(Note: The word "gathering" below is defined as meeting with other Christians for the purpose of worship (regardless of size) including both Corporate Worship and home gatherings in the current context.)

Why has City Bible Church adjusted our worship Gatherings for Covid-19?

The primary reason we have adjusted our forms of gathering is in submission to the authorities that God has commanded us to, for the purpose of making Him known (1 Peter 2:12). In addition to government (1 Peter 2:13-17), other forms of God-ordained human forms of authority include employers and earthly masters (1 Peter 2:18-20), parents (Eph. 6:1ff.), husbands (1 Peter 3:1-6), and in a similar way, wives (Without saying submit, in 1 Peter 3:7, Peter warns husbands that they must consider their wives with the utmost priority, and not neglect her).

What if we disagree with the Government?

That’s a great question, and Peter (and the Holy Spirit) anticipate it. Within this instruction to submit to authority, Peter explains, “not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable (1 Peter 2:18).” The word unreasonable (Gk. skolios) can also be translated crooked, harsh, dishonest, or perverse. Even when the authority causes you to suffer unjustly (1 Peter 2:19-20), the Christian can entrust themselves to God who judges righteously, following the example of their Lord (1 Peter 2:21-25). 

This means that as long as an earthly authority is not giving a command that forces their people to choose between God and men [e.g. mandating evil], then that earthly authority should be submitted to and obeyed, because they have been placed there by God (1 Peter 2:14, Romans 13:1).

Perhaps a more practical example would be a marriage. Christ commands wives to submit to their husbands as earthly authority (1 Peter 3:1ff., Eph. 5:22-24, Col. 3:18). Many wives have asked, “What if my husband has no idea what he is doing?” Nevertheless, God commands the believer to submit. Our submission is not conditioned upon the competence of the government, employer, husband, wife, parent (Eph. 6:4), or pastor (1 Peter 5:5)- our submission is based on the faithfulness of God (1 Peter 4:19). 

To be clear, this submission does not exclude permission to appeal to authority respectfully (in a way the authority has agreed to be appealed to). Yet, until the authority changes their mind, you are commanded to submit in the present. This submission also does not exclude the freedom to flee. If you can, you are free to flee a government, a city, an employer/master, or a church. You may not flee a spouse or parents, except in the specific allowances given in Scripture.  

Note: American Government has an added layer of complexity, because the "government" is the people, and not a monarchy/dictatorship. Therefore, our government has legal provisions built in to it to safeguard itself from tyranny (e.g. Voting, Protest, 2nd Ammendment, etc.). 

Shouldn’t we stop gathering if physical health is at risk?

Well, for the sake of testing this thought, let’s assume that gathering will result in the risk of death. By all biblical indications, the early church never forsook gathering, even if there was the risk of death. When persecution began after the stoning of Stephen, some people scattered, some people remained in Jerusalem, but both groups still continued to gather wherever they were (Acts 8:1-3). They also continued to do public evangelism although there were threats, and the Lord blessed their ministry and grew His Church (Acts 8:4, 25, 40; 9:31). We don’t fear death- we fear God who can do worse than physical death (Matt. 10:28). And if we don’t fear death, how much less should we fear sickness? And if we don’t fear sickness, then how much less should we fear the risk of sickness? Answer: maybe because of an overvaluing of physical health. 

Satan knows sin the best. He’s a professional at it. And when he desired to expose Job as faithless, after losing people and possessions didn’t wreck Job’s faith, Satan turned to a greater attack. He said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has, he will give for his life (Job 2:4).” That is to say, the mark of the unbeliever, is that his own health is the most important thing to him; and when given the choice to protect his health, or forsake God, he will choose his health. But faith perseveres when threatened by or afflicted by sickness (Job 2:10, cf. 1:20-22). Satan tried the same thing on the Lord, by tempting Him to value His physical health above God’s will (Matt. 4:3-4). But to be clear, we are also not to be reckless with our health, in a way that tests the Lord (Matt. 4:5-7).

Jesus taught in Matthew 25, that the distinct characteristic of His people (the sheep), was that when Christ was hungry, thirsty, without a home, without clothes, sick, or in prison, His people came to Him. When did they do this to Christ? Jesus answers, “To the extent you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it Me (Matt. 25:34-40)." But the characteristic of the fake-believers (goats) was that they refused to come to/visit God’s people. When Christ’s people were hungry, thirsty, without a home, without clothes, sick, or in prison, they distanced themselves (Matt. 25:42-45). Do you think there was any risk to visit a Christian who was sick, or do you think ancient illnesses were not contagious? Do you think there was any risk in visiting a Christian who had been arrested? Absolutely. But Christ’s people are marked by a faith that transcends those risks in order to do good. 

Is gathering with God’s people really that important?

Yes! Gathering with the saints has immense value! Fellowship has value. Edification has value. Warning has value. The author of Hebrews says that in view of what Christ has done (Heb. 10:19-21), we should, “consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, (how?), not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Heb. 10:24-25, emphasis mine).” What is the Day that is drawing near? It is the Day; the last Day; the Day when Christ returns for reward or for judgment (Heb. 10:26-39)! Since the Day is coming, we don’t have time to sit around, watching people fall into or continue in sin/faithlessness! The gathered church is the organism by which faith is encouraged and strengthened, and the primary organism by which apostasy (losing faith) is guarded against. The early church valued the physical gathering, the historical church physically gathered, and we will gather, because lives depend on it. 

In view of the end being near, Peter said we should be of sound judgment, be of sober spirit for prayer, and keep fervent (hot) in our love for one another (1 Peter 4:7-8). How are we to keep fervent in love for one another? By being hospitable to one another without complaint (i.e. gathering in homes), speaking to one another, and serving one another (1 Peter 4:9-11). More than this, in Peter’s first epistle, it seems like he needs to keep reminding the church that it is a good thing to suffer for the sake of righteousness (1 Peter 3:13-17). Why do you think that is? Perhaps because the Christian tendency is to run away from suffering at all costs? That was Peter’s tendency. Eventually, that leads to denying the Lord. 

If that’s the case, am I sinning if I miss a gathering from now on?

Not necessarily, but maybe. The answer to this question lies in your heart. There is no fixed schedule, interval, or quota of number of gatherings given in Scripture either. Even perfect attendance is not a sufficient indicator of heart (we are not perfected by law-keeping, Gal. 3:2-3). There is no biblical mandate to meet at a specific interval or frequency. A believer may refrain from gathering in different "wisdom" categories (e.g. personal sickness, new child, high-risk, etc.). Nevertheless, participating in corporate worship is always better than not participating, because the Day is drawing near (Heb. 10:24-25).

If you are not sure, a fellow believer, or your pastor, can ask you questions to help you determine with the Word of God what your motives are in missing corporate worship. 

Why? Why do we submit to authority? Why would we risk suffering in order to obey God? Why is gathering with Christians so important?

Short answer: because the name of Jesus Christ is at stake. It is no coincidence that the believers who have the most trouble with the things mentioned above, are usually the least engaged in evangelism. A definition of faithful evangelism is “the proclamation of the Gospel by people who are controlled by the Gospel.” Read 1 Peter again, and you will realize that the reason God has given you so great a salvation (1 Peter 1:1–2:9) is “so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” and as you live according to your salvation, “[the Gentiles] will observe your good deeds, and glorify God in the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:9-12)."

Biblical Freedom is not the same thing as American Freedom. Paul commands the church to "Run to win (1 Cor. 9:24)." By that, he meant to allow your freedom to be restricted when the glory of Christ is at stake (9:16, 23). In order to do this, you need self-control (9:25). Why? Because the sin nature's tendency is to set up idols (10:7), act immorally (10:8), test the Lord (10:9), and grumble (10:10)- sure marks of pride (10:12). Which list better describes you? a) self-control, submission, and suffering, or b) testing, grumbling, and idolatry? Be careful that you "do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh," but instead, love your neighbor (Gal. 5:13-14). By this love, the world will know that we belong to Christ (John 13:35).