1. People upset that Liquor stores and abortion clinics are open, but churches are closed. So this first one is misleading, because we are comparing things that aren't the same in relation to Coronavirus. Both Liquor stores and abortion clinics can be open and still maintain social distancing. Churches cannot do the same as they pack large amounts of people into a small area. It is almost impossible to maintain social distancing in a church. Churches meeting on Sundays fall under the same category as concerts, sporting events, or other gatherings than bring a large amount of people together in one area. If churches continue to meet it would cause mass amounts of people to be infected and possibly die. The problem I see with Christians upset about this is that they have forgotten that church isn't a place, but the people. Matthew 18:20, Jesus said, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” We can have church in our homes and with our family. God is always with the church, because we are the church.
2. People who say that government closing churches is against the first amendment. Here is the issue with this: the government isn't making laws that say you can't be a Christian or have religion. The government isn't coming into our homes to take away our Bibles. The government isn't stopping churches and ministers from doing online services. The government isn't treating churches any different than they do other venues that would have large crowds in a confined space. If the government started letting baseball stadiums open back up with crowds in stands or concerts with fans, but said churches had to remain close then that might be an issue. But right now due to social distancing everyone is being treated the same under the law. President Trump has even said that he hates that churches are closed. The government asking us to close churches for a few weeks isn't the government banning religion.
3. People who think we should go forward with church services against government regulations, because God is greater than government. Yes. God is greater than government, but as Christians we are call to follow the laws of the land. Romans 13:1-2 says: "Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow." As long as the laws are not immoral or against God's laws we should do as the government has asked. And government asking churches to remain closed like many other venues isn't immoral or against God's laws. Because the church isn't a place. Again people are the church.
4. People saying it is wrong that pastors are being arrested for continuing to have church services. A pastor is not above the law. I've already pointed out that churches are being treated the same as other venues. If a concert promoter tried to do the samething they would likely be arrested. A pastor that goes against a shutdown order is putting people at risk and must stop. These ministers and pastors are putting their flock in danger and leading them astray. It isn't wrong for the government to stop them. Just like it wouldn't have been wrong if the government had stopped Jim Jones from killing hundreds of people with posion kool-aid. Pastors should look to Martin Luther and what he said during the Black Plague. This is what Luther wrote from Wittenberg to his friend, the Rev. Dr. John Hess, in Silesia: “I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”
