By K. Tyus 28 April 2020
There seems to be some general confusion in the body of Christ, “The Church” as to whether or not the church building doors should be opened for worship during this pandemic. Let’s reconsider for a moment what Jesus said about His Church through His Holy Apostles:
Matthew 16:13
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
Matthew 16:16-18
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [17] Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father, who is in heaven. [18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
The “Church” the world-wide universal body of believers through all time, who believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and Savior, and The Son of God, make up the Church. (NOT A BUILDING, BUT A BODY OF BELIEVERS.)
Also, it has been testified that Jesus is the head of the LIVING CHURCH Ephesians 5:22-33, Colossians 1:18.
Now, I think it not necessary to go in-depth concerning what or who the true church is; this is not a high-level theological discussion just a light pass to establish my point, which is the true church is the people, not a building!
Now, I submit that for the Body of Christ, this is a matter of love for our fellow man and not an issue of the “state” overreaching its limited authority. How may you ask? Well, Jesus confirmed in Matthew that loving God and your neighbor are the two greatest commandments.
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said to him, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
If we look at the Word of God through a heart and eyes of love, we will not wish to bring or do harm to anyone for any reason!
I submit that since the medical professionals who have the training and expertise in the area of infectious disease treatment and control are advising social distancing, that the Church takes the extra step, rather be at the forefront of loving its neighbors enough as not to put anyone in harm’s way! (The second commandment)
If a building holds more sway over us than loving our neighbors, are we not guilty of evil thoughts? Are we not guilty of acting like the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’s day?
Matthew 23:23
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint and dill and cumin but have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone.
“GO YE THEREFORE AND TEACH ALL NATIONS” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Many have observed and said by some that “this is the first time in America that the doors of the church have been forced closed!” I disagree! The doors of buildings are closed but, the doors of the Church are not bound shut; no power can ever overwhelm, overcome, or push the Church to close its ever open doors or prevent it from fulfilling her mission to take the gospel of Jesus to the world!
We should use this time for fasting, reading the word of God and prayer, and share the good news of Jesus to the world! Now is the time and stand up in social media, blogs, the internet, electronic media, and any other means to witness for Jesus! We have the answer! Start in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, tell people of the wrath and judgment of God to come then instruct them how to escape through Jesus. John 3:14-18
CONSIDER THIS
Mark 16:15-19, Jesus instructed the disciples to go into all the world, preaching salvation through repentance and faith in Christ. But after Pentecost, the Gospel had not spread beyond Jerusalem because the disciples were all gathered in that particular area. It took the persecution of the Christians for the command of going into the entire world to start to be fulfilled because the believers fled for their safety and lives. Not only were the synagogue doors shut, but meeting places were empty. (Acts Chapter 8) So isn’t this a fantastic time for us according to our measure of faith to go into all the world and preach the gospel?
Last Thoughts
Let me poke the proverbial five hundred pound beehive in the room.
For all the word of faith preachers, healers, teachers, believers, and churches out there that have spent years teaching “faith” “declaring & decreeing” naming and claiming, I have a question… where are you, “faith teachers?”
Why are you not at the front lines of the Covid-19 battlefield confessing, declaring & decreeing this pandemic stopped in the name of Jesus? Is it because your beliefs in the teachings you espoused and followed lack the power of God? Do you now doubt your faith, the word of God, the teachings of the church?
If so, stop right there! Paul spoke and preached with the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of POWER! 1 Corinthians 2:1-4. If you are going to confess the power of God, demonstrate it, or sit down and be quiet!
The lack of the manifestation of God’s power is not because His word is false! It’s not that the power of God is not present in the world! It’s because you have followed wrong, fleshy, hellish, teachings, and doctrines of demons and devils! (1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 3, 2 Timothy 4:1-4)
Go to the book of Acts, see where the disciples waited for the promise of the Father to be fulfilled. They were filled with God the Holy Ghost and empowered by Him; then, they were able to do the work of God as they yielded themselves to the movement of the Holy Ghost!
So throw out all of the garbage faith books and tapes that don’t, won’t, never have, never will work, repent and ask God to forgive you for following such rubbish for selfish reasons (personal gain, and not for His honor and glory). Then ask the Lord Jesus to teach you by the Holy Spirit how to develop real, powerful faith that brings glory and honor to God the Father and him alone!
End