Let’s make sure that any civil disobedience on our part is for the sake of Christ and not our rights.

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

We have one goal as Christians: Obedience to our LORD.

He tells us to obey the law of the land–but only to a point. We are called to never renounce our faith even in the face of ridicule, loss of property, violence, prison, and even death. Let’s consider Paul:

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.This is my gospel, ⁹ for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:8-10

What can we learn from Paul?

1. Paul preached Jesus is Messiah, crucified and resurrected; this was his gospel. The Jewish leaders hated him because of his message, and the Romans hated him because he preached only one God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
2. Paul suffered at great personal expense for sharing his gospel. He was beaten, whipped, stoned, and imprisoned.
3. “But God’s word is not chained.” “Historians have come to a similar judgment: ‘Every public execution was a great and often successful advocating opportunity for the church.’ It was not primarily what the Christians said that carried weight with outsiders; it was what they did and embodied that was both disconcerting and converting.” The Patient Ferment of the Early Church by Alan Kreider, page 51.
4. Paul endured everything for the sake of those who would entrust their lives to Jesus Christ even if it called for his death.

Here is the Promise upon which Paul based his faith:

¹¹ Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him;
¹² if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
¹³ if we are faithless, he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13

1. Jesus said that He is the Resurrection and the Life and that those who believe in Him will live, even though they die (John 11:25-26).
2. If we endure-We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. Hebrews 6:11
3. If we disown Him-“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33
4. If we are faithless-this phrase is different than disowning Him. It happens when we are afraid and we act out of our fear. The LORD understands. He comes to us and comforts us and helps us overcome our fear. He is our Continuing Savior (not just once, but until we get to Him).

This is my own editorial: If I am commanded to wear a mask, then I will wear a mask. If I am commanded to limit the number of people I am around, then I will limit the number of people I am around. But, if I am commanded to quit meeting altogether, then I will respectfully (if clandestinely) commit civil disobedience, for Jesus Christ requires His Church to meet together for worship, discipleship, encouragement, exhortation, comfort, and to show solidarity. Come sickness or fines or even arrest, I WILL be faithful to my LORD. The meeting doesn’t have to be big, it just has to meet. Just sayin.

May we have confidence in our LORD that whatever happens, He will bring glory to His name and people to His side. All we have to do is look back throughout history to find many stories of great heroes of faith–and I’m not even talking about Hebrews 11. We serve a mighty God, so let’s let Him be mighty in our lives.

Abba, I first pray that You would protect us from rulings that would keep us from meeting as Your church. Then, I pray that if those rulings come, that they are for the express purpose of letting our lights shine so that people You have chosen to speak to through our circumstances will come to You. Last, I pray that we will be faithful to You and NEVER renounce our faith in You or disown You. Give us strength; give us courage; May Your Spirit rise within us and may we be champions of the faith! You gave all for us; I pledge my all to You. Amen.