Introduction

There is a debate and contention spreading amongst the church (universal) today. With all
that it is going on in the world, from disease to major catastrophise. Biblical ethics are
dissolving and once bible believing churches are now social clubs and dens of thieves.
Humankind is looking for hope and unity, and sadly it is not being found in the church. Pro
17:14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
Unity must be established in the church to preserve its work. We see leaders like John
MacArthur being publicly rebuked by Johnathan Leeman in his article posted on the 9marks
website 25/07/2020. This article does not display the working of the Gospel in the life of the
church, giving the world an occasion to blaspheme the Triune God. God through the unity
and love in the church draws unbelievers to the church. Joh 13:35 By this all people will know
that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”. So ultimately, the issue at
hand is causing division in the church. This issue is due to Covid-19 Government officials that
have been ordained by God enforcing mandates that effect biblical worship. The two
opposing positions of the church today are:

Firstly, do we believe and accept through scripture that governments ordained by God have
the authority to prevent biblical forms of worship due to any reason? (I will not restrict this
to Covid-19, as we are speaking of biblical establishments. This essay is not to deny or
accept the views of illness that may or may not be a pandemic).

Secondly, do we believe the Triune God has established Church and Governments, while
leaving Christ the head of all? Therefore, should we put biblical worship over our biblical
command to submit to government

Throughout this paper I desire to show love to both sides, I do not encourage ridiculing of
either side. But I believe that only way there will be unity in this matter is if one side is right
(Romans 15:5-6). These two views are directly in opposition in biblical practice, and effects
how sabbath worship is carried out. Therefore, just has a sensationalist cannot attend a
continuiest churches, the same principle applies. I believe some presuppositions will be held
through this paper and need to be established to have a better understanding of my
position and biblical view.
Presuppositions

I recognize that many may not hold to the fundamental’s truths taught out by the great
reformers before us. To better understand my positions, it must be stated I am a believer in
the 5 Solas. In particularly Sola Scriptura, this mean I uphold the word of God as my final
authority and I refuse to put anything or anyone in the same position or higher (Matt 4:4,
Hebrew 6:13, 2Tim 3:12-17). When saving faith and repentance is given by God to the
believer, he not only breathes life into them but establishes Christ as Lord of their life. (Acts
2;21, Romans 10:13). Lastly the church is commanded to worship in song out loud and not
in the heart only (Eph 5:19). With this established and a better understanding of my view I
will now continue with my position on this matter.

Matters of government

Rom 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority
except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and
Rom 13:2
those who resist will incur judgment.
Rom 13:3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of
the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
Rom 13:4for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does
not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's
wrath on the wrongdoer.
Rom 13:5Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for
the sake of conscience.
Rom 13:6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God,
attending to this very thing.
Rom 13:7Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom
revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
The Matter of biblical submission to government cannot be argued. The words of Christ
echo “render unto Caesar what is Caesars”. To deny this would be to deny the very words of
Christ and contradict my position on sola scriptura. We see in Romans 13 Paul’s
understanding of how to deal with governments and we also see his views of their role. V2
states we should not resist them and if we do, we resist God. Paul continues on in v3 to
teach us what we should not be resisting. Rulers are to not to terror good conduct. If we are
applying good conduct, we should not be fearful of our rulers. Rulers are to watch over the
conduct of the people and inflict justice on the wicked, NOT the worship. I whole heartedly
support the punishment of evildoers from government officials. Now some may state that
someone singing in church is rebellion because the government has said so. To this I would
disagree, Government do not establish ethics, morals and rights. God is all Holy, all perfect
and all righteous, our good conduct and biblical commandments comes from the triune God
and Him alone. Our God has established singing and Worship to bring joy to the believers
and for us to bring joy to Him as we are commanded to make a loud joyful sound unto the
Lord.

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the
1Pe 2:13
emperor as supreme,
or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those
1Pe 2:14
who do good.
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the
1Pe 2:15
ignorance of foolish people.
1Pe 2:16Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but
living as servants of God.
1Pe 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Peter makes the same claim as Paul, v14 “governors are sent by him to punish those who do
evil and to praise those who do good”. I cannot remember the last time the government
praised the church for its good works and its worship of the Christ. Instead, our government
instates God hating laws of abortion, homosexual marriage and now the holt of worship.
Some may choose to believe the government is not against God. But whenever a law or
mandate is enforced that go God against the word of God, it is an open attack on God.
If our governments are seeking what is good, then they ought to be seeking God. The
worship done by the of church pushes the world to God. How can the world believe in or
fear God, when His own chosen people refuse to do so? The church is putting the
government in place of God just as the world has, worshipping the creature rather than the
Creator (Romans 1:25). So, the outcome of the church putting their faith in government just
teaches the world, their faith should be in government officials.

We see in acts 5 Peter the apostles arrested and beaten by the Pharisees (which were
political & governors). When commanded not to spread the gospel anymore Peter boldly
states in v29

Act 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Peter was following the examples set before him. Daniel prayed 3 times a day openly
without fear of government legislation when commanded not to and was cast into the lion’s
den, Elijah challenged king Ahab and his false prophets having a bounty put on his dead,
Jeramiah and Ezekiel. The list goes on and on. The reformers understood what it meant for
Christ to be Lord and so did the puritans.

Lord of Lords

The puritans and the reformers understood what it meant for Christ to be Lord. The early
Church was hunted down and torched for this proclamation. This statement today has
become a nice bumper sticker and a sign to scoffed and laughed out by the world. Because
the church has no idea what this means today. The church today has not even made Jesus
Lord of the building. The psalmist sings of the kingship of Christ, in the Old Testament the
King was established as a human ruler, but still had a Prophet and God above him. We see
the fruit of the actions when the people of Israel followed the king over the prophets and
the Divine king. Chaos, murder, wars, slavery.

Luk 6:46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
This ought to be a sharp rebuke on the church today. I don’t want to dive into matters of
illness or pandemics, because I believe the sovereign God has ordained the faithfulness of
the church to him as Lord and king. The fruit of true kingship is Christ’s blessings as we see
in acts 5 after Peter and the apostles were released the expansion of the Gospel and their
faith and joy growing as a result.

Act 5:38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone,
for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be
Act 5:39
found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
Act 5:40and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to
speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted
Act 5:41
worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease
Act 5:42
teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Act 6:1Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by
the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in
the daily distribution.

Now in the matter of worship as echoed before Jesus announces render unto Caesar what is
Caesar’s...”. But Christ does not end here.

Mar 12:17Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the
things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

“And to God the things that are God’s” Christ wanted his people to submit to his ordained
leaders, but not if it interferes with their submission to God. Government property and
taxes belong to government, but worship in the church does not belong to Caesar it belongs
to God. Jesus Christ is either Lord of all your life or not at all, he will not share His glory. No
one has ever earned or deserved to split glory with Christ. The prophets, apostles, elders
and deacons in the bible and through church history did not share the throne of their lives
with magistrates but bowed the knee to one sovereign ruler.
Vocal Worship

addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
Eph 5:19
making melody to the Lord with your heart,

I agree worship begins in the heart, but the contents of the heart will come out of the
mouth. We are called to vocally sing to one and other with our hearts lifted to God. You
cannot do this form of worship without voice.

Psa 100:1 A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Psa 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his
Psa 100:3
people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psa 100:4Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him;
bless his name!
Psa 100:5For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to
all generations.

Psa 27:6And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will
offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

To make sound, noise and speaking require verbal communication. We as a church are to do
this in unity. It is not determined on government officials as they cannot control the
ordinance of the Breaking of Bread.

Conscience vs Command

Over the past 3 years God has been slowly correcting my understanding of conscience vs
command and secondary doctrines. I believe there is room for grace amongst believes to
have a difference in opinion when it does not affect the person & work of Christ, triune God,
saving grace, authority and inerrancy of scripture and the second coming of Christ. But this
does not mean we ought to have church fellowship with anyone that has weak views on
these matters. It is my belief that those that choose to obey government rather than
worship to Christ has crossed this line.

I believe at salvation God is declared as Lord of your life, there will be none equal, not then
and not after. We must worship God and not Idols.

I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you,
Isa 45:5
though you do not know me,
that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is
Isa 45:6
none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Lordship of Christ cannot be shared and cannot be given over. Governments have no place
to restrict churches from singing or gathering.

Now some may say “we are not restricting you; you can sing if you want”. But at the same
time discouraging singing or proclaiming to the church that the ‘church’ is submitting to the
government in this area. The discouragement of singing in worship is a direct attack on the
commandments of God. This now is no longer a matter of conscience. I believe it is up to
the soul liberty of the believer to choose whether they worship in song or not, but it is also
the role of the believer to encourage and nurture song in worship.

The elder of the Church should hold fast to this rule. It is one thing for a member of the
congregation to choose not to sing under any circumstance, but for the elder to stand by
government legislation in the matters of worship is a gross misuse of church governance.
God has made the elder the under-shepherd, teacher of the Law of God and not a politician.
So, the elder should stand by and do what God has called him to do and guide and lead his
people. If the elders will not maintain God as Lord of his life, how can they expect their flock
too.
Conclusion

1Pe 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

In Conclusion we must obey the command given by peter. Any laps of this command is sin
and even though it is hard it can be done. I can I honour mankind as we are all made in the
image of God, I love the brethren no matter their stance. I will fear God in reverence and
faith above all else, I will Honour my God ordained government, but I will not obey it if it
causes, we dis disobey God. The issue of division in the church is a seems to be a stirring up
of God in his people. I don’t think the reformers would have ever imaged the Church would
divide on matters that they fought for, matters the Old Testament saints fought, matters
the early church strived for and that Jesus Christ came and died for. We have liberty in
Christ to serve him daily as King with no restrictions or threats. So, how do we achieve unity
in the church. We must repent and recognize Christ is still and always will be on this throne.