Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
The most remarkable impact coronavirus has on America is the sight of pastors waiting, like dogs anticipating a treat, until Caesar gives them permission to start rendering unto God.
You couldn’t have convinced me in March that Baptist preachers would cancel Easter services. Easter is the central pivot of Christianity. Without the Resurrection, Christianity is pointless. As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” The birth of Christ (Christmas) is only important because of Easter.
And Christian shepherds surrendered without so much as a whimper.
The 1st Amendment clearly states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It’s as plain as day.
Equally plain, “prohibiting the free exercise” is exactly what happened.
Call it a tale of two prohibitions.
When alcohol Prohibition began in 1920 a nationwide movement quickly started to manufacture and consume forbidden booze in spite of legal consequences for both buyer and seller.
In 2020 when the China Flu Church Prohibition began, pastors meekly submitted, along with their parishioners, in fear of the unconstitutional legal consequences.
Preachers were lambs when facing the secular authorities, but lions when facing criticism for doing nothing. Believers can’t possibly expect senior pastors to risk arrest or a negative news story just to hold worship services!
The situation is equivalent to the occasional media complaints from harried medical workers as they fight the Kung Flu. Sure, it’s tough, but isn’t this what they signed up for? The chance to make a difference in a real health emergency?
Or was their commitment only broken wrists and sprained ankles?
Christ died on the cross. Today his worship is prohibited and pastors in general haven’t even been willing to risk getting a visit from the Flustapo, much less make a personal sacrifice. Defender of the Faith evidently doesn’t include risking the wrath of the bureaucracy.
Christ is either King or he’s just another activist with an opinion.
Worship does set an example. Not worshiping shows the world church is secondary to secular control. Continuing to worship shows Christ is still in control of the believer’s world.
Some pastors know this.
In Chicago, Metro Praise International knows the stakes and has been demonstrating “passive resistance” to the state. The pastor doesn’t plan to sue, he plans to preach. GraceBuilt Church in Waynesboro, Virginia, defied Gov. Blackface Northam before he lifted restrictions on church services.
And Louisiana pastor Tony Spell preached with an ankle monitor on as he defied a judge’s order to stay home and stay silent.
That is what should be done all along. Worship first then, if necessary, the courts to get the pastor and the parishioners out of jail.
Hold services with social distancing, sanitizer in the baptismal and individual Communion packets. Urge seniors and the vulnerable to stay home. Hold plenty of services each Sunday so everyone who wants to attend can social distance their way inside. For those that can’t, the staff can visit them personally and pray through the storm door during the week.
The important point is to demonstrate you believe Christ is important enough to worship regardless of Caesar.
Michael Shannon is the author of “A Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times.” Contact him:
