Government Forces Church Shutdowns Indefinitely

government forces church shutdowns

GOVERNMENT FORCES CHURCH SHUTDOWNS. How can a government loosen restrictions on restaurants during a pandemic, but keep restrictions on churches? This antichristian policy has taken hold in many Democrat-run states in the US. Now worse is happening in Belize.

In late August, due to an outbreak of new Covid cases, Belize shut down a variety of activities. They included dining in restaurants and attending churches. Later it allowed ten persons per restaurant. Now it allows ten per restaurant table. And as many tables as possible if the tables are six feet apart. But churches must remain closed.

Why? Prime Minister Barrow says singing and preaching spreads pathogens. And ten people talking while sitting together at one restaurant table don’t spread pathogens?

Way back on May 23 the CDC deleted a warning that singing may contribute to Covid transmission. Some scientists still say that the deep inhales and exhales accompanying singing can spread the disease. But they add that you may sing safely with social distancing and without shouting. Churches can certainly manage to do that.

A double standard against churches

Christians should at least have the same right to meet as others do in social gatherings. Beyond that, we should exercise our rights to freedom of religion, worship and assembly

Some churches may sustain a kind of fellowship through virtual meetings. But others cannot afford the technology. Some are finding deep connections in small home groups. But churches grow wide as well as deep.

When any small church group lacks connection to the wider body of Christ, it lacks accountability. Also, it risks falling into isolation and error. And into a worse kind of deadly disease.

Paul says that anyone who takes communion must “examine himself”. For he “eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep”—meaning, a number actually died (1 Cor. 11:28-30).

The more we lose our connections to the wider body of Christ, the more we risk becoming weak and sick. In fact, our enemies would like the church to die. But then we would no longer serve as a light to the world. Belize, without our churches, schools, hospitals and countless services, would become a very dark place.

Therefore, we must stand for our constitutional rights to freedom of religion and assembly. Yet we can respect those who choose not to attend in-person services due to vulnerabilities or other concerns. We can also respect churches which choose to continue virtual meetings.

Showing that we can open responsibly

At the same time, we can advise churches which do open to notify every attendee of the responsibilities and risks they are taking.

For example, a church could require everyone to sign, before entering, something to this effect:

“I understand that by entering this building or any public place, I run the risk of catching or spreading Covid-19. Therefore, I agree to wash my hands and to keep wearing a mask. I will refrain from speaking loudly or singing loudly. And I will keep a social distance of six feet from all others, except family members and friends with whom I agree to be closer. If at any time the church temporarily suspends any rule, such as for communion, the church will advise me ahead of time, and give me opportunity to leave if I wish. If I bring children, I and they will abide by any special rules for them. I am coming to seek God and to worship Him with this church.”

Any church that commits to enforce rules like this should certainly have the right to open.

Any government which denies churches this right, while giving this right to other social activities, shows that it is anti-church and anti-Christ.