Our Compromise in the Face of Covid-19: An open letter to the Church

Dear brothers and sisters, greetings in the name of King Jesus. 
I am writing to you (as I have written to my own Session) because I believe that we - the Church in North America - have let the Lord down.  Like Peter we have made big promises, but in a moment of trial we have in this way denied Him.  We have compromised and we have sinned.  I don't say that lightly.   Many better men than me hold an entirely different position. Still, I believe our decision to submit to the government is wrong.  I believe it’s seriously wrong.  I believe one day we will look back on this with sorrow at how easily we gave in to the pressures of government and society.   I know it’s well intended but still wrong.  
As you know churches almost everywhere (including our own) have closed.  Gathering together for worship has been replaced almost everywhere by live-streaming, so that there is no more ‘meaningful’ gathering of believers for the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments.  Something has happened that I never dreamed I would live to see.
How did that happen?  Before this pandemic live-streaming was not considered an acceptable alternative except for the bedridden.  And how could it be?   To a persecuted Church God said, "do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together..."  In the same way it is to a gathered Church that Jesus promised "there am I in the midst of them;" and it is only a gathered Church that can administer the sacraments.   Those of us who have enjoyed seasons of refreshing from His presence know that there is something special about the gathered assembly of saints in worship.  There is something about the dynamic between preacher and congregation that cannot be replicated through online media.   Audio sermons are not the same.  The fact that reformed churches don't allow live-streaming as an alternative to regular attendance except in extreme cases suggests what the Church itself believes about the priority of coming together.  But now that has changed.  Why?
I have heard two answers to the question.    The first is taken from Romans 13.  We are told there to submit to those who are in authority.  After all, they are ministers for good.   And - I have been told - when the government restricts gatherings to just 5 people they aren't specifically targeting Christians. It isn't persecution.  I am astonished by such reasoning.  Even our children have been taught to understand that there is an exception to that rule.  What is that exception?  We cannot dishonour God to honour man.  In other words, we must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29).  There is no clause specifying persecution as the special case.  God nowhere said “obey them except when they persecute you!”  He said simply, obey God rather than man.  His law must come first.  If the government tells all its citizens to lie I must refuse whether they are targeting Christians or not!   
Before I was married I worked at a chain factory, and on one occasion I was told to cheat.  I was asked to paint chain that hadn’t been properly plated.  The request had nothing to do with my Christianity; and when I refused and my boss threatened to fire me it wasn’t because I was a Christian but because I wouldn’t dishonour God even for him.  I wouldn’t cheat.  So it is here.  We have an express command to gather for worship.  The government’s authority does not trump God’s.  The fact that they aren’t persecuting Christians has nothing to do with it.  The question is simple: whose law will we obey? 
There is an irony in all of this... I have heard good men say that our current magistrates are not ministers for good.  They legalize the murder of unborn babies, they have redefined marriage, they allow euthanasia, and they do not acknowledge in word or deed the crown rights of King Jesus. I know of good men who feel perfectly comfortable breaking the law because they recognize our authorities are not ministers for good.  What's sadly ironic is that now when the government asks them to stop meeting for worship they believe it is important to obey.  I fear that for many (though certainly not all) this is not a principled decision but one driven by convenience and fear.  
The second answer is taken from Matthew 22:39: “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”  We are told that it is not loving to gather for worship because in doing so we are putting people in danger.  By gathering we risk further spread of the virus.  So, we are told it is not loving to the community, it is not loving to the congregation and it sends the wrong message to the world.  We are told it is Christ-like to love our neighbour by following the advice of the experts.  If staying away from other believers may save lives we must not gather.

I don’t believe we have thought this argument through very carefully.  In previous generations for a member of a family to confess “Jesus is Lord” was to put his entire family (and sometimes extended family) in jeopardy.  To gather for worship was an activity that brought the wrath of magistrates down not only on individuals, but also families and communities.  Still, God’s people confessed “Jesus is Lord” and still they gathered.  While I was in Djibouti I had the privilege of witnessing courage in the face of persecution.  Converts from Islam would gather secretly to praise God because their discovery meant imprisonment or death.  Yet, their shouts of joy and victory could be heard on the streets because they couldn’t contain themselves.  Brothers it has never been safe to be a Christian.  It has never been popular to imitate Jesus; and the choices made by the faithful to live by another law (God’s law) have rarely been seen as loving by a worldly wise Church or culture.  Why?  Because their standards and priorities are so different from God’s.  Jesus warned, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”  Have you considered that we are trying to save men’s material, physical lives?   Remember the context.  Jesus was speaking of His dying, and Peter lovingly (but firmly) rebuked Him.  He loved Jesus and didn’t want Him to die.  I would urge you to consider Jesus’ answer: “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”  What was Peter’s problem?  He was savouring the things of men rather than the things of God.

I believe this is just the mistake we are making now.  We are savouring the things of men rather than the things of God.  It is man’s logic that says that the life and health of the body is everything.  Secular humanism teaches that man’s happiness is his reason for being.  Everything, then, must be calculated to make man as happy as possible for as long as possible.  Consider how we are reasoning during this pandemic.  Covid-19 will not likely infect everyone, but if it does it will kill (at most) 4 % of those it infects.  In the US in the last 3 months 22,000 died of the virus.  But during that same period 160,000 died of heart disease, 150,000 of cancer, 20,000 of influenza, 20,000 of diabetes, 40,000 of accidents, 40,000 of lower respiratory disease, 35,000 of cerebra vascular diseases, 12,000 of suicide (and around 50,000 through abortion).  We are not dealing with the bubonic plague which some say may have killed close to a ⅓ of Europe.  We and our neighbours are not facing certain (or even likely) death.  Yet confronted with even a hint of danger we have decided it best not gather to worship God.  In the hope that we might save a few lives we are willing to forsake the assembling of God’s people for the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments.  We have accepted the philosophy of the world.  They are willing to take risks for what they deem essential, and yet we are not willing to take risks for what we once said was essential.  Of course, they don’t prioritize worship because they do not recognize or love King Jesus.  But He is our Master.  He bought us with His blood.  We see things differently now that we have been renewed.  We live by another standard and another philosophy.  This world isn’t everything.  The physical health and safety of our neighbours is not pre-eminent.  What is most important is the glory of God in the salvation of sinners.  This is the reason for the Church’s very existence.  Yet, persuaded by a world that neither loves God nor the souls of men, we have decided that we are loving our neighbour when we cease gathering for worship.  What is this but a savouring the things of men?  

Is it not possible for us to gather in such a way so as to minimize risk of spread?  Surely it is possible to meet in such a way so as to remain 6 feet apart.  We don’t have to touch one another.  We can wear masks.  We could meet secretly in a forest or barn.  Isn’t it possible that we are not considering these options because we are so used to doing whatever our government tells us?  Isn’t it possible that we are so used to living in a country free of persecution that we hardly know how to comprehend real suffering for Christ?  We have spoken of taking up our crosses for years but it was never tangible.  We learned to think of it only symbolically because we have been so comfortable.  Now that following Jesus means possible fines, imprisonment and alienation from the community (and Church) we seem to be at a loss.  Instead of taking up our cross, we are borrowing from the worldly-wise to justify a safer course.  

As a child I read the story of martyr after martyr.  I lived among Christians who really suffered for their gospel witness.  Since discovering the reformed world I have read of the lives of the covenanters who suffered and died because they wouldn’t submit to the authority of bishops.  These men could have gathered for worship on the government’s terms, but they chose instead to gather where they were forbidden.  For this their own friends and fellow churchmen turned on them. They were chased from place to place, often wandering from house to house because hunted.  Some were drowned, some tortured, many died all because they would not allow God’s government and worship to be tarnished, and because they insisted on gathering for worship.  Brothers where has that spirit gone?  What has become of God’s Church?  We have been told for years that we are lukewarm like the Laodicean church.  Isn’t possible that God is now revealing just how lukewarm we are?  How many of us said that we would never deny Jesus.  We would under no circumstances cease gathering to worship our Saviour.  Yet, a little trouble, a little trial, and we have stopped.  And how have we rationalized our decision?  Our reasons are borrowed from the world.  We are savouring not the things of God but the things of men.  I have often thought of Paul’s words to the Corinthians in his first letter.  There he wrote, “And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.”    Paul could reason from his life and theirs for the resurrection of the dead.  His life did not make sense apart from the resurrection.  This has always been a powerful mark of the Christian, that his life doesn’t make sense apart from the resurrection.  But is that true now?  Does our response to covid-19 show our confidence in the resurrection, so that our conduct makes no sense to the world except in light of a future resurrection?  It seems to me that our response to covid-19 makes a great deal of sense to them.  They don’t see “resurrection” written over our conduct.  Rather, like them we are doing all we can to save our lives and theirs.  The government has said the church gathering for worship is inessential and we have agreed with them.  We take risks to go to essential workplaces, we take risks to get groceries, but we will take no risks to worship God.  Brothers we have compromised and done so in the name of loving our neighbour.  What about their souls?   And what about the first and great commandment?  How can we love them if we do not first love Him?

Recently we heard a minister from our presbytery expressing the conviction that God is no longer calling us to worship.  That got me thinking.  If God is calling us to worship, shouldn’t the elders be calling us in His name?  And isn’t He calling us?  The government has said worship is inessential, but God has not said so.  The government has said we must not gather but God has not said so.  We are not laid up in bed.  We are not locked away in prison.  We are choosing not to gather because of our fear of man and our fear of disease.  We speak of tempting God but isn’t this tempting Him?   Should we not rather fear Him than fear man?  Many times we have left our homes and put our lives in jeopardy not knowing that they were jeopardy.  But we went out in faith to do our duty trusting the Lord’s providence; and He preserved us.  Some have been preserved miraculously.  Are we not tempting God when we say that He cannot protect us now?  

I have heard many men say that the call to worship does not trump other commands.  I agree, but then I don’t believe God would ever put us in a position where we would have to choose which command to obey.  We are not choosing between Sabbath observance and the 6th commandment.  It is not “either forsake the assembling of God’s people or commit murder.”  Rather it is as our forefathers used to say, “duty is ours, events are God’s.”  We do not know what shall be the issue (or consequence) of our gathering together.  We do not know for certain that anyone will get sick nor that anyone will die.  Those things belong to God.  That is His province, and it always has been.  If the Nazis came to the door enquiring if there were Jews inside we would not be obliged to answer them, but neither could we lie to them.  Rather we must leave the events to God.  In such a case we are not choosing between two commandments.  Rather, we are doing our duty and trusting God with the events.  That is what is required of us now just as ever.  The events of our gathering are not for us to know.  But that we have a duty to gather is as clear as ever.  Nothing has changed.  

Should those with covid-19 join with us?  Of course not.  Just as the sick were put out of the camp until clean so the sick should remain in quarantine until they are well.  Should we test God by throwing caution to the wind?  Of course not. We can gather safely, discreetly and using all prudence do everything reasonable and lawful to minimize the risk to ourselves and to our community.  But we are not given to know what God will do.  We do not know what will happen if we gather.  We only know it is our duty to do so.  And this has been the case from the beginning of creation and all through the history of the Church.  It’s been true the whole of our lives.  We never know who might get in a car accident while on the way to church, but we have learned to leave such things to Him who says our times are in His hands.  Just because the media and government are telling us different does not mean that God has changed.  Brothers, to the law and to the testimony (Isaiah 8:20)!   Let us do our duty and leave the events with Him.

Brothers and sisters, I believe you have been thoughtful and prayerful about the decisions you have made, but I am urging you to prayerfully reconsider.  Why not set aside a day for fasting and prayer about this particular matter?

Many around us are afraid of the virus.  Others are afraid of the magistrate.  Let us fear God.  Now more than ever the Church ought to be gathering.  We ought to be gathering for days of fasting and prayer, and we ought to be gathering for worship and the administration of the sacraments.  How shall we give an account of ourselves on the day of Judgment?  When that day comes we shall answer not only for how we have conducted ourselves in our homes and workplaces, but also for how we have conducted ourselves as undershepherds.  I know that you love the Lord’s sheep, I know that you labour for them and pray for them earnestly and sometimes with tears.  God is not unrighteous to forget what you have done for Him. He will remember.  But let us consider how we shall answer for our conduct in this time of trial.  These days are for our testing to see what is in us.  I fear that by our conduct we are saying “hitherto hath the Lord helped us, but now He cannot be trusted.  Now, we must take matters into our own hands.”   

We have all seen His preserving hand in our lives.  As the children’s catechism says we ought to glorify God “because He loves us and takes care of us.”  Many times He has preserved us when we weren’t even looking for help.  We did not know the danger we were in.  Now we are aware of the danger.  We have been told our lives are in jeopardy - though this itself is an exaggeration of the facts - but God has not changed.  He is still God, and He is still faithful.  And if He has not changed neither have we.  It is still true that to die is gain.  It is still true that we are risen with Christ.  He “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”  Our names are written in heaven.  We are already citizens there.  Let us then live in light of that coming glorious day of resurrection.   I love the reformed churches, but I believe the decision to submit to the government was a  mistake.  God is calling His people to worship.  As His servants please call God’s people again to gather.   A father has his honour and a master his, but God asks, “where is mine (Malachi 1:6)?”  Please receive this letter in the spirit in which it is written.  I am aware that my life is marred by hypocrisy and weakness.  I am ashamed that I am not the man I ought to be.  I wish that this were coming from the hand of a better man; but I believe it is what God would have me to say, not for my sake but His.

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Edit, May 24, 2021: For a recent follow up go here.
A sermon manuscript on Romans 13 - November 2020 - is available here.  The audio version can be found here.


November 26, 2022:

Comments

  1. As a pastor of a small non-denominational church in North Carolina, I can feel your heart in this. It was a tough decision, but we have ultimately kept meeting through all of this. We went to parking lot services five weeks ago. And even though we are not obeying the letter of the law for our area, we have tried to obey the spirit of it by maintaining social distances and doing other things differently. I do believe God is trying to speak to his church through this. The question is....is the Church listening?

    Be encouraged brother and stand strong.

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    1. Thank you brother for your encouragement. It means a lot.

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  2. beautifully worded, well stated, and thoughtfully done. Back to Scripture is the right call in all times. Thank you for taking time to write this. May the peace & joy of the LORD be with you and the family there.

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  3. I have these EXACT setiments witting in an unifinished letter on my desktop, entitled 'how then should we live'. Your letter is much better than anything that I could have put together. Our church, along with one other SBC church are the only 2 that have continued to meet through all of this. We deem the church essential. Our actions prove if this is true or not.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words. Do write the letter though. There is nothing like personal words of admonition that come from the heart however poorly put together they may seem. May God encourage and help you as you contend for the faith.

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  4. To the author of this letter, I would say, "Come out from among them" (Rev. 18:4).

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  5. Thank you Pastor. May God carry this message to all who need to hear and respond. God bless!

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  6. Wholeheartedly agree. This is a satanic deception on the world and His people should not be deceived and should not follow the priorities of the world. This flu, though how it affects the body is different, is no worse than any other flu, it is far less contagious and far less damaging to health. The statistics have been faked and we have been lied to. Older people with lung problems or weak immune system who choose not to eat healthy or take nutritional supplements from plant sources not chemicals and have weak bodies can stay home. But the rest of us should gather. And God has put in creation all things necessary to restore health to people with this virus as much as He as all others. It is easily brought under control with Vit C, D3, Zinc and some immune supportive herbs, just as severe pneumonia is. The truth facts and documentation of this fraud are all available to us online. Let My people go... back to worship

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    1. Thanks for your comments. I largely agree.

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    2. WellthMentor, where do you get your info? This is different than nfluenza. Diabetics have an increased risk of a serious infection. Many, many webpages say a good percentage of those who recovered have developed ARDS: Common symptoms and signs of ARDS include:

      labored and rapid breathing
      muscle fatigue and general weakness
      low blood pressure
      discolored (blue) skin or nails
      a dry, hacking cough
      a fever
      headaches
      a fast pulse rate
      mental confusion.

      https://www.healthline.com/health/acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome#symptoms

      My friend's daughter had corona (they're Christians). Some have it mild, but over 500 000 have been "regular cases." She writes: "When you get sick from CORONA VIRUS, you will have fever, a high fever, the highest fever that you have ever had in your life. It is not going to be like the typical flu & fever.

      You're going to breathe slowly, like you've had a sponge stuck in your nose. When you'll try to fill the air in your lungs by inhaling heavily you will feel like you are still short of breath. And that will scare you.

      You are going to cough a lot, so much so that you're going to tire until you almost pass out. Every time you do it, your chest, arms, back, fingers, toes will hurt.

      You will try to catch air through the nose and you will not be able to. So, they are going to give you oxygen and it is going to burn the entrance to your nose, that is going to hurt even more.

      And if you can't breathe, another doctor will come and put a couple of half-inch tubes down your throat to get past the bronchi and into the lungs. That is called an artificial respirator. It is really disturbing and annoying, and on top of that, you cannot speak or eat.

      You will be alone in a closed room. You will not be able to see your partner, your mother, or your father, or your children that you love so much, or your brothers; because you are going to infect them with the same thing that is killing you.

      You will feel so alone that you will start to cry and you will be afraid of dying. You will think of the ones you love and you will cry even more, that will worsen everything hence shortness of breath.

      *THIS IS WHEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY THEY TOLD YOU "STAY AT HOME" ...

      SO PLEASE STAY HOME FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES"

      Christians are called to help the sick. I feel it's cold and unmerciful to say we should end the live-streaming services because of Hebrews 10:25.


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    3. If Christians can gather at Walmart surely we can gather in the house of the Lord.

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    4. Readers can hear both sides. I'll leave it at that.

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    5. Rob, I have been in the medical field all my life. My mother taught advanced coronary care as an RN and I went into medicine and have been training physicians and educating people for over 40 years. I have read more articles and watched more videos on this than you have. I have researched night an day and been in contact with many colleagues who may not even dare to openly speak and others who have but most have never seen because it is not mainstream media and often are removed by biased globalist eugenics censors.You are aware of Agenda 21? ID 20? Climate control and the design to drop the global population to 500,000 or at least under 1 billion? you can easily find videos and article supporting this online. Since it is my calling and I have been teaching against the errors of vaccinations and man altered viruses since HIV was made in the 80s. But this one is so exposed even the novice who chooses to look at both sides should be able to see the lies. Doctors were instructed forge Death certificates intentionally and were paid $13,000 for each one listed as CV and told they would not be checked up on. $33,000 if they put the on a vent, which just killed these old people since it is not a pressure problem. The test does not test for cv19, but only a short strand of RNA that would match if you had an old covid flu or vaccine or even other similar RNA in the body. They have admitted their tests were giving people the virus, and then again later caught again. They have also said both tests are up to 50% inaccurate. They would not test all people at once because it would have showed they already had it. So they check only the sick 1st to make death numbers look like a high % and also they can later test other people and say oh look it is spreading. It wasn't. They already had it. When they test you and say you have it, that does not mean you just got it so no need to quarantine for 14 days you may have had it 14 days already.
      The world and reports they have put out are mostly all lies. It is a global political movement, large stores stay open small shut down. This does not even make sense. So may things done in this show it has nothing to do with health I would think anyone with some discernment could see this.
      I could go on for hours and would be happy to provide you information on virology, and by professors and virologists, epidemiologists, and physicians who are seeing 100% cure, and people who helped make viruses in labs so prove beyond any doubt this was a false flag attack with a real lab altered virus that is not contagious through the air or you would get it in your eyes easier than your nose. the masks are a psy ops part of the fear. If yo wish to know the whole truth and documentation you can email me wellthmentor@htmail.com

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  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. It seems the few people with the gift of prophecy God uses to warn His people are again not being listened to, deemed creepy and unfriendly because they do not fit in with worldly discussions and lifestyles, called harsh or radical and puritanical for not following the world into this last century of increasing lewdness and worldliness. God have mercy on Your people.

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  9. Replies
    1. Well done brother. WELL DONE. Fearing the Government in stead of GOD? that is the question.

      I have had to contend in my own business with those who claim to think biblic-ly but cannot exhaust the wisdom of God in light of the threat of a weak conscience directing them to sacrifice for THE GOD who provided HIS WORD. Retreating under the threat of disobedience to the "authorities" and bathing in self pride and the use of scripture RIPPED from the immediate and extended context,.. off they go, and in the meantime trying other brothers consciences when they resist the government in favor of obeying GOD.

      What about the other clear passages that motivate one to work? 2 Thess 3:11 Is a man to not work because of a virus, a mayor, a governor, a president or any ruler? Is a man's commitment to pay those who are due (invoices for merchandise and services, rent for a retail space,...on and on,. the motivation is the Christian Conscience, and not the government or peers or co-workers.

      We must obey God.


      corrected spelling error in original... :-O

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    2. Thank you for your words of encouragement. They mean a lot.

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    3. I think one issue that is not addressed here is that "worship" rarely occurs in most churches, and certainly no fellowship. We have been reduced to passive observers, not fellow believers. We "watch" a praise band perform a concert, with music so loud one could never be heard, so we stand but we do not sing. We watch powerpoints, see videos, or otherwise get entertained, but we do not participate. There is no liturgy to follow, no group reading of scripture (often no scripture read at all), and therefore all one has to do is passively watch rather than actively participate. How is that any different that watching on facebook or over Zoom? Except that we can do the latter in comfort on our couch.

      Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating that we all must have identical forms of Church service, or that older was better, or that no one actually likes these innovations. But what I AM saying is that we have made the actual church experience indistinguishable from watching a TED talk, and therefore meeting in person has become superfluous. The most modern churches have no strong view of the efficacy of the sacraments anyway, so why not just eat a hunk of bread and drink some grape juice on my own? My minister dresses in jeans and a wrinkled t-shirt --- ex opere operato seems the most logical conclusion.

      Until we rediscover an effective ecclesiology, there seems to be no logical reason NOT to attend via Facebook.

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  10. I really don't think it's right to simply compare COVID-19 to influenza based on the number of fatalities. Unlike influenza, diabetics have a high risk of getting a serious a serious infection. A good percentage of those who survive COVID-19 will still have ARDS: Common symptoms and signs of ARDS include:

    labored and rapid breathing
    muscle fatigue and general weakness
    low blood pressure
    discolored (blue) skin or nails
    a dry, hacking cough
    a fever
    headaches
    a fast pulse rate
    mental confusion.

    https://www.healthline.com/health/acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome#symptoms

    My friend's daughter had corona (they're Christians). She writes: "When you get sick from CORONA VIRUS, you will have fever, a high fever, the highest fever that you have ever had in your life. It is not going to be like the typical flu & fever.

    You're going to breathe slowly, like you've had a sponge stuck in your nose. When you'll try to fill the air in your lungs by inhaling heavily you will feel like you are still short of breath. And that will scare you.

    You are going to cough a lot, so much so that you're going to tire until you almost pass out. Every time you do it, your chest, arms, back, fingers, toes will hurt.

    You will try to catch air through the nose and you will not be able to. So, they are going to give you oxygen and it is going to burn the entrance to your nose, that is going to hurt even more.

    And if you can't breathe, another doctor will come and put a couple of half-inch tubes down your throat to get past the bronchi and into the lungs. That is called an artificial respirator. It is really disturbing and annoying, and on top of that, you cannot speak or eat.

    You will be alone in a closed room. You will not be able to see your partner, your mother, or your father, or your children that you love so much, or your brothers; because you are going to infect them with the same thing that is killing you.

    You will feel so alone that you will start to cry and you will be afraid of dying. You will think of the ones you love and you will cry even more, that will worsen everything hence shortness of breath.

    *THIS IS WHEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY THEY TOLD YOU "STAY AT HOME" ...

    SO PLEASE STAY HOME FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES"

    Christians are called to help the sick. I feel it's cold and unmerciful to say we should end the live-streaming services because of Hebrews 10:25.

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    1. Again if Christians can gather at Walmart we can surely Gather in the house of the Lord.

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    2. "Again if Christians can gather at Walmart we can surely gather in the house of the Lord." Completely agree.

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    3. Readers can hear both sides. I'll leave it at that.

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  11. I have such respect for this post. Thank you. I've been frustrated myself with this situation and can't believe I'm seeing what I'm seeing in regard to how churches are reacting.

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    1. Thanks Jon. Let's keep praying that the Lord would bring us to repentance.

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  12. I thank you for your thoughts, Brother. I truly appreciate your heart in sharing this and you have given a lot of good challenges to those who would fear man rather than God.

    I agree with most of what you had to say. However, I don't not see sufficient biblical evidence that agreeing to meet and connect as the body of Christ in an online forum for a time is failing to obey the command to meet together. You have stated yourself that if someone is sick, this is what they should do. So you are contradicting yourself in that. I see too many believers looking for any slight excuse to disrespect and not submit to the governing authorities which God has put in place. I wholeheartedly agree that if we are being called to disobey God, then we must RESPECTFULLY decline, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. But I'm not so sure that is the case here. And we can sit and argue about the seriousness of the virus and how great the risks are in meeting in person. That's entirely beside the point. It all comes down to whether or not we can be fulfilling God's commands to love Him and love each other while obeying the Government that he has established. And I believe the answer is yes. And our church has had some really meaningful gatherings through live stream with live chat. We even had a really good time of prayer for each other last Sunday via live stream.

    You may not be convinced, and still feel the same way. But again, I appreciate your humble heart as you share your convictions on this matter, especially as expressed in your closing paragraph. May God bless you as we continue to seek his will and serve him as he gives us strength to do so.

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  13. The media has lied to you about the numbers of deaths, they have forced doctors to list CV as cause of death when it wasn't. And they have refused to test people unless they are very sick or you would find many people with the virus and aren't sick at all which would show a much lower death% similar to our normal flu. Why didn't they broad cast last year every time one of the 40,000 people died of the flu?? Its a scam. Do diligence, study the science and you will not be deceived by the world.
    Its been 14 days which they lie and say is the incubation time, so everyone should be sick dying or they are fine, how is it still showing up? The virus can be in your for years doing nothing if you are healthy well nourished, and not stressed by panicking. There is nothing to panic about, we all read Revelation and we are comforted by it. If not then your need to get with God, and stop worrying about a flu.

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  14. Its not that you are not getting to worship God, it is worse that God is not getting to have His people assemble and worship Him as He desires. Do not be deceived. You have been warned in scripture.

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  15. I don’t believe the church is being persecuted when it’s not even about us or our faith. It’s about a virus. And God has instituted the government to perform His blessing and cursing according to Calvin on Romans 13, and I believe that is what is happening more than it being persecution. We, in my opinion, are foolish if we gather and preach, and the authorities get onto us about it, and we say they are persecuting us when it’s not even about us, but the virus. We are not going to be martyred because we proclaimed Christ but because we did not keep 6 foot distance from our fellow member, if we were to be martyred at all which we wouldn’t. But my point is that the issue is keeping social distancing. Acts 5 doesn’t seem to be similar at all to what we are facing today. We are not being targeted, but we are being affected and there is a big difference between two.

    And as far as claiming hypocrisy for those submitting to a sinful government is a bad argument since we would otherwise have to submit to them according to Scripture. Again I believe in Acts 5 and the rest of the acts. The fact God used the government to shut the doors of our churches to me is a sign of judgment on our land and discipline for His church. If God used foreign nations to destroy the temple of Israel for their disobedience why do we think He couldn’t use the government to close the doors for a season? May I bring to remembrance that God does not need for us to worship Him. He doesn’t. And God is in our amidst within our families when we gather to do family worship. The sacrament are missed but again I believe it speaks more to Gods discipline due to the lack of fear of Him when it is taken in churches North America.

    Accordingly to Romans 13 we are not permitted to pick and choose when we submit to the government. And Paul does not list inconsistencies as an exception to submission to the authorities God has instituted, good or bad.

    We are not neglecting to meet together via Zoom meetings and other means. Don’t forget there is a spirit to Gods law rather than the letter. I appreciate your heart behind the letter but I don’t believe you are right. I long for our church to meet again physically which is why I can appreciate your letter but I do not agree. I have more thoughts but this is all I have time to do. Again, I appreciate it. Praying for grace and peace to you.

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  16. Perhaps the Church could start repenting by not calling Jesus "King Jesus" as though he were just one among many equals but "The King, Jesus" or "The King Jesus Christ"

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  17. I was having Herpes Simplex Virus then i came across a review of people saying that they got treated from Herpes Simplex Virus by Dr Voke., So i gave a try by contacting him through his email and explain my problem to him. He told me all the things I need to do and also give me instructions to take, which I followed properly. Before I knew what is happening after two weeks the HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS that was in my body got vanished . so if you are also heart broken by any deadly diseases like HERPES HIV, shingles,low sperm count or bringing back your ex lover, this great man is extremely the best in which I have seen and applauds and if you also need a help, you can also email him via email [doctorvoke@gmail.com]

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  18. I get back to ask 'what would Jesus do/say/think? What would He say when churches are frightened of sharing communion in case they catch covid? Unbelievable. It's made me realise that this covid is a judgment on the world including the church and Judgment begins at the House of God. God is using this to test the church I believe. Fear of man proves a snare. Many churches have allowed the Government (man) to take the place of God and dictate what happens, how etc within Christendom so God is not sovereign and outside many churches. It's heart-breaking when I hear churches are social distancing, reducing capacity so will have to turn seekers/newcomers away. What an indictment against them. We nee to have the attitude of Esther, 'If I perish I perish' All that matters is obeying our Lord and Saviour and trusting Him to the very end.

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