The Church, Congregating in Person, and the Mask
The King of Kings commands His church to gather.
"But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:
“We ought to obey God rather than men."
~Acts 5:29
and This article in intended for Christian pastors, preachers, other church leaders, and those who are close to them. Its intended purpose is to provide you with factual resources and opinions of other Christ followers as it relates to congregating in person and wearing a mask in church, with the hope that you will dig deeper, then meditate on God's Word regarding the future direction that you need to lead your church families.
I'm going to piggyback the words of Mark Clark, Founding Pastor, Village Church Vancouver BC, as I begin this article:
Hey Pastor,
I hope you are doing well. But seriously, I do. I know this is a weird time. I have some good news and bad news.
I will start with the bad (no surprise I guess, I am a preacher after all).
I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but I predict that the next year or so will be one of the most divisive times in the local church we have seen in our lifetime. I hope it isn’t, but if it is, as a pastor I know you will struggle.
It’s hard to keep up with all the new information about COVID, shut-downs, government requirements, how to love your neighbors well, when to open and not to, and beyond that all the latest theories of what COVID actually is: a disease that’s not a big deal anymore (oh), the biggest deal since the Spanish Flu (ok), a Plandemic (what’s that?), QAnon (never heard of it), wearing masks v. not wearing a mask, the deep state, Bill Gates (huh?).
You aren’t an epidemiologist so you aren’t sure how to re-open – don’t worry many people in your church seem to be so that’s good, just check their social media pages for the latest science.
Then there is all the online church stuff (gosh, I just got on the Facebook, now I have to be a televangelist?).
It’s a lot to take in for someone who got into this job to help people come to know Jesus and shepherd those who already know him. But here we are.
---End of quote---
I think this sets the stage quite well and leads to the question, "How should pastors handle these new myriad of issues being thrown at them; specifically, how they should handle congregating in person and complying with mask mandates ." The question really is simple and although the answer might seem quite complex, we believe it's pretty straightforward.
Let us begin by stating this...
"Every decision made MUST be backed by scripture, and MUST be followed."
On this, there can be no compromise without consequences.
Now that the stage is set, we invite you to spend just a few moments to read a few articles coming from different perspectives.
Article #1: An Open Letter to Pastors in a Divisive Time
Article #2: When John MacArthur Reopens His Church Despite COVID-19 Orders (Note - It's important that you understand "illegal" vs "unlawful" as it relates to corporate law and natural law. It is equally important to understand your rights under constitutional law. Most importantly, God's Word trumps all.)
Article #3: Should Christians and Pastors Obey or Disobey Unfair Laws [Romans 13 and Shutting Down Churches]
Finally, on the issue of wearing masks and taking the vaccine, I will provide you with my personal opinion, after much reflection in prayer and researching sources not controlled by the mainstream media. The truth does not lie in corporate-controlled mainstream media... you must dig deeper beyond the reach of these nefarious entities.
For me, it is simple. Something did not seem right from the get go. I knew, without reservation, the Holy Spirit was warning me to be cautious. Non-believers might call this intuition. Believers and followers of Christ who have an active personal relationship with Jesus Christ acknowledge the communication power of the Holy Spirit in one's life and they act on it without reservation. (On a more personal note, I became an authentic Christian in 1983 at the age of 17... 38 years ago. I prescribe to no particular set of religious traditions, only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I hold the Bible to be historical, factual, without flaw (which is not the same as my inability to fully comprehend its contents), and the blueprint for which I try to lead and live all facets of my life.)
With that, I offer you this personal opinion as it relates to the corona virus mandates and the vaccines:
True science and actual evidence point to the following facts:
The virus is different from the flu.
Statistics are incomplete and inaccurate at best. Statistical and testing criteria/measures are suspect as there are several different testing and tracking entities who are not aligned on their methodologies.
The CDC is not a government agency. It is privately owned and the shareholders hold several big pharma patents on vaccines, from which they prosper financially.
The "guidance" coming from the CDC has been conflicting, ever-changing, and there are literally hundreds of authentic practicing doctors, pharma scientists, and disease specialists who disagree with the information coming from the CDC (several links below).
Dr. Fauci has NEVER practiced medicine.
The rate of flu cases and flu-related deaths in the past year have dropped to incomprehensible and mathematically impossible thresholds. It is highly probable many flu cases were catalogued as corona virus cases instead.
What everyone does agree on is the survival rate of 99%+. This is precisely why we do not consider this a pandemic and have not worn a mask. It is simply a control measure.
Masks offer very little protection.
Masks are medically, psychologically, and spiritually harmful:
Video (Medical): Doctors against the vaccine (Additional links from independent doctors located at the bottom of this page.)
Article (Psychological): Mandating masks has erased our smile, the psychological effects that no one is talking about
Article (Spiritual): Occult ritual transformation and coronavirus: How mask wearing, hand washing, "social separation" and lockdowns are age-old rituals being used to initiate people into a new global order
Populations who have been mask-less have contracted corona virus at the same or lower rates than those wearing masks. Still, with both populations, the survival rate is 99%+.
The above information and resources point to just a small percentage of the overwhelming amounts of evidence found on the web that supports not wearing a mask. And, for the 3rd time, there is a 99%+ survival rate...
My observations, opinions, and assessment:
Natural law, constitutional law, and the will of God support worshiping together in church.
Many pastors are unwilling to make the sacrifice required to follow God's will on this issue. Yes, it means you will be subject to subverting unconstitutional corporate mandates just as Moses, Peter and Paul did. Do not react to the fear of man; Instead, follow the will of God.
More congregations than not will support their pastors opening their churches and leaving the option of wearing a mask up to the individuals.
We believe more churches than not will realize declining membership IF they remain closed and IF they require everyone to wear a mask in church. Many will spend years bringing membership back to pre-covid thresholds and in fact, some will close their doors altogether. We also believe that those who are obedient to God's will are going to flourish - God promises he will reward the obedient.
Is your church thriving, just surviving, or dying? If it's not thriving, ask yourself why.
We respect the fact that some will disagree with our opinion. That's one of the great things about living in this great Constitutional Republic we call the United States of America - we can have open and honest conversations about these types of issues.
Feel free to leave your opinions in the comment section below. We believe pastors and preachers would be especially interested in hearing from other brothers and sisters in Christ on their opinions of how their pastors and churches are responding to congregating in person and conforming to mask "mandates".
With much respect and love in Christ,
7liberty7
"By this symbol, you will conquer."
7liberty7
Additional Resources:
Doctors who explain clearly why they think vaccines aren't safe or effective (copy and paste links into web browser).
1. Dr. Nancy Banks - http://bit.ly/1Ip0aImhttp://bit.ly/1Ip0aIm
2. Dr. Russell Blaylock - http://bit.ly/1BXxQZLhttp://bit.ly/1BXxQZL
3. Dr. Shiv Chopra - http://bit.ly/1gdgh1shttp://bit.ly/1gdgh1s
4. Dr. Sherri Tenpenny - http://bit.ly/1MPVbjxhttp://bit.ly/1MPVbjx
5. Dr. Suzanne Humphries - http://bit.ly/17sKDbfhttp://bit.ly/17sKDbf
6. Dr. Larry Palevsky - http://bit.ly/1LLEjf6http://bit.ly/1LLEjf6
7. Dr. Toni Bark - http://bit.ly/1CYM9RBhttp://bit.ly/1CYM9RB
8. Dr. Andrew Wakefield - http://bit.ly/1MuyNzohttp://bit.ly/1MuyNzo
9. Dr. Meryl Nass - http://bit.ly/1DGzJschttp://bit.ly/1DGzJsc
10. Dr. Raymond Obomsawin - http://bit.ly/1G9ZXYlhttp://bit.ly/1G9ZXYl
11. Dr. Ghislaine Lanctot - http://bit.ly/1MrVeULhttp://bit.ly/1MrVeUL
12. Dr. Robert Rowen - http://bit.ly/1SIELeFhttp://bit.ly/1SIELeF
13. Dr. David Ayoub - http://bit.ly/1SIELvehttp://bit.ly/1SIELve
14. Dr. Boyd Haley PhD - http://bit.ly/1KsdVbyhttp://bit.ly/1KsdVby
15. Dr. Rashid Buttar - http://bit.ly/1gWOkL6http://bit.ly/1gWOkL6
16. Dr. Roby Mitchell - http://bit.ly/1gdgEZUhttp://bit.ly/1gdgEZU
17. Dr. Ken Stoller - http://bit.ly/1MPVqLIhttp://bit.ly/1MPVqLI
18. Dr. Mayer Eisenstein - http://bit.ly/1LLEqHHhttp://bit.ly/1LLEqHH
19. Dr. Frank Engley, PhD - http://bit.ly/1OHbLDIhttp://bit.ly/1OHbLDI
20. Dr. David Davis - http://bit.ly/1gdgJwohttp://bit.ly/1gdgJwo
21. Dr Tetyana Obukhanych - http://bit.ly/16Z7k6Jhttp://bit.ly/16Z7k6J
22. Dr. Harold E Buttram - http://bit.ly/1Kru6Dfhttp://bit.ly/1Kru6Df
23. Dr. Kelly Brogan - http://bit.ly/1D31pfQhttp://bit.ly/1D31pfQ
24. Dr. RC Tent - http://bit.ly/1MPVwmuhttp://bit.ly/1MPVwmu
25. Dr. Rebecca Carley - http://bit.ly/K49F4dhttp://bit.ly/K49F4d
26. Dr. Andrew Moulden - http://bit.ly/1fwzKJuhttp://bit.ly/1fwzKJu
27. Dr. Jack Wolfson - http://bit.ly/1wtPHRAhttp://bit.ly/1wtPHRA
28. Dr. Michael Elice - http://bit.ly/1KsdpKAhttp://bit.ly/1KsdpKA
29. Dr. Terry Wahls - http://bit.ly/1gWOBhdhttp://bit.ly/1gWOBhd
30. Dr. Stephanie Seneff - http://bit.ly/1OtWxAYhttp://bit.ly/1OtWxAY
31. Dr. Paul Thomas - http://bit.ly/1DpeXPfhttp://bit.ly/1DpeXPf
32. Many doctors talking at once - http://bit.ly/1MPVHOvhttp://bit.ly/1MPVHOv
33. Dr. Richard Moskowitz - censored
34. Dr. Jane Orient - http://bit.ly/1MXX7pbhttp://bit.ly/1MXX7pb
35. Dr. Richard Deth - http://bit.ly/1GQDL10http://bit.ly/1GQDL10
36. Dr. Lucija Tomljenovic - http://bit.ly/1eqiPr5http://bit.ly/1eqiPr5
37. Dr Chris Shaw - http://bit.ly/1IlGiBphttp://bit.ly/1IlGiBp
38. Dr. Susan McCreadie - http://bit.ly/1CqqN83http://bit.ly/1CqqN83
39. Dr. Mary Ann Block - http://bit.ly/1OHcyUXhttp://bit.ly/1OHcyUX
40. Dr. David Brownstein - http://bit.ly/1EaHl9Ahttp://bit.ly/1EaHl9A
41. Dr. Jayne Donegan - http://bit.ly/1wOk4Zzhttp://bit.ly/1wOk4Zz
42. Dr. Troy Ross - censored
43. Dr. Philip Incao - http://bit.ly/1ghE7sShttp://bit.ly/1ghE7sS
44. Dr. Joseph Mercola - http://bit.ly/18dE38Ihttp://bit.ly/18dE38I
45. Dr. Jeff Bradstreet - http://bit.ly/1MaX0cChttp://bit.ly/1MaX0cC
46. Dr. Robert Mendelson - http://bit.ly/1JpAEQrhttp://bit.ly/1JpAEQr
Hundreds more doctors testifying that vaccines aren't safe or effective, in these documentaries....
1. Vaccination - The Silent Epidemic - http://bit.ly/1vvQJ2W
2. The Greater Good - http://bit.ly/1icxh8j
3. Shots In The Dark - http://bit.ly/1ObtC8h
4. Vaccination The Hidden Truth - http://bit.ly/KEYDUh
5. Vaccine Nation - http://bit.ly/1iKNvpU
6. Vaccination - The Truth About Vaccines - http://bit.ly/1vlpwvU
7. Lethal Injection - http://bit.ly/1URN7BJ
8. Bought - http://bit.ly/1M7YSlr
9. Deadly Immunity - http://bit.ly/1KUg64Z
10. Autism - Made in the USA - http://bit.ly/1J8WQN5
11. Beyond Treason - http://bit.ly/1B7kmvt
12. Trace Amounts - http://bit.ly/1vAH3Hv
13. Why We Don't Vaccinate - http://bit.ly/1KbXhuf