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COVID 19: I have heard many say that if we have “faith” we would continue to gather as a church, despite the dangers associated with this virus. Here is a response from another post.

God gives us faith. He also gives us intellect. Would you stand on a train track when a train is coming? Probably not. Why not? If you have enough faith the train won’t harm you, right? Do you believe this? No, because you are smart enough to know that the train will squash you. Have you ever been sick? Have you ever broken a bone? Have you ever needed stitches? Then you KNOW that being a believer does NOT protect you from the very real dangers of this fallen world.

This virus may be invisible but it is real and it is deadly. The bodies of the dead and dying are visible enough! Let’s imagine that you ARE protected because you have such great faith! What happens when the virus attaches itself to you and you pass it to an elderly person in the grocery store, who doesn’t have faith and they die, how does that square with loving your neighbor? This is NOT about faith. This is about intelligence.

STAY HOME AND WASH YOUR HANDS!

NOW WASH THEM AGAIN!

Luke 4:9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you

to guard you carefully;

11 they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.

Discussion

14 comments

  1. Dan Waenet says:

    Where I am from. All churches chose to move online, out of love for neighbours, to do our part to slow down spread.

  2. Wynni Wagner says:

    Well said…

  3. Kent Wilkens says:

    Good post. I would adjust and say it is about faith, we do our best, God takes care of the rest. We trust God to do His part, but we do not tempt him. We cannot lose, if we live, nothing to worry about. If we die, we go to a place that Jesus has been working on for 2000 years, He did this place in six days.

  4. Bill Heath says:

    I would not judge them , but lovingly re mind them that we have a Sovereign God who loves us and is in complete control. He also says in Hebrews 10:25 not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Who do you think brought about this virus?

  5. Bill Heath says:

    Do keep yourself clean though.

  6. Dennis M Mueke says:

    Funny ? comparison!

    You cannot compare the gathering of saints worshiping God but facing a virus, to people who are just standing on train tracks waiting to be knocked down.

    One needs Faith and the other one common sense which you call intellect. I think people should just put their fears in the pockets.

  7. Marne Sayre says:

    91st Psalm

  8. Wyatt McIntyre says:

    Great post. I think at this moment in history we are presented with a challenge. This is namely how do we worship God while keeping safe and obeying the government. In a real sense there are those who are eager to compare that struggle to the struggle of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, or some others in Church history who have went through persecution. It is an uneven comparision because we are not being told we cant worship, just that, for a short time, how we worship has to change. Instead of looking at this as an opportunity to explore new means by which we can preach the Gospel while evangelizing they are resisting, even as technology is offering us ways to remain in communion with one another like never before. If we look at this as an opportunity we will see how technology can supplement the traditional churches mission and place, not replace it. Unfortunately we have those out there who will raise disdain for the church by acting in wreckless and irresponsible ways.

  9. Keith Schuster says:

    Although I agree with the sentiment of this post, I do not agree with the severity of this virus over any other flu strain. Common flu affects tens of millions every year and tens of thousands die from it every year. The number one reason they die is pneumonia complications that affect their ability to breathe normally on their own. So should we not go out at all or spend time with our family and loved ones every flu season?
    Side note: leprosy was a very contagious and deadly disease, in the day of Jesus. However, that did not stop Him from laying His hands on them and healing them. Was He not putting God to the test and risking His life?

  10. Samuel Kilokwe says:

    OK AS APASTOR ICAN CORNIFIRM THAT SPIRITUAL LEADERS CAN SAVE THEIR PEOPLE BY USING FAITH BASED IN GODS WARD AND COMNON SENCE AS WELL CORONA IS MOTIVATED BY SATAN JUST TO KILL TO STEAL OUR PEACE AND DESTROY OUR ECONOMY AS WELL AS OUR FAITH SO LET US USE INTELECT AS WELL AS FAITH

  11. Gregory Kayko says:
  12. Martha Thompson says:

    The thing that bothers me most is that it is mandated by the state. With the present current climate against Christian I could see this as the beginning of legal persecution.

  13. Jordan Bourke says:

    Where do we draw the line?
    We are commanded to be unafraid, confident that God is fully sovereign.

    Governments are commanding churches to close. This is a big issue brothers and sisters. It’s an intellectual and faith problem.

    If we have faith, we must worship God.
    If God is sovereign, we know that God protects His people even from plagues and pestilence.

    This decision isn’t merely intellectual as if faith and intellect are separate. They are directly connected!

    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
    Proverbs 1:7 ESV

    Whatever any church decides to do, let it be to the Glory of God, not out of fear, and not out of command by government.

    The church does not answer to the government, rather the government answers to God.

    Let us pray for wisdom, and courage, that this time should bring is closer not further apart.

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