ARE CHURCHES ESSENTIAL?

COVID-19
Written By Neal Hardin

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND CHURCH GATHERINGS

people worshiping with hands up

Key Facts

  • On May 22, 2020, President Trump issued a statement declaring houses of worship to be essential.[1]

  • Whether churches are considered essential by state governments vary by state.[2]

  • In California, churches are only considered ‘essential’ insofar as the following: “Clergy for essential support and faith-based services that are provided through streaming or other technologies that support physical distancing and state public health guidelines.”[3] However, as of May 25, 2020, California released new guidelines allowing churches to gather together again in person with some restrictions.[4]

Key Scriptures

  • Romans 13:1-2 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

  • Luke 20:25 “He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."”

  • Hebrews 10:24-25 “And 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.”

  • Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

  • Ephesians 3:10 “so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

church with steeple

Want to Know More?

Analysis

In an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus, public gatherings have largely been suspended throughout most of the United States. Of course, there are exceptions: grocery stores, healthcare facilities, critical manufacturing, banking, etc. Such businesses and institutions have been deemed ‘essential.’ However, in many states, church gatherings have not been included on the list of essential businesses or activities. Should they be included? 

Argument For Church Gatherings being Considered Essential

God’s church is essential in three ways. First, the church was established by Jesus himself. He himself said that the gates of Hell would not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). Can the government declare “unessential” what God has established? Certainly not. Second, the church is essential to God’s plan (Ephesians 3:10-11), especially in the spreading of the gospel. (Matthew 28:19-20). The church is a “pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15) and should not stop in accomplishing her mission, even at the cost of disobeying the government. Ultimately, we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Third, we are specifically commanded to gather together in corporate worship (Hebrews 10:24-25). A temporary suspension of all public gatherings to maintain proper order and health is acceptable. However, an indefinite suspension of church gatherings is unacceptable while similarly sized gatherings (at places of work and other businesses deemed “essential”) are allowed with proper social distancing and regulations. Churches have the ability to adopt these same kinds of health regulations in their services. 

In addition to the biblical reasons, church gatherings are essential to the emotional and spiritual welfare of individuals and of the communities they serve. For many struggling with depression or anxiety, churches provide community, guidance, and other forms of support to those who might otherwise be isolated. To overlook these concerns is done to the detriment of public health.

empty church with stained glass

Argument Against Church Gatherings being Considered Essential

First, we must clarify what is meant by ‘essential.’ There’s no doubt that, on a spiritual level, God’s church is essential. He himself established it. However, we must not conflate spiritual essentiality with physical essentiality, which is what the government is seeking to protect. People do not need to gather together in a church building in the same way that we need to eat food or drink water. When the government deems certain businesses essential, it is doing so with the goal of protecting physical life, such as those businesses which produce or distribute food and medicine. As painful as it is to be apart and only see each other virtually, gathering together is not essential in the physical sense. 

Second, we must consider how foundational it is to our faith to love our neighbor well (Matthew 22:37-40). Any command that we obey must conform to the command to love our neighbor, including the command to gather for corporate worship. Are we to seek to gather together in such a way which would endanger the very lives of the people we are told to love and we are committed to serving? Certainly not. In such a situation, where there are many unknowns about the coronavirus, and there is no vaccine or cure, we must be pro-life in every sense of the word and protect the lives of those around us. Yes, corporate worship is essential to our faith, but so is loving our neighbor.

Lastly, Romans 13:1-7 reminds Christians that God established government for our good and that we are called to submit to them. Of course, this is not an unconditional submission. However, unless the government is putting Christians in a position where they would be disobeying God, then we should defer to the governing authorities, even if we might disagree with them. Labeling churches ‘unessential’ does not keep Christians from following the commands of God. For the time being, we can still meet and love one another remotely until we can safely meet in person once again.

Conclusion

God’s church is essential. Although, the way in which church is essential can depend on context. “Essential for what?” or “Essential for whom?” are questions that can cast some uncertainty about what it means to be essential.

Regardless of whether churches are considered essential or not by the government, this does not change the underlying nature or mission of the Church. We must seek to obey all the commands in Scripture, including the commands to preach the gospel, gather together, submit to the governing authorities, and love our neighbor. As such, Christians, in good conscience, may come to different conclusions as to how to balance these commands. The right answer may vary state by state, county by county, or church by church.

While Christians are to submit to the governing authorities, we must also not be afraid to assert our rights as citizens (Acts 22:25-29) or hold the government accountable to its own rules. Being proactive citizens ensures that religious gatherings will not be singled out when prevented from meeting. The law should apply equally to all.

Neal Hardin
Previous

GEORGE FLOYD
Next

SHOULD CHRISTIANS VOTE?