churches must also socially distance (6 feet), and establish a prevention plan (amongst a list of other guidelines).
On the one hand, this is exciting because a dim light in the dark tunnel is beginning to emerge for churches. (There were talks of the church entering a kind of "Ice-Age" just months ago.)
But on the other hand, I’m nervous because I believe we’ve stepped into a divisive time.
“Wait, should we re-gather? Is it safe? And what’s best for the immunocompromised? Besides, what’s the rush? Why are we so impatient?”
“Isn’t the church essential? Isn’t it our right to worship? Besides, our government has given us the green light so what are we waiting for?”
Some churches have already started gathering. Others haven’t and don’t plan to for some time. These opposing churches are already looking at each other funny.
And what about the disagreements even within one’s own church? You can probably find someone at your church who is asking when the doors will open again while others are committed to worshipping at home for the foreseeable future. Who’s right? Who has “more faith”?
Yeah, it’s going to be a divisive time.
In this post I share four passages of Scripture I’ve been reflecting on that I believe may be good Biblical guidelines to keep at the forefront of our minds as we navigate through guidelines for re-opening:
1. “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” (Romans 14:5)
A church that decides to re-gather and a church that opts from doing so, can both be honoring to Jesus.
How? Because a church that re-gathers is following the mandate of Romans 13:1 in submitting to governing authorities and doing so through faith and applied responsibility. But a church that opts from gathering is also applying responsibility through faith under the wisdom of 1 Corinthians 10:23 which says that everything is permissible, but not beneficial. But what matters is that each church moves forward with conviction through prayerful consideration of Scripture and data.
Romans 14:5 was written in the context of food sacrificed to idols. Some Christians were convinced that food sacrificed to pagan gods ought to be rejected while other Christians saw it as food to be redeemed through thanksgiving. In either case, Paul says to go for it with a clarity and peace in conscience. In the same way, churches shouldn’t be self righteous, but motivated by humble conviction about what they’re doing. And proof of this will be that they are not quickly offended or made insecure by what other churches are doing.
2. “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.” (Hebrews 13:18)
Church leaders find themselves in a no-win situation.
Or at least, if the goal is simply pleasing their people.
Every leader is experiencing some insecurity right now.
If so, it will be about placation rather than leadership (and no one truly wins in the prior scenario). When a leadership team placates, it’s ultimately about self preservation of the leadership team rather than the well-being of the church as a whole for what God has intended the church to be. Don’t get me wrong, leaders who lead well will experience the same uncertainties as those who are placating, but the fears will be rooted in what becomes of the church, and not what becomes of their job or reputation.
Yup, your church leaders need your prayers. Prayers that they would rise up to lead with a clear conscience in the midst of fearful thoughts. Prayers that they would lead honorably for the sake of their people whom God has entrusted to them rather than move in step with whatever the church down the street is doing. Pray that courage and humility overrides self-preservation and vainglory.
3. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17)
In the West, this is probably one of the more neglected commands in the Bible.
We can often see our church experience as something that revolves around our desires with the leaders in place to facilitate our wishes rather than seeing our leaders as having been placed by God with a heavy spiritual burden they must carry well.
If your church is gathering, you’re invited to joyfully obey and submit to your leaders.
If your church is not gathering, you’re invited to the same command.
We can disagree and even voice our opinions, but we can do it in a way that brings them joy and not groaning. (I should also note that if our leaders are leading well, they will not domineer their re-gathering decisions over us, but gently lead us as shepherds ought to with the provision of options and understanding).
Our pastors and leaders will give an account for our souls. Let’s give them grace to make decisions with the big picture in mind. Let’s refresh them with our joyful participation and charitable disagreements.
4. “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:23)
Before Jesus took the cross, he prayed for the church’s unity. No, it wasn’t for a feel-good kind of unity but one that reflects the Trinitarian unity of the Godhead.
And the result Jesus prayed it would produce? Witness and testimony of the gospel to the world.
It’s possible to hold different positions but demonstrate our unity as God’s people.
Some churches are gathering and doing so for many reasons, one of which is to be a witness to the world. The same can be said for churches who are choosing not to gather. But what if the greatest witness to the world is the displayed unity of the church which transcends disagreements? What if uniformity in thought wasn’t the goal but support and prayer for one another beyond strategy and methodology?
The church has an incredible gospel opportunity before us. It’s one Jesus prayed for. And we have the awesome opportunity of being a small part of the fulfillment of that prayer.
Conclusion
No one has the answers. Churches are going to make mistakes (yours and mine included).
What I love about these Bible verses is that they corner me to a tension which transcends mere principles. They bring me to my knees before a Person, my Savior. These verses bring me to Jesus causing me to ask for wisdom and strength for my church, my leaders, churches across our region, and that people would be compelled to hear the news of Jesus.
There will be a temptation to take off our gloves. Let’s do better.
