Love Thy Neighbor

Since day one, I have been very outspoken regarding my views on how the body of Christ, as a whole, has handled COVID. We have not dealt with this situation, the fear, the confusion, the anxiety and the chaos, the way Jesus would have dealt with it, and if anyone disagrees with that, I would be very interested to see what biblical verse they are standing on.

Now, as things somehow continue to become stricter, even as COVID deaths rapidly decline, we are seeing many churches, again, close and lock their doors.

Since nowhere in the Word does it say we should react to fear and pandemics by shutting ourselves off from one another, most pastors are using a verse they feel gives them the authority to close the House of God: “Love thy neighbor” Mark 12:31.

I find it interesting, and a bit hypocritical, this is the verse pastors are standing on in regards to keeping people from congregating and worshiping. Suicide, alcoholism, drug addiction, domestic and child abuse, violence, anger and confusion are at an all-time high, but closing the House of God, the place people typically run to in times of difficulty, is somehow “loving” them.

Since I do not believe I have a right to have a personal opinion on this blog that is not biblically based, here are three verses that contradict every pastor who is keeping their doors closed or is closing them for a second time.

1. “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:” -James 5:14
   
2. “They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” -Mark 16:18
   
3. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” -Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

I have released my frustration towards the massive amount of churches who do not fully stand on the Word and who have allowed the world to dictate their reaction to our present situation. I, instead, pray for the Remnant church to continue to stand strong, for there are so many of us who need them to remain open.

I believe we are walking into a new time and a new season with the Lord and although it may seem as if the world is standing on unstable ground, the Remnant is standing strong and proud on the firm foundation of the Word.

There is a Remnant rising who I believe will see a new level of authority and power within their congregations and churches because they have not given in to the fear, the pressure or the political agenda.

Remnant, you are not standing alone, I am standing with you and the Lord is standing before us.

“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” -Romans 11:5