Coronavirus:

How Can We Obey the Official Directives for Coronavirus?

We assume that many of our readers are from America. Thus, about 350 million people are affected with our words and concerns in this article. But we must not forget that around the world, some 195 different countries are touched by this virulent virus! We are aware that many of these countries are affected in the same way that the United States is.

Physically, they may be just as restricted as are people here in America. And we know that massive numbers of people are even more infected by this because they are in dire financial straits, in compromised physical conditions, are old or frail, or are necessarily around a lot of people who may be infected. Because of these concerns, our hearts go out to such people and we want to pray that God will have mercy and work in this situation for His glory!

There are many limitations imposed by the government as well as by society in general. Let’s address just one of these, even though we know that there are many, many different restrictions that life brings and that God brings to our lives. The government itself offers many important restrictions and this goes to make life much more complicated and difficult—in a measure.

We can’t deal with all of this in this very brief article, thus let’s just deal with one restriction.

We know that God gives many commands to His people. This is one of them: “. . . 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” (Hebrews 10:25). This seems quite clear: Christians are to assemble regularly with one other. Of course the reason for this is that they might edify each other, worship with each other, have fellowship with each other, and share with each other. Probably a hundred scriptures could be cited to illustrate this command (cf. Hebrews 3:13; Acts 2:42).

We realize that some of you, our readers, are not in a situation where you are part of a fellowship of Christians. Maybe you would want to be. You would like to be. And you pray for this. However, for one reason or another, you just can’t fulfill this command at present. Perhaps you don’t know of other faithful Christians—thus how can you meet with them? Maybe a group you know of is 200 miles away and it is hard for you to reach them each first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Because you are poor and can’t afford the trip, you just can’t drive 200 miles round trip (400 miles total) every week. Or you just may not know of other devoted saints, even hundreds of miles away.

Thus, you are not fulfilling this command of Scripture as you would like (Hebrews 10:25). I am not meeting with other brothers and sisters for this very reason. Some have criticized me for this but what can I do and still be faithful to God and His Word? If you are in this situation, I empathize with you and wish that there were something I or we can do about this.

But setting aside this thorny issue for the present, how do we fulfill this command in light of the present Coronavirus and the limitations that the civil government has imposed? We know that in some countries, people are forced to not have any contact with others, thus they are virtually cut off from society, except for their cell phones, regular phones, the radio, and other such means of communication. And perhaps their own family.

The United States is not quite this restricted. As far as I know, there has been a “suggestion” that groups limited to ten (10) may meet together—but no more. Perhaps it is actually a requirement; I am not absolutely sure.  I have read that a government leader is limiting the group to fifty or one hundred people. And some refuse to be limited at all.  However, generally we read or hear that most people are limiting their meeting to only ten (10) people. We are not sure what other countries are now doing—is it a complete forbidding of meeting or a limitation in meeting? We really don’t know.

The question now comes down to this: How does the Christian obey the government and yet obey the command of God to meet together each week for edification and fellowship?

We suppose that the question could be answered in more than one way. As we have said above, many people aren’t even in a viable, living, thriving, loving, and intimate fellowship of believers. Most are not even saved, thus the questions don’t even pertain to vast numbers of the population.   And even if there are a few saved people who regularly meet, it is much easier for a few to gather than for 100 or 1,000. This is evident.

We know of one group in another state (the number is unknown) that have chosen to ignore the president’s suggestions and to go ahead and meet as normal. We suspect that most groups will just not meet for a week or several weeks and then resume as normal. As we understand the situation, some countries are much more rigorous in their enforcement than others. And perhaps there are some that are not concerned at all about transmission. We really don’t know.

If people do choose to meet as normal, perhaps in a regular group or in a smaller group, we know that there are other factors to consider. Consider this: What about breaking bread (communion) with others (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17)? What about partaking of a common cup for the fruit of the vine? What about a common meal (cf Acts 2:44-46)? What about handshakes? What about other forms of intimacy, such as kissing (Romans 16:16)? What about hugging? What about speaking intimately for long times?

These are things that may “churches” don’t even consider for they may just come together for a brief time, in a formal setting, without any intimacies, thus the kind of questions we pose above are not as germane as they would be in more intimate, close, and Biblical gatherings and groups. For example, we know that some formal “churches” choose to only partake of communion once a month or once every six months. It is more convenient for them to keep everything formal and acceptable rather than seek to follow first century practice.

Whatever we do, we need to know that this will also pass!  It may take a week. It may take a couple or several weeks. It may take two months. The governmental requirements may change. Some sort of remedy may be forthcoming, although they do say that it may take a while for this to happen. And a vaccine may take a year or longer to develop. We also know that even if an effective vaccine may become available, some conservative people may refuse to be inoculated (out of conviction).

We do know that they say that if a person does contract this disease (of Coronavirus), it will take two weeks to overcome it. And many will not even contract it. Maybe unknown yet, but we have read that once a person has the virus, he or she is protected (because of antibodies) for a year or even more.  Further, many people will not even contract the disease.  And there are those who come down with the disease and their body is able to “fight off” the infection with few problems. All of this is good news.

We know that there are many scriptures that may be applied to those who fear this virus or those who have it.  We think of Matthew 11:28-30. Consider these comforting words from our Lord:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Although this may more directly relate to those who are “weary and heavy-laden” with Pharisaical restrictions and theological limitations, it still is encouraging for those who need the comfort from Jesus via Scripture.

If anyone is in the midst of this problem that has come upon this country and the world, we trust that this comforting and encouraging promise from the Savior will be a blessing. We must remember that these words are not for most people on earth, but only for those who are truly saved, truly redeemed, and truly children of God! Those who are not now God’s children by means of the new birth (cf. John 3:3-7)  need to come to God now and find refuge in the Savior’s arms at a time like this!

May God bless each of you as you enter this battle against a very present foe!

Richard Hollerman

Note: Some of you may wish to read this article that deals with a similar theme: Can We Always Obey God?