Church buildings are not essential
24 min read
When the COVID-19 pandemic started, the terms "essential" and "non-essential" have become part of conversations. Businesses such as grocery stores, gas stations, and hardware stores, were considered "essential" and were kept open. Businesses such as gyms, movie theaters, entertainment venues, and restaurants, were considered "non-essential" and were closed. Churches were also considered "non-essential" by the government and were closed.
Many use the term "church" to refer to the building of the church. This is actually not what the Bible means by the term "church". A church building could be considered an important meeting place for members, but it is not essential. The closing of a church building will not put any lives in danger. Instead, it's closure can save lives in the midst of a pandemic.
In the Bible, "ekklesia" is the Greek word for church, and it refers to the people of God who have been called-out of the world and into God's Kingdom. Therefore, the church is not a building, it is a people. You can go to a church building, but you can't "go to church", because every person who believes in Jesus is the church. The people who make up the church are essential. Their lives are essential and their health is essential. Church buildings can be shut down and destroyed, but the church, the people of God, will always remain (Matthew 16:18).
Church protests
Many Christian leaders have protested the government's decision to categorize church buildings as "non-essential" services. Many of these leaders have also been opposed to the idea of wearing a mask. They have encouraged their congregations to be anti-maskers.
These leaders have been quick to embrace various conspiracy theories about the virus and to make their congregations believe them as well, misleading many. They've been downplaying the virus, either calling it fake or declaring that it is no worse than a cold. They have been spewing out lies without any factual basis. This type of behavior has been a very bad testimony to the world of what it means to be a follower of Christ. These leaders should have spent more time listening to God rather than listening to conspiracies on the internet.
Regardless of how and why the virus started, church gatherings, like other types of large gatherings, pose an increased risk for the spread of COVID-19. This is a scientific fact.
Churches seen as "non-essential"
Even before the pandemic hit, we have known for decades that churches have not been relevant to the government. It's been decades that the government has viewed churches as "non-essential" social organizations. The pandemic did not create the "non-essential" labeling for churches, it just exposed the labeling that had already been there for decades.
If churches have to protest to declare themselves "essential" to authorities that believe otherwise, then churches have already lost. Throughout their existence, churches should have shown that they were essential, rather than now shouting that they are essential. They should have shown that they were essential by the positive impacts that they could have had upon their communities. However, most churches have focused on themselves rather than their community. If you have no membership and don't pay your dues in offerings, most churches won't care about you.
We live in an age where abuse and corruption runs rampant in many churches. The flagrant sins of many church leaders make news headlines regularly. It's no wonder that the government and society sees churches as non-essential. Any corrupt or abusive churches should be shut down, and permanently.
Rebellion against governments
The Bible commands every Christian to be subject to their government. Due to church buildings being declared as "non-essential", many church leaders have had the audacity to wrongfully accuse the government of using the virus to persecute Christians.
COVID-19 is real and it is not like the common cold or flu. This virus is not only dangerous for senior citizens, but for people of all age groups. When dealing with a real virus, the government is fulfilling its responsibility to keep its citizens safe. It's a shame that many church leaders cannot do the same and fulfill their responsibility to keep their members safe.
Church leaders who are accusing the government are creating a disgraceful testimony. Instead, these leaders should be cooperating with their government, helping them, and praying for them.
Rome was a tyrannical dictatorship. What did Jesus and the apostles say and do about that? Nothing. They obeyed their government, even if it was a corrupt one, and focused on their real purpose.
Health measures are not persecution
The government never said that personal faith was "non-essential". The government said that mass-gatherings in religious buildings put people at risk. The "stay at home" order is not a violation of the human right to religion and worship. The government never said it would stop people from practicing their faith. Faith is crucial in a time like this, but practicing ones faith must be done safely, not at the expense of the health of others.
With the "non-essential" restrictions on church buildings, followers of Jesus can still pray at home, read their Bibles at home, and spend virtual time together remotely. How dare church leaders make a mockery out of Christian persecution by trying to associate health-related building closures to the same persecution that the early church experienced.
Do these church leaders even know of the persecution that the early church experienced? Early Christians were told that they were not allowed to worship God at all. They were told that they could not preach or speak in the name of Jesus. They were violently killed for not renouncing their faith in Jesus. Is the government today asking church leaders and churchgoers to do that? Not at all. Therefore, we can conclude that the government is in no way persecuting churches or churchgoers.
These church leaders would do well to read about the real persecution that Christians in China are suffering before calling a health-related lock-down "persecution".
Obey God rather than men?
Many church leaders and Christians alike can be heard quoting "We must obey God rather than men" as their response to the government's pandemic lock-down orders. However, they have taken this quote out of context.
Peter and the apostles only said such a thing when officials charged them not to teach about Jesus at all. Today's governments never issued such a charge. Today, anyone who wants to is free to teach about Jesus, as long as they respect pandemic regulations. Taking Peter's quote out of context to advance your own agenda and to suit your own desires is wrong.
Religious bullying
There are so-called "Christians" that can be found sharing quotes like this on social media. Anyone sharing this is deceived. It's a horrible testimony to the world for people to have to see such accusatory rhetoric used by "Christians" in a pandemic.
Our governments are not forbidding us to worship God, therefore, God's word commands us to obey government orders. Pastors who obey the government are obeying God. They are a proper testimony to the world. They are not cowards and they are not in sin. It takes boldness for pastors to stand against "Christian" bullies who share this deplorable content. It is those who distort Scripture to suit their addiction to the idol of the church building and the idol of the Sunday service that are in sin.
There are church leaders and so-called "Christians" that say, "Putting a mask on shows a lack of faith." This would be like saying, "Wearing a seat-belt shows a lack of faith", or "Not touching a metal pole in a thunderstorm shows a lack of faith". It's absolute nonsense.
Faith is not stupidity. Faith is not about throwing caution and prudence out the window. God won't protect you if you're being stupid. He will let you reap what you've sown. It really goes to show that most so-called "Christians" know very little about God and faith.
The pruning of the Church
The pandemic taken away a lot of the bells and whistles of the church experience. These bells and whistles are the nice-to-haves that church leaders have made must-haves. The church espresso bars are closed, the ATM machines are not used, the fancy stage lights are off, and the expensive music equipment is unused.
Perhaps God allowed the pandemic to affect churches so that it would prune and purge all the superfluous that they have added on to the essential. It's time that churches repent and go back to what is truly essential, Jesus and the Bible.
The pandemic has not cancelled faith and worship but it has changed the way that we believe and worship. That's a good thing because the pre-pandemic state of most churches was one full of distractions, greed, and idolatry.
The new normal is putting more emphasis on a building a personal relationship with Jesus wherever we are. In the midst of this pandemic, God is calling us to deepen our relationship with him individually rather than busying ourselves with a bunch of church activities. Instead of blindly chasing preacher after preacher, God is calling us to spend time reading His word and listening for His voice.
Donations in a pandemic
Church donations have decreased during the pandemic for various reasons. I sense that many church leaders are worried that by not offering people a fancy worship service, uplifting music, coffee, breakfast, a fun kids club, and small groups, people will have no reason to give if they're not getting in return. This is the result of many church leaders who have created and encouraged a consumerist Christianity over the years.
Church leaders are worried about not bringing in the same money as before the pandemic. They are worried about their salaries. However, I worry that their motivation to open church buildings is more about money than it is about God. Perhaps they want their churches re-opened so that they can once again sell the customer the "Christian" package that brings in the donations that they seek.
Local churches should be showing generosity by helping people who are financially affected by the pandemic. Sadly, I am not seeing this. I'm seeing local churches asking for donations and collecting money with no mention of using that money to help the poor or the health-care system. Instead, they only seem to mention needing money for their salaries, their building expansions, and their church programs.
Rather than churches being an example of generosity to the community, they have become an example of selfishness. Many are hoarding donations and offerings to enrich themselves.
The mature follower of Jesus will use this pandemic as a way to re-consider their donations. Do they want to just pay the "bill" of the Sunday service that is sold to them, or do they want to use their money to help those who are really in need?
The mature Christian does not throw money at things like a fancy worship service, uplifting music, and free coffee. They show generosity to those in need and make their donations where they can have the most impact in the lives of others, whether that be to a church community or to another organization.
Neglecting to meet together?
Many church leaders who declare that their church building is essential use Hebrews 10:25. Verse 25 reads "not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
The context of these verses is about drawing near to God and encouraging one another. The purpose for meeting together - that verse 25 says not to neglect - was to encourage one another. It was not to make meeting together sacred or to make the meeting location holy or special.
Therefore, the caution in verse 25 is actually about neglecting to encourage one another rather than neglecting to meet in a building. There would be no point in meeting together if no mutual encouragement was taking place in that meeting. This is the sought-after goal of Hebrews 10:25.
The purpose of early church meetings was not to hear a sermon or to receive some special grace through a pastor. Instead, the early church meetings were for mutual encouragement and support.
For the early church, meeting together was not about gathering in a sacred temple of a deity. It was more like a family of exiles coming together to encourage each other until they return home to their Creator and Savior. It was similar to a group of soldiers coming together to receive support, supplies, and refreshment to help them continue on their mission for the Kingdom of God. Meeting together was not their final mission or goal.
The way it seems for many churches today is that as long as they are able to meet together in a building every Sunday, they're accomplishing their mission. This is wrong.
Instead of fixating on the status of in-person meetings, churches should be focusing on encouraging, comforting, and equipping individuals through interpersonal communication and relationships.
For many, their church experience isn’t what the Bible describes. It’s not a place to encourage and to be encouraged. Church leaders should be focused on fixing this rather than trying to open and fill an empty building that may not have been serving its purpose when full to begin with.
Technology and faith
Today, technology makes it possible for Christians to encourage one another from a distance. This is a luxury that the early church did not have. There were no telephones, no FaceTime, no Zoom, and no internet at the time that Paul's letter to the Hebrews was written. Therefore, their only way to encourage each other at the time was to meet together and so this is what was mentioned in verse 25 of Hebrews chapter 10.
Christianity is not meant to be an individualistic faith. It is meant to be a relational faith with God and with others. However, when in-person encouragement is not possible for serious health reasons, the encouragement must adapt to the situation at hand.
Are church leaders advocating for the re-opening of their churches doing so for the goal of mutual encouragement, or is it more about the fear of losing members and collecting more money? What does it say to the world if we behave like God will hold it against us for not attending a church building in the midst of a devastating worldwide pandemic?
The sacrament of attendance
A truth that many church leaders today are reluctant to share is that church building attendance cannot save you. Contrary to popular belief, church building attendance does not get you into heaven. If attending a church building was the way to heaven, then the persecuted Christians overseas would all go to hell.
These persecuted Christians do not and cannot attend church buildings. Is their faith any less than the faith of the Western world? Not at all. On the contrary, it is a stronger and more pure faith that quietly perseveres in the midst of real persecution.
Faith does thrive in community. However, that community does not need to be in-person and in a building. Church leaders have made church building attendance out to be some sort of sacrament that we must participate in to receive blessings from God. This is absurd and not found anywhere in the Bible. God is accessible from anywhere. God is not exclusive to those who meet in church buildings.
By making church gatherings so important, church leaders have turned Christianity into nothing more than a series of meetings without which faith is not possible. By doing so, these leaders are undermining the power of God.
If the meetings are what's needed for believers to believe and to not fall back into their sinful ways, then what becomes of God's power? Is God not able to keep His own? These church leaders are attempting to give church services a power that they do not have. Life-changing power belongs to God alone. These leaders have exchanged the truth about God for the idol of the Sunday service.
Church leaders, please stop telling your congregations that church attendance does something spiritual to them that God can't accomplish through live-streams and podcasts. It’s not about the physical location. It’s about our hearts and whether we have a sincere and honest desire to experience Jesus Christ, regardless of our physical situation. Could it be that you are focusing on the physical location because your heart is not right with God?
True worship needs no building
By reading their Bibles, church leaders should know that God doesn't ask for buildings. God does not live in church buildings, nor does he care for such things. God looks at the condition of our hearts. God draws near to individuals with humble hearts that take His Word seriously, not church buildings.
Jesus criticized the worship of the religious leaders of his day by saying that they honor God "with their lips" but "their hearts are far from” Him (Matthew 15:7–9). They focused on the externals of worship but their hearts were not humble towards God. Jesus would say the same thing to many church leaders today.
In this passage, Jesus taught the Samaritan woman that a time would come when true worship would take place regardless of location. Worship would no longer be about a specific mountain or a specific city temple, it would be about worshiping God in spirit and truth. God is seeking worshipers who are willing to disconnect themselves from physical limitations and religious traditions to focus on Him alone.
To worship God "in spirit" means that the worship must originate from within, from the heart. It must be sincere. It should not be mechanical or ritualistic. To worship God "in spirit" means to be humble enough to let the Holy Spirit lead us and to awaken in us the awareness of God’s beauty, love, and power.
To worship God "in truth" means to worship God according to what the Bible teaches us. To worship inconsistently with what is revealed to us in Scripture becomes idolatry. To focus on a building and to call it the "house of God", is inconsistent with what the Bible teaches, and results in idolatry. It becomes the deification of a physical location.
If worshiping from a church building is the only form of worship that church leaders and their congregants know, then they need to realize that they do not understand Jesus' teachings.
John MacArthur and the pandemic
John MacArthur is a prominent Evangelical pastor who has been vocal about his disapproval of government orders to close churches due to the pandemic. It was embarrassing to see him mock pandemic health orders even as his own church members were falling ill. It's a horrible testimony to the world. His church knew of at least a dozen members who had COVID-19 but they did not even report it.
This was not always John MacArthur's stance on the pandemic. In a March 28, 2021 interview with Austin Duncan, John MacArthur stated that "defiance of safety measures is a foolish thing to do". He said that it "makes Christianity look anything but loving." He went on to agree that "this is government law for the greater good of the population." Here is a link to the YouTube video, with these quotes occurring at the 25 minute mark.
Within one month after this interview, MacArthur's views began to change. He began to buy into the lies that Trump and conservative media have spread about the pandemic.
Los Angeles County public health officials demanded that Grace Community Church, where John pastors, stop holding indoor services. However, John defied these orders and began spreading this defiance from the pulpit every Sunday. Congregants in the church were sitting close to each other and most of them had no masks on. The congregation would get so crowded that people had to stand in the back. Congregants were seen hugging, singing, and shaking hands.
According to church bulletins, congregants gave $7,247 on Sunday, August 30, 2020. That Sunday, John told congregants from his pulpit that "there is no pandemic". As a result of that message, the following Sunday's congregants ended up giving $40,046 on Sunday, September 6, 2020, almost 6 times more than the previous week. We can see why it's very attractive to downplay the pandemic and to promote church attendance, it brings in more congregants and larger donations.
Neighbors were pleading with John MacArthur's church members to consider the health risks that they were having on the neighborhood. Unmasked congregants were scaring local residents from coming out of their homes on Sunday mornings. One woman started holding a sign outside the church each Sunday that said, "Love thy neighbor (Matthew 22:39), And wear a mask."
One congregant did not fully approve of John MacArthur's stance. He said that "Jesus would focus on helping the sick, not deny the existence of the pandemic." He said that his experience working in the healthcare industry conflicted with his pastor's opinions.
These words of John MacArthur are very deceptive. The Protestant Reformation was about protesting religious lies and religious corruption. It was not about resisting the government for trying to keep the population safe from a pandemic. There should be no comparison between these two completely different scenarios.
If we want to continue the protest of the protestant reformation, then we should be protesting against today's churches that are disobeying God and government out of selfishness and greed.
Dependence upon the pastor
Have we become so dependent upon pastors today that we no longer know how to connect virtually with other believers to have times of mutual encouragement? Many Christians have gotten so used to having someone to spoon-feed them from the pulpit and to help them pray that they don't know how to do the same by themselves at home. Therefore, when the pastor shouts, "Re-open our church", the congregants agree and shout it too, because they depend on the pastor to be fed spiritually.
One of the doctrines that the Protestant Reformation emphasized was the doctrine that every believer has equal access to God. We do not need to be brought into the presence of God by a priest or pastor. We can all draw near to God through Jesus Christ and have full assurance that we are received as His beloved children (Hebrews 10:22).
Isn't it ironic that it's those who applauded the Protestant Reformation who are now making in-person and in-building church attendance an absolute requirement for experiencing God?
Even the Pope, the office that the Protestant Reformation resisted, said that believers can worship God at home during the pandemic. Judging by their response to the pandemic and their past fruits, most Protestant, Evangelical, and Pentecostal leaders are just as fallen as the Pope that they criticize.
Being in the same room as a pastor does not mean that we will receive a special blessing from God. There is no minister on earth can provide that. They can teach the Word of God to us in a way that allows the Holy Spirit to reveal something to us. However, the working of the Holy Spirit is not dependent upon you being in the same room as your pastor.
The Holy Spirit can reveal something to you as you pray, as you read your Bible at home, or as you listen to a per-recorded sermon. Physical proximity to a minister will not unlock more blessings for you. Living a life in relational proximity to God will.
Conclusion
We are living in a time where many church leaders are deceived. Rather than seeking God's direction, many are doing whatever seems right to them. As a result, deception is taking its toll and many leaders are following a deception rather than following God. The consequence of this is that they are making a mockery of God and what it means to follow Jesus. This is a blasphemy worse than the world's blasphemy of God's name, because these leaders should know better.
To downplay COVID-19 and insist that church buildings be re-opened in the midst of a pandemic is not loving, it is selfish. It is rebellion against God's command to be subject to the government. The saddest part is that leaders who do this are convinced that they are doing it all for God. They cannot be more deceived.
Church leaders who really care about their congregants will open their hearts and close their buildings. They will encourage their congregants to stay home, wear masks, and follow the pandemic safety guidelines. They will suggest ways to encourage one another from a distance.
Going against government health orders does not show your faith. It shows your folly. Denying your selfish desire for the Sunday service so that you can keep your neighbors safe is a better example of your faith. Love must be sacrificial. If it's not costing you anything, it's not love.
The ones who truly follow Jesus Christ are those who pray for health care workers instead of downplaying the pandemic. They obey their government, pray for their government, and sacrifice themselves for the well-being of their city.