Government stay at home orders and directives for churches to remain closed during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic have created significant tension and dismay, with many congregants and church leaders. As a result, many pastors, elders, church leaders have defied the order, risking fines and jail, to continue having in-church worship services, even while there is an enormous risk of community spread COVID-19 to the congregation and community. A church pastor in Virginia defied the state’s order and continued to have services even though he was warned on multiple occasions by health and state authorities, that he was putting the congregation and himself at risk. The pastor was convinced that God was greater than COVID-19, quoting both Scripture and his first amendment rights to support his position to congregate and continue having religious gatherings. He believed that he would be protected, that what he was doing was God’s will.
Is God greater than the coronavirus or COVID-19? Should we defy health department orders to continue having in-person services, while the risk of community spread infection exists?
There is no question that God, the Creator of the Universe, Redeemer, Savior is greater than COVID-19. He is the beginning and the end. He is the Alpha and Omega. He has Power over life and death. He speaks and it is. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Thousands of years ago, God gave the children of Israel laws of hygiene and health, that when and where employed today, promote health and well- being. Fresh well water separated from human waste. Waste buried far from the water source eliminates waste contaminated water and disease. Social distancing and quarantine were employed when communicable diseases such as leprosy were discovered among the people, to limit the risk of the disease spreading among people. God had a plan to keep the people healthy, even though some became ill and diseased as a result of nefarious habits, genetics, and sin.
Social distancing and quarantine, hand washing, clean water, burying waste, personal hygiene, are all part of God’s great plan to promote health and well-being for all people.
Zoom and YouTube have given church platforms to share the gospel effectively and too far greater numbers of listeners than they would normally serve. It appears that some clergy may be testing the veracity of God and His promises.
Defying orders during a pandemic can be interpreted by some, as anti-Christian, non-Biblical and violating the Laws of Health that God has given mankind. God wants His children to worship Him with knowledge and in truth. Scriptures say:
‘By these, moreover, you will be made unclean: whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening, and whoever picks up any of their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. Concerning all the animals which divide the hoof but do not make a split hoof, or which do not chew cud, they are unclean to you: whoever touches them becomes unclean. Leviticus 11:24-47
1 Corinthians 6:19 – What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:20 – For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
3 John 1:2 – Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.
“Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:
And so here we are, with the COVID-19 pandemic having reached over 180 countries. Not the best of times to be a health care worker, working in the ICU with limited personal protective equipment. We are grateful for those that are helping those that are suffering.
It was reported today that the pastor became gravely ill about two weeks ago. Sadly, it was also reported that he died of complications of COVID-19.
Is God greater than the coronavirus? Absolutely! At the same-time God expects each person to take responsibility for their actions, understanding and implementing His laws of hygiene and sanitation.
