Author

Is civil disobedience a sin at this time If you safely worship together inside the church and/or outside.

Discussion

50 comments

  1. Ray Strobel says:

    I think once a government starts acting in a way that interferes with the worship of God it’s our duty to disobey. The Bible is full of examples of people doing just that.

    They can say what they want, but when they tell people they can’t gather, they can’t sing, they can’t participate in the Lord’s Supper… they’ve crossed the line.

  2. Wayne Adams says:

    No

  3. Argentino PowtotheChow Escuyos says:

    Yes

  4. El Rio Amor says:

    Basically yes, the bible teaches us the respect to the governing authority.(romans 13) it is not our duty to dis obey in any means.our duty is to hear God”s revelation for us to do in any means of any times..Bec.God in His Holiness is not right to say that He taught us dis obedience..

  5. Andrew Westerhof says:

    Seems to me with a little creative thinking it should be possible to attend Church while still following these dictates.

    For example there could be multiple services, each of which the permitted number of congregants are invited to attend via email or phone call, and each congregant while there would be spaced 6 feet apart.

  6. J.R. Gilligan says:

    Absolutely not!!!! The Church is cowering to the state right now. That is the sin.

  7. Herb Van Schoick says:

    The order for churches to close is not a law it is an emergency order issued by the state to protect health. My question is how come we can go shopping for food and other essential things but not go to church? Who decided that church was not essential to believers? Also, it has been 52 days now, how long does this emergency last? What is the risk? 99% recovery rate. I think churches need to find their backbone and tell the state to keep going wherever but we are marching to zion.

  8. J.R. Gilligan says:

    The law of the land is the Constitution. These executive orders are a violation of the law of the land and they are clearly attacking our rights under the first amendment. They are also placing themselves above God in these orders. It is both our Christian duty and our American duty to protest these sinful unlawful acts of the state.

  9. Richard Spence says:

    Fortunately we here in the USA live under a constitution with freedoms that allow for Civil Disobedience. Civil Disobedience is peaceful protest. Our constitutional rights even allow/require citizens to stand against injustice. L&P

  10. Pauline Sharp says:

    Surely you should follow the law to better the chances of not spreading the virus to those who are vulnerable? Also just for the sake of not spreading it to healthy people as well, who also die? Is this not a Christian act?

  11. Lawrence Gough says:

    We already have civil disobedience happening people are gathering outside the church instead broadcasting service outside.
    I believe once parish members mass organize it will send the message to the pastors showing that they have the support of their people to step up to the plate
    It’s hard being a pastor.
    Martyrdom is just around the corner for us ALL.

  12. JoAnne Harris says:

    We are back to services tomorrow with modifications though but so happy

  13. John Delmore says:

    More than a government authority issue, we should stay home to protect others. Who would Jesus infect?

  14. Joe Coddington says:

    Jesus has compassion on leper’s. He didn’t tell us we had to worship along side of them. We are allowed to follow safety precautions. There are times to stand up to the state. I believe Franklin Graham came close to calling for civil disobedience. It is certainly not something to take lightly.

  15. Jack Mawdsley says:

    We are the church and we can still gather on zoom. Keep fellowship online with services. Sunday services via video or live video. Can still have bible study through apps with others for fellowship. We can facetime with others in fellowship. We can stick to guidelines, 5 people in small gatherings of fellowship with social distancing. If we just forgo the rules then how can unbelievers see us as loving our neighbours as ourselves when we are putting people at risk by disobedience to the government.

  16. Joe Coddington says:

    Bit what we are facing currently are not technically laws, but guidelines and request.

  17. Ray Strobel says:

    Here’s a hot take https://youtu.be/LhantHg75wg

  18. Taco Taco says:

    You need to obey > Rm 13:1-2

  19. Ben Peckover says:

    There’s definitely a place for that for sure. But we need to exercise wisdom and strive to live in peace.
    Be reminded that the author of romans 13 was charged by the authorities to no longer preach the gospel and as soon as he was released he went straight back to doing it. So either, paul was a hypocrite, or that passage means something more than blind obedience to human civil governance

  20. Dan Spartz says:

    The best sermon I’ve seen on the subject.
    https://youtu.be/LhantHg75wg

  21. Bobby Michaels says:

    Jesus was civil disobedience.

  22. Lyn Zee says:

    Look at Daniel.

  23. Angi Barber says:

    Yes.

  24. Herb Van Schoick says:

    Peter was ordered to not speak the name of jesus and he said we cannot stop…we are being told we have to shut our churches down and we say sure.

  25. Nick Shara says:

    Walmart allows 100 people at a time. Just take your church there and worship in walmart.

  26. Fe Clardy says:

    That’s Challenging because we are to obey the laws of the land

    Rom 13:1 Obey the rulers who have authority over you. Only God can give authority to anyone, and he puts these rulers in their places of power.
    Rom 13:2 People who oppose the authorities are opposing what God has done, and they will be punished.
    Rom 13:3 Rulers are a threat to evil people, not to good people. There is no need to be afraid of the authorities. Just do right, and they will praise you for it.
    Rom 13:4 After all, they are God’s servants, and it is their duty to help you. If you do something wrong, you ought to be afraid, because these rulers have the right to punish you. They are God’s servants who punish criminals to show how angry God is.
    Rom 13:5 But you should obey the rulers because you know it is the right thing to do, and not just because of God’s anger.

  27. Angi Barber says:

    If there is one infringement that we should be standing up for it is to open clinics and surgeries. There are people in need of nessissary medical attention that are waiting to see a dr. Our need to see a pastor is not being infringed on. Call your pastor if you miss him so much.

  28. Trevor Browning says:

    The Church is not a building. It’s the body of Christ made up by believers. So this question is completely based on false assumptions.

  29. Stephen Howsare says:

    As Christians we are to obey the law, not break it because it doesn’t suit us.

  30. Josh Lofton says:

    Simple answer NO!

  31. Paul Hodge says:

    There is a lot of civil disobedience in the Bible.

  32. Larry Koester says:

    Anc civil obedience as well. The old testament Israel was set up as a theocracy.? E are not is the difference toonl.

  33. Brad James says:

    Yes

  34. Vic Cooper says:

    Civil disobedience in the name of injustice from unjust laws is one thing.

    But,
    civil disobedience in regards to safety violations amid things such as this pandemic,
    is not acceptable.

  35. Susie Whipple Trevathan says:

    This is a long thread, so this may have already been brought up…But didn’t Jesus engage in nonviolent civil disobedience, resulting in His arrest and execution?

  36. William Clark says:

    Acts 5:28 and 29 is a perfect example of the disciples civil disobedience (among others).

  37. Skarlet Pike says:

    No, it’s not a sin.

    Whenever God commands one thing (“Do not forsake the assembly”) and man gives a conflicting command, we are ALWAYS called to obey God rather than man.

    See also: Daniel and the lion’s den. Daniel, forbidden to pray, still prayer.

    See also: Peter and Paul preaching the Gospel, even when faced with legal consequences like beatings and imprisonment.

  38. Kathy DeVoss says:

    We are the church—not the building. We are free to worship

  39. Jay Ihrke says:

    No , not if it’s for a just cause . It’s law breaking – but who cares . ?

  40. Sunil Munir says:

    Daniel did so why not christain of modern era cant?

  41. Alan Saffer says:

    I would say we have to obey the governing authorities. I’m fully aware that at this time their are many scriptures that we can quote that go against the word of God, but this is a temporary for the moment.
    If the governing authorities said no church meetings etc ever then I would go against the authority & obey God

  42. Joseph Benhardt says:

    No. These are god given rights.

  43. Jereme McAlpin says:

    Civil disobedience is acceptable when it comes to worship, or anytime the government tries to assert itself over God.

  44. Mark Klanac says:

    In times of tyranny, civil disobedience is necessary…

  45. Michael Lavender says:

    No

  46. Roberta Jackson says:

    There is no official law keeping us home. It’s a matter of common sense…are you potentially a carrier? Have you knowingly been exposed? Are you going someplace that will put you at risk without taking appropriate precautions?

    There are no cases in my county, for instance. I think I have more latitude because I’ve stayed home except for grocery runs. What is the status of the virus in your particular environment?

  47. Tim Hickling says:

    I think you are still thinking of church as a building when it has always been the body of believers. You can always be a church without a place of worship.

  48. Ulaiasi Sorowale says:

    The motive behind that government restriction is of God (the spread of virus). It is SIN

  49. Justin Downing says:

    Refer back to the tower of Babel. God is against unity and making a name for yourself

  50. Harvey Darell Barete Dalman says:

    Yes -if you resist the Government it means you resist the Ordinance of GOd that will put you into Damnation.

    Romans 13:1-3
    King James Version
    13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
    2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
    3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

    We are told to OBEY –

    Titus 3:1
    King James Version
    3 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

    God bless.