What's More Essential: Liquor Stores or Church?

Liquor Stores are Open but Church Buildings are Closed! 

Due to COVID-19, places including church buildings have closed. It's been more than 2 months since I've walked into my home church 😣 It's bittersweet because we still have church online on the weekends and in the week for Bible Study and Prayer, which is awesome! But it's not the same as gathering together physically. So, I am definitely still being fed spiritually by the Pastoral Team and Worship Team 🙏🙏🙏🙏 But, my thoughts and feelings about this whole STAY-AT-HOME order for churches are getting to me and I can't continue to suppress my thoughts and feelings anymore. 

 
I live in New Jersey and the governor, Phil Murphy, has decided to close everything that is seen as NON-ESSENTIAL. My first thought is: Isn't church ESSENTIAL? Isn't church essential to people's spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being? I think so and I am sure a lot of people think so too. However, according to Murphy and many other governors, the church isn't seen as essential, so, therefore, we were forced to "close". Murphy even says gatherings of ANY size is prohibited! Like seriously? This order goes against our freedom and right to worship and gather. This is the issue I have and I want to know how many other Christ-followers feel the same. I haven't heard much from my circle of believers on social media and I think that's a problem!

Liquor stores are OPEN, though!

What confuses me is the fact that liquor stores are OPEN! Why are liquor stores open? Better yet, how is liquor essential? or how are liquor stores "essential businesses"? This baffles me! Some people might say "well, liquor stores aren't as big as churches" or some might say "people don't stay long or congregate at liquor stores as they do in the church". Although all these ideas are valid, my issue is about what's important and what's not. Even bars are still open! How can we stay quiet about this? or better yet, how long will we stay quiet about this?

The church IS essential!

The buildings might be closed but the church is still open. The Word is still being preached and taught by the pastors and pastoral team. The worship team is still singing spirit-led songs. The Children's Ministry pastors and staff are still creating engaging lessons and videos to keep our children connected. So, yes, the church is still functioning as it should. To God be the glory 🙌🙌🙌 But enough is enough now! We are ESSENTIAL!

It's time for the church to take a stand!

The church isn't the building; it's the body of believers that gather together in Jesus' name. But we have a God-given right to gather together! I totally understand that COVID-19 is deadly and people are losing their lives, even people that believe in God. Trust me, I get that! I am not downplaying the severity of this disease but I am sharing the severity of denying our right to worship and gather together. 

The Bible says that we must "not forsake (abandon, quit, give up, renounce, etc.) the assembling of ourselves together, as in the manner of some, but exhorting one another" Hebrew 10:25. To assemble means to bring together or meet together for a definite purpose according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. So, could it be that these stay-at-home orders are a violation of our faith or a violation of the Word of God? 🤔🤔🤔 It took me about 2 months to really think about this. It didn't fully dawn on me until now. This creates conflict in a believer like myself because although we want to use wisdom and we want to respect government officials, we also want to demonstrate the power of God by exercising our freedom and faith. We want the world to see that God is bigger than COVID-19 and we are not afraid of any disease or sickness because there is POWER in the name of Jesus.

When we gather, God is in the midst and He shows up!

In Acts 4, we see the power of God when believers gather or assemble together. Peter and John were arrested because they preached and taught about Jesus and healed a man and the rulers and priests at that time didn't like that. They couldn't say anything about the man being healed when they saw him standing there, so they let Peter and John go but they commanded them to not preach or teach in Jesus' name. After P & J left, "they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord..." (Acts 4: 23-24).

Now listen to what happened AFTER they prayed together: "And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:31). WOW!!!! Isn't that powerful and amazing?!?!? God showed up! God showed out! God was in the midst of them.

The same will happen when we decide to gather despite the fear of COVID-19 or the fear of what will happen if we go against "stay-at-home" orders. The truth is WE NEED TO GATHER because there is power in gathering together! There is a shaking that takes place when we gather together! There is boldness when we gather together! God shows up when we gather together! God is in the midst when we gather together! 

After being told to NOT mention Jesus' name, Peter and John answered the chief priests and elders and told them “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19). May we be bold like these men of God! We too must speak about the things that God has done and the things He can do, like heal! We should put away state restrictions and just let God have His way. For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, according to 2nd Corinthians Chapter 3 Verse 17. 

In the prayer of Peter, John, and their companions, they asked God to give them boldness so that they may speak God's word. They continued the prayer by saying this to God: "by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30). God healed then and He still heals today! This is what we should be praying at this time but with one another!

The church is a place of healing.

God has given the church many gifts including the gifts of healing, according to 1st Corinthians 12:9 and 1st Corinthians 12:28. Jesus commanded his twelve disciples to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons" in Matthew 10:8. Jesus wasn't afraid to heal people and we shouldn't be afraid either! Jesus also said in Mark 16:17-18:

"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

This is called The Great Commission! This is a command, an instruction, a duty, given to us by the great Savior that we serve. So, why are we afraid to carry out this commission? Jesus knew it wouldn't be comfortable but that's why He gave us a Comforter and Helper a.k.a the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26). May we trust in Him as we carry out this great commission!

Also, in Acts Chapter 4, the chief priests and the elders said amongst themselves: "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it." They realized that the man was healed through Peter and John and they couldn't do anything about that. Healing is part of the life of a Christ-follower! We are commanded to lay hands on the sick-even those with COVID-19! I understand not every believer has great faith in the area of healing. But this is a sign of a follower of Christ.

Final Thoughts...

God is bigger than COVID-19 (and any other disease!)
God is a healer. (He still heals today!)
God still performs miracles! (He is a miracle-working God!)
May the songs below remind you of these truths. Enjoy!


Be Blessed,
S. Harris

                  Jekalyn Carr "I See Miracles"                                         SINACH "Waymaker"