Churches have been complicit in idea that worship is ‘non-essential’

(Evidence to justify church closures, July 13).

1. At the heart of the decision by churches to cease public worship lay unbiblical theology. The modern church rejects the Biblical doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of God and His eternal predestination of all things.

Such flows naturally from the acceptance of Arminian/dispensational teaching. I suspect from the content of his letter that Mr McIntyre may be somewhat in sympathy with this viewpoint.

The biblical doctrine of the sovereignty of God set out in the Westminster standards does not teach fatalism, as Mr McIntyre implies. Rather it gives assurance and confidence to the Christian that God is in total control and that as He has promised all things work for His glory and the good of His people.

Arminian/dispensational theology does not have this unshakeable foundation. It is unbiblical therefore it is uncertain, from this uncertainty rises the fear and paranoia resulting in churches closing their doors.

2. It must be remembered that regulations requiring businesses etc to close were on the basis of an assessment, by the government, that the services provided were non essential.

The closure of churches was not on the basis that they posed a risk to public safety but that what they offered – i.e. the public worship of God was non essential and therefore not required.

By closing their doors churches indicated that they concurred with this assessment that the public worship of God was non essential and could be dispensed with until such times as government saw fit to permit its resumption.

3. How far is Mr McIntyre prepared to go in his assertion that the church is required to support the civil authority in the protection of life? Would he say that the apostles were reckless to refuse to obey the authorities and cease preaching Christ even though it exposed them and their hearers to persecution?

Would he say that the Covenanters, like Richard Cameron and Donald Cargill, were reckless and foolish to maintain public worship in the open air even though it cost both men and many of their hearers their lives?

The church aught always to obey God rather than men.

Richard Ferguson, Dollingstown