Yesterday I received yet another chirpy if awkwardly phrased email from Parson Goat at my former church in which he announced, “Given the recent updates that have come this week from our local governing authorities on the current public health crisis in NYC, we will continue at this time to not gather in person for any church meetings. Furthermore, it looks like we’ll continue in this way until at least the beginning of June.”
Um, excuse me, but doesn’t this directly conflict with the Biblical admonitions to corporately worship God and to obey Him rather than men (yes, “governing authorities” are usually worms, not men, but still…)? And what about Communion? Did not the Lord command us, “This do in remembrance of Me”? Sorry, but “virual” wine just doesn’t cut it.
And why am I the only person in the congregation grieving this? Or so I assume since Goat et al continue bowing the knee to Caesar without concern that they’re alienating most or even some of the membership.
Fortunately, Chuck Baldwin’s excoriation of “evangelical” churches also hit my inbox about then. “Cops And Catholics Starting To Stand,” his headline thundered. “Where Are The Evangelicals?”
Where indeed?
…the churches of America sheepishly surrendered their Christian convictions, their constitutional liberties and their God-given duty in order to grovel before Donald Trump and the power of the state…
What we have witnessed during this corona scare is the great divide between people who love liberty and who will courageously guard and protect it and people who are the sheepish slaves of the state…
Which brings me back to the question I asked a few days ago: “How Shall We Then Worship?”
LRC’s readers constantly delight me with their ingenuity, scholarship, and devotion to Christ as well as His celestial gift of liberty. So I eagerly awaited your responses!
But this time you disappointed me. Mighty few of you—as in 3—had any suggestions.
First up was Tom DiLorenzo, who referred us to Chuck Baldwin. Hey, if I lived within 100 miles of his church, I’d make the drive. But I don’t. I’ll savor his messages in addition to live, corporate worship with my brothers and sisters, but not in lieu of it.
Next, Mr. Anonymous “recommend[ed] contacting an attorney who is working with churches to stay open,” such as Lighthouse Legal Ministry in Ohio. “I know of a couple of churches that are working with First Liberty out of Texas, and Liberty Counsel is active on behalf of churches in Kentucky and North Carolina (at least). While not libertarian, they are helping churches that want to stay open and in my view are doing a great service.”
OK, I’ll email them for lists of churches near me that have continued worshipping in person.
Finally, Mark Culp proposed a book, “Pagan Christianity by F. Viola & G. Barna. If a person really wants to come to terms with what’s wrong with the church today and what can be done to fix it, I can’t think of a better resource if you’re ready to take action.”
The hunt for a congregation that obeys the Lord, not Leviathan, continues….
9:48 pm on May 15, 2020
