Pastors have long been aware that people can frequently be unreasonable and irrational. An example of that occurred some years ago when a young man attending our Church told me he was planning to move to another state. I liked him and I thought he liked me. But when I informed him that I would be sorry to see him move to another state and would pray that God worked in his life to keep him here he became very angry and has not spoken to me in the years since that incident occurred.
But a surprising turn has developed over
the last two years or so since the arrival of the Wuhan virus and the
irresponsible, unconstitutional, and oppressive government measures to impose
lockdowns. Pastors across the country have expressed resentment toward me and
other pastors for trying to encourage folks to attend church. When did it
become wrong for a pastor to encourage someone to attend church?
Do Nigerian Christians become angry
at their pastors for inviting them to Church, even though Church attendance in
Nigeria exposes Christians to the Islamic terror group vocal how him?
Do Vietnamese Christians become angry
at their pastors for inviting them to Church, even though Church attendance in
Vietnam exposes Christians to the oppression of the communist government in that
country?
Do Indian Christians become angry at
their pastors for inviting them to Church, even though Church attendance in
India sometimes exposes Christians to the violent persecutions of militant
Hindus?
Did Russian Christians become angry
at their pastors of unregistered Churches invited them to Church during the era
of the USSR, even though Church attendance at unregistered Churches in the USSR
exposed Russian Christians to violent persecution from the Soviet KGB?
Do Chinese Christians become angry at
their pastors for inviting them to the illegal House Churches in China, even
though Church attendance at the House Church worship services in China exposes
Chinese Christians to violent persecution from the communist Chinese security
services?
Did German Christians become angry at
their pastors for inviting them to Church services when the Nazi regime controlled
Germany, even though Church attendance under Nazi Germany frequently subjected
worshipers to persecution from the Nazis?
Did Huguenot Christians in France
become angry at their pastors for inviting them to Church services, even though
attendance at Protestant Churches frequently resulted in withering persecution,
ultimately resulting in the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in France?
Do you suppose the early Christians
in Jerusalem who were converted on the Day of Pentecost and in the days
following became angry at James and the apostles for encouraging them to gather
for worship, even though their participation in Christian worship and
fellowship invited terrible persecution from the religious establishment of that
day?
I could go on and on, but the easily
understood notion requires no explanation, merely a myriad of historical
references.
It has always been physically
dangerous for Christians to gather for worship, the exceptions throughout the
world and throughout history being notable. Yet some American Christian pastors
entertain the surprising conviction that a minister of the Gospel, a spiritual
leader, one who is authorized to uphold Bible truth and to persuade professing
Christians to both learn and abide by what they have been taught from God’s Word,
and are getting miffed because fellow pastors are more concerned about the
spiritual welfare of congregants than about the relatively minuscule likelihood
that most congregants will suffer permanent damage from a strain of
coronavirus.
This is not to set aside the
priesthood of every believer to make their own decisions related to exposure to
the dangers one faces in life. Soul liberty is a Baptist characteristic. However,
the believer’s primary concern has never been shown in Scripture to be one’s physical
safety but God’s glory. Perhaps more preachers and Church members should read Foxe’s
Book of Martyrs to learn what each believer’s primary concerns ought to be.
The coming year will be pivotal as
governments worldwide use the latest virus variant to justify onerous regulations
and lifestyle mandates, all the while propagandizing pastors and people to
believe they should not (in most cases) continue to attend Church faithfully.
Don’t be afraid, preacher, because “fear hath torment,” First John 4.18. God prefers
that we enjoy peace of mind and heart as we serve God, Philippians 4.7. Go ahead
and invite people to Church. How else can you expect to have an audience to
minister God’s Word? You and I both know that the Internet is an inferior alternative
to the gathered assembly.
