On November 15 we will examine Romans 13. This is the passage church leaders have abused to justify church closures across the continent. We will go through the passage and see what God requires and then we will apply the principles to the current situation.
I was encouraged recently while reading the memoirs of Edward - or 'praying' - Payson to learn that he did not hesitate to disobey his magistrate. The situation was actually far more serious than our own. The city was expecting an imminent attack from some quarter. The letter doesn't specify. But the city needed to be fortified and all hands were needed. Because of the imminent danger they were in, the magistrate ordered the churches to close so that everyone could help with the fortifications. Edward Payson notes that he and his congregation ignored the command and gathered twice that Sabbath as was their custom.
He didn't seem to need to defend or explain his decisions. He spoke of it almost as if in passing. That struck me. I suspect in those days it was take for granted that Romans 13 does not trump Acts 5. Where there is a conflict we have but one Master. Moreover, we have been plainly told that while Caesar's things belong to him, there are things that belong to God; and those things must not be rendered to Caesar. To give up the first 4 commandments in the name of Romans 13 is (at very least) a massive blunder which we will live to regret.
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