Free Presbyterian minister: There is abundant evidence from Scripture and history to justify of church closure on health grounds

(The letter can be read here: ‘Free Presbyterian Church must be in a low state to wait meekly for permission from Stormont to resume public worship’)

He states that public worship is more important than public safety and therefore implies that churches ought to have carried on regardless.

I do not deny the primacy of public worship in the life of the Christian.

There is abundant evidence from Scripture and history, however, which furnishes us with principles justifying this period of closure.

Mr Ferguson neglects the emphasis that Romans 13 places upon subjection to the civil authority.

The church is subject to various regulations relating to insurance, health and safety ect...because protection of life and well being is a Christian virtue. As Christians we believe in the sanctity and protection of human life, which requires us to support the civil authority and to even go beyond regulation in this regard. Is this not loving our neighbour as ourselves?

When the pandemic was approaching its peak it would have been reckless in the extreme for churches to gather, just as it would have been foolish for congregations to gather for evening worship, in the dark of winter, during the Blitz in London or another large city, with or without lighted buildings.

I certainly agree that the church is autonomous and is a separate kingdom within the order established by God. But that does not mean that the church can act outside and consider herself immune to law as the medieval church did, very often to her own disgrace.

Mr Ferguson is promoting a view of God’s sovereignty which denies human responsibility. God is sovereign but humanity is a responsible and an accountable agent, made in the image of God.

Indeed, the fact of human responsibility is the very reason why there will be a Judgement Day. R.C. Sproule expresses this very well in his book ‘What is Reformed Theology?’- “Reformed Theology insists that a real measure of freedom has been assigned to man by the Creator...God is free and we are free. But God is more free than we are”.

Within the bounds that a sovereign God has fashioned for us we must behave sensibly, as rational creatures by going to the doctor, taking medication, undergoing surgery ect... We do not say “God is sovereign, therefore I will take no health precautions, I will not look after myself, I will not even go to the doctor.”

Therefore St Paul taught us that the body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, thereby arguing that the temple needs care and attention.

This is not the first occasion in church history when churches closed their doors in the face of threats to society. For example when the Black Death was raging restrictions were placed on worship for the protection of life.

We should be grateful this first wave has been mercifully brought under control. Christians ought to return to church with thanksgiving and humility, taking all the sensible precautions for the health and well being of our people.

Rev Peter McIntyre, Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church

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