So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
Acts 4:18-20
Last time we said that while believers and churches may have the right to disagree over the matter of obeying or disobeying the current regulations regarding corporate worship during this time of COVID-19, another serious matter arises. That matter involves believers and/or churches insisting that other believers and churches have the same convictions. That tension heightens when either side of the debate charges the other side with being less committed to Christ.
This can cut both ways. Those who believe they are to obey the government must be careful not to charge those who believe they are to disobey with being less committed to the Lord. Conversely, those who believe they are to disobey the government must be careful not to charge those who believe they are to obey with being less committed to the Lord.
We may disagree. Even strongly! But we dare not make accusation regarding the faith of our brothers and sisters because we disagree over “doubtful matters” about which true believers believe differently (Romans 14:1-15:3).
Believers dare not turn on each other over disagreement about this virus or the government’s handling of it. Let us have our convictions and be willing to act on them without making accusation against other believers with whom we differ in our convictions.
The virus and the government’s handling of it is is not a matter that should be allowed to rise to a level that divides the Church. As Jonathan Leeman pointed out in a recent article(1), there are matters on the horizon about which Scripture is clear that likely will force us to take such a stand. Like what? More next time…