MacArthur's stance against one of the
“lesser magistrates,”
the hypocritical Governor of California, by opening up his church—with no social distancing and no mask wearing—in defiance of Gov. Newsom’s egregious lock-down order, challenges the media lie in this age of Covid-19. (I do understand that there is a 0.02% chance of contracting the virus and dying.)
His church Elder Board statement
(read it here)
was the inspiration for my Sunday sermon (see below). I explained from Acts 5 that there will come a time when American Christians may have to resist the heavy hand of the State when it forbids worship gatherings.
“Christ is the one true head of His church, and we intend to honor that vital truth in all our gatherings,” says the statement. “For that preeminent reason, we cannot accept and will not bow to the intrusive restrictions government officials now want to impose on our congregation. We offer this response without rancor, and not out of hearts that are combative or rebellious (1 Timothy 2:1–8; 1 Peter 2:13–17), but with a sobering awareness that we must answer to the Lord Jesus for the stewardship He has given to us as shepherds of His precious flock.
“Our prayer is that every faithful congregation will stand with us in obedience to our Lord as Christians have done through the centuries.”
The apostles resisted because they obeyed God rather than men. Sadly, most churches will acquiesce to the State. I believe this is God’s way of starting to purge His true church. Those who have gotten used to online services would rather praise God in their pajamas, while one third of professing Christians have stopped gathering in fellowship altogether, according to the latest Barna Research survey.
Add to that, the 2020 State of the Bible report showing that only 9% of Christians read their Bibles daily, and you can see why it's time God wakes us up.
Certainly, we are due for a shaking. I only hope I will stand. Will you?
