It’s not easy being a pastor during a global pandemic. It’s especially challenging when there is so much confusion, disagreement, and outright anger among society’s churches and everyday Christians on how to navigate the pandemic.
Lest I be misunderstood, I serve a wonderful congregation and I’m grateful that (overall and on balance) our church has maintained a spirit of love and graciousness through this difficult season in history. Nevertheless, like all churches, we are human. And there have been and are challenges.
But I’m not just talking about the church I serve. I am speaking of churches in general. And based on what I’ve read, observed, and heard from other pastors and everyday Christians, the church is not handling COVID and the emotional ramifications of COVID all that well.
There is no way I can address all aspects of today’s divisiveness with this one article, but I would like to address one aspect that strikes me as particularly troublesome.
There is an increasing refusal on the part of many Christians to submit to any human authority whatsoever — unless of course, they agree with said authority. And if agreement is a prerequisite for submission, then let’s understand we are no longer talking about submission.
My parents taught me respect for authority at a young age. That included respect for them (as my parents), respect for my teachers, respect for police officers and government officials, respect for veterans, respect for the flag, respect for adults, and frankly…kindness and respect for everyone.
And that is how it should be!
The idea that Christians must agree with their rulers before submitting to them is laughable when one considers the context of the New Testament exhortations toward civil cooperation. Do you honestly believe the apostles were in agreement with everything the Roman Empire did?
In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul the Apostle wrote:
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Romans 13:1-7, NKJV
When Christians today are referred to this passage, they of course respond with questions like: “Well, what about Hitler? Was Hitler ‘appointed by God’? And were Christians in Nazi Germany expected to ‘be subject’ to Hitler?”
And of course, for many Christians, this isn’t merely an academic discussion. They genuinely associate mask mandates with the government being like “Nazis.” Today, on both the left and the right, it is fashionable to categorize any unpopular policy or viewpoint as being “fascist” and any person who agrees with or tries to enforce such policies as being a “Nazi.”
I’ll have more to say about civil disobedience and even resistance (or rebellion) in another article (this one is already rather long), but suffice it for me to say for now…
Yes, many Christians (including Dietrich Bonhoeffer) resisted the Nazis (and paid for it with their lives). Should Christians resist evil? Of course. But…
Be cautious and humble when it comes to assuming the intentions and judging the hearts of others.
And if you succumb to this tendency to call anyone you disagree strongly with a “Nazi,” then eventually, just about everyone becomes a Nazi. And if everyone is a Nazi, then no one is a Nazi. The word ceases to have any relevant meaning.
Since my grandfather served in the US Army during World War II and fought the Nazis in Europe, I am appalled at how many people – including Christians – casually throw the word “Nazi” around. This needs to stop!
Nevertheless, as a classic conservative who believes in limited government and individual freedom, I understand the very real concerns many Americans have when it comes to government overreach. (And also government-influenced corporate overreach).
As a Christian who believes in religious freedom, I am deeply concerned our society seems to accept the idea that the government can simply declare an emergency and then suspend civil rights and liberties enshrined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. I’m troubled that the government and/or public corporations which have monopoly (or near-monopoly) status are taking it upon themselves to deem what speech is appropriate for the public to consume.
Though I am vaccinated, I sympathize with those Christians (and everyday Americans) who have reservations about how vaccines may affect their health. In such situations, I encourage you to pray, seek wise counsel, and consider how you can glorify God and show your love for Him and others in your decision.
Bottom line: I understand the very real concerns that many Americans have when it comes to government power.
And I encourage all Christians to be vigilant. If you’re living in a society (like America) that – at least officially and still in most situations – allows for freedom of speech, you should exercise your freedom to speak out for civil rights and freedoms. Paul essentially does this when he is about to be scourged (beaten) on orders of the Roman garrison commander in Jerusalem (see Acts 22).
You can disagree with civil authorities. You can even publicly express your disagreement with civil authorities or civil policies. But we are to do so with humility and love. Our attitude and our speech and our conduct should reflect the love of God and not the anger of man (see James 1:19-20).
When Christians move from an attitude of respect, humility, and cooperation to one of anger and defiance, we sabotage our testimony and add to the hatred and polarization in our society.
Point to Ponder
Can we not agree this is a bad thing?
This is where I find Peter’s take on the matter quite instructive:
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
I Peter 2:11-17, NKJV
Peter says that Christians should see themselves as “sojourners and pilgrims” in this world and should refrain from selfishness and “lusts.” We should strive to glorify God in all that we do, and not give those outside the faith any reason to question or doubt our hearts or character. And it is that spirit that we should “submit” to “every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake.” Not just the laws and policies we agree with, but “every ordinance of man.”
Again, I understand all the concerns about government overreach and the threat to our civil liberties. But the default spirit and attitude of Christians should be one of cooperation and humility. We should strive to – want to – comply with civil authorities.
No matter one’s gender, color, or political beliefs, if you are a Christian, you should treat government leaders, those in law enforcement, teachers, administrators, bosses, and anyone in authority with politeness and respect. That should be your default setting.
You should want to cooperate with and show respect to your leaders.
Selfishness is the very antithesis of submission. And submission is one way we show our love and humility to the world.
Might there be a time when civil disobedience is necessary? Of course. When the government tells us to go against God, then obviously we need to obey God (see Acts 5:29), and I understand that there will at times be conflicts. Whenever we speak up for God’s principles, for justice, for and what is right, we will face persecution and difficulty.
And there might be a time when God calls His people to support a new government (see Daniel 2:21), though please understand that our Heavenly Father did not call His Son or the apostles to rise up in rebellion against Rome and start a new government in the first century. And this was much to the chagrin of many of Jesus’ followers.
There will be scenarios when Christians will be caught up in conflict with and persecution from civil authorities, but let the persecution come because we stand for God, not because we are simply standing for ourselves.
And let’s lay aside the civil government for a moment and consider the church. While I can (to some extent) understand Christians reacting with suspicion and defensiveness to civil mandates on the church, I cannot appreciate Christian rebellion within the church.
In other words, if you are a business owner and the government imposes a regulation or restriction on your business that you don’t agree with (and that negatively impacts your business), I understand and appreciate how you might feel. But if the leaders of the church you attend ask you to wear a mask…. wear a mask!
When it comes to Christians submitting to church authorities, the Bible couldn’t be clearer. Here is Paul in his letter to the church in Thessalonica:
And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
I Thessalonians 5:12-13, NKJV
And here is what the book of Hebrews says about church members and pastors:
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Hebrews 13:17, NKJV
Bottom line: When it comes to the church, obey your pastors. And don’t cause them grief.
And if your pastors are no longer qualified to be pastors (see qualifications in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1), then lovingly remove your pastors. But are you really going to say with a straight face that a pastor violates his biblical qualifications and forfeits his authority because he disagrees with you on a mask mandate!?
Really?
Of course, it’s not just about mask mandates. When a church calls a pastor (note I come from a congregational, evangelical – specifically Baptist – tradition), the church agrees to cooperate with and follow that pastor. If that is not part of the call, then you have a dysfunctional church. One of the worst things a church can do is call a pastor and then refuse to follow him.
There’s enough selfishness and anger and defiance in the world. When the world looks at the church, they should see something different. They should see “love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, temperance” – i.e., the “fruit of the Spirit” (see Galatians 5:22-23).
There are no rewards in heaven for pride.
My hope (and prayer) is that Christians will approach each other, their churches, their pastors, their civil authorities, their workplace, and the public square (including social media) in love, humility, and grace.
And that rather than looking for reasons to rebel, we look for opportunities to love and to serve.
God bless you.
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