The Church’s Response To Covid-19 Restrictions

The Christian church was knocked off balance when Covid struck six years ago. Overall, much of the church was confused and did not know how to respond when governmental authorities throughout the country shut down church services. Of course, that happened here in North Carolina because of former Governor Roy Cooper and his sidekick– Dr. Mandy Cohen.

It is unsurprising that the liberal mainline Protestant denominations and the Catholic church under Pope Francis readily acquiesced. But we saw much passivity even within conservative Christian churches and denominations. Some churches did not return to regular church services for many months; and some refrained from meeting even after the independent Baptists in North Carolina won a decision in federal court to re-open the churches.

A book was recently published by Founders Press on this topic. The author is Timothy Decker who is a Reformed Baptist theologian, former pastor and elder. The title is “A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance To Tyrants”.

The 13th chapter of the book of Romans tended to be used as a bludgeon by various parties within evangelicalism to pressure folks to comply with the government.

The text of the relevant portion of Romans 13 is as follows:

1Every [†]person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except [†]from God, and those which exist have been appointed by God. 2Therefore [†]whoever resists that authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3For rulers are not a cause of fear for [†]good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of that authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; 4for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword in vain, for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of that wrath, but also because of conscience. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

A plain reading of the text would make it seem that we were required to submit passively and refrain from resisting what Roy Cooper and the other tyrants were doing.

However, Timothy Decker argues that would be an erroneous interpretation of this scriptural passage. He bases this on two main factors: first, that it fails to consider the context in which it was written; and second, that it fails to consider the entire counsel contained within the Bible.

Let’s talk about context first. Decker makes the case that Paul was writing to the Romans when Jewish Christians were aggrieved against the Roman governmental authorities because they had been exiled and persecuted. He says that Paul was concerned that these Jewish Christians were getting ready to rebel. Paul’s intent therefore was to prevent private revolutionary acts, according to Decker.

The author calls upon other historical sources and documents to make this case. In addition, he argues that use of the term “subjection” does not necessarily require automatic obedience under all circumstances. He states the term “subjection” instead suggests a default mode of honor and respect.

Paul is making the case that the civil magistrate– i.e., governmental authorities– are divinely sanctioned by God. They derive their authority from God. In fact, Decker makes the case that the magistrate’s duty to “bear the sword” and “bring wrath on the one who practices evil” points to a major failure in the governments’ response to the George Floyd riots that occurred around the same time.

But he argues that we can enlist “lesser magistrates”– for instance, courts, police, sheriffs, other governmental instruments and authorities– to intercede when the greater magistrate becomes tyrannical.

In any case, Decker also argues that the entire counsel of scripture suggests Paul is not suggesting blind, reflexive obedience in all cases. Consider the following:

• Wives being subject to husbands does not scripturally require them to submit to arbitrary or sinful commands;
• Christians are not required to follow arbitrary rules imposed by pastors that do not otherwise comport with scripture or God’s law;
• Scripture teaches it is acceptable to withhold honor from those who are not worthy of it;
• At times, “lesser magistrates”, i.e., other governmental authorities, can rightfully challenge the superior magistrate, and it is acceptable to align with such a lesser magistrate, for instance, if God-given rights are violated (consider Gideon’s revolt, God-instituted “checks and balances”);
• The Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper developed the concept of “spheres of sovereignty”, whereby the state or the magistrate has certain authority or sovereignty, and the church and the family each have their own sovereignty. The premise is that the magistrate cannot violate the sovereignty or the “sphere” of the church and the family;
• The book of Daniel demonstrates how disobedience to authority is sometimes justified if that authority requires disobedience to God;
• The Westminster Confession only requires obedience to lawful exercises of power, implying that exercises of power must be in accord with God’s will (consider the priests’ resistance against King Uzziah);
• Paul himself used the legal channels and structures available to him when he appealed to the Emperor after being unjustly arrested;
• The Apostles in Acts rejected the authorities requiring they no longer preach the gospel;
• King Saul lost his kingdom when he refused to follow God’s instruction, implying that a dereliction of duty justifies action against the magistrate. He also imposed an unjustified restriction and faced a corrective action by his troops;
• Biblical requirements for impartiality and “equal weights and measures” were violated during Covid when churches were treated worse than other institutions and parties that were protected;
• The despotism of Solomon and later his son led to a justifiable public revolution by the northern tribes of Israel;
• Proverbs teaches wisdom and prudence;
• God’s authority is higher than earthly authority.

Decker adds that Romans 13 has more to say to magistrates than it does to citizens.

In any case, the book is verbose and packed with argumentation. It is not a light or easy read. Nonetheless, he makes a powerful case.

The author suggests the reason the Christian church largely failed during Covid is because there has been insufficient emphasis on the teaching of political theology. This is something that churches and seminaries can readily remedy.