Some weeks ago, I wrote that Diane and I had returned to in-person church. I’ve had people tell me they appreciated that because they also were conflicted, they love going to church but caution told them not to worship in person. There are legitimate constitutional arguments to be made pro and con for the state forbidding in-person worship during a pandemic. What concerns me more is making in-person worship a litmus test if a church member is faithful, or not.
“Don’t you believe in God? Won’t He keep you safe? ‘We must obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29).”
“Ah, but I’m wary about going. I’ll watch the stream. I’ll do my devotions, but look at the rising numbers. Listen to medical experts. Right now I’m scared.”
“What does the Bible say? “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).
Let’s think this through. First, 1 John 4 is talking about God’s love casting out fear of punishment for our sins, not the fears that come from the perils of daily life. Many things threaten us in this fallen world, not just sin. So we take all our fears to our heavenly Father, our "very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). When we do, our emotion becomes awe that God will help us, His beloved but fearful creatures. That’s what the Bible calls the “fear of the Lord,” “the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10).
Second, attending in-person worship doesn’t save us. Jesus’ Word does. In worship God comes to us through His Word and Sacrament, which work faith and Christian growth in us, and so our normal should be, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!” (Psalm 122:1). But these aren’t normal times. People wary of group worship can trust God’s working through the Word streamed and read in devotion.
Third, we should be careful about burdening the consciences of believers. Many faithful churchgoers substituted virtual for in-person out of respect for authorities placed over us, faithfulness to the Fourth Commandment. It’s also a Fifth Commandment issue. Shall a person with pre-existing conditions put his/her life at risk when Fourth Commandment authorities have told him/her to avoid crowds? Shall I go and risk the health of another? Martin Luther said, “it cannot be either safe or honest for a Christian to speak against his conscience.”
“God be with you ‘til we meet again.”
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