Former Evangelicals Now editor John Benton has warned UK churches not to ‘take their cue’ from overseas, and ‘be bamboozled’ into breaking government guidance over meeting together.
In a blog for the Pastor’s Academy, he laid out seven concerns he has with encouraging congregations to ‘defy the government’.
Christ’s reputation
He ends the blog: ‘I dread to think what it might do to the reputation of Christ if the meeting of a church in contradiction of the government’s guidelines becomes the cause of a new spike of cases. How will that be seen as loving our neighbours? Don’t be bamboozled by people in your congregation who take their cue from America. Think it through for yourself from Scripture.’
en has received reports of churches meeting with scant regard to government guidance, and teaching that the state is over-reaching its authority. Some have said they felt uncomfortable expressing their desire to follow government guidance.
Battling with the court
A California church headed up by John MacArthur hit the headlines in the summer due to its court battles over how and when it could meet. At the time of writing, a court ruling supported that particular church opening for ‘business as usual’.
While churches have wrestled with changing regulations around worship, noting the inconsistencies of how many people can meet in a pub compared to a church building, most have come to some compromise regarding singing, masks and seating.
