There are Scriptures for both sides to quote but most church-goers I have spoken with see it as a temporary inconvenience and not worth going to war over. A lot of people have discovered the fun of Skype, Zoom or other streaming/meeting platforms that they might not otherwise have bothered to learn the technology. I’ve participated in fellowship groups during this where I no longer live and have enjoyed catching up with past friends.
For me, the question is whether the church is there for MY benefit or has God placed me somewhere for His glory and His purpose. Secondly, is the church a building where believers meet or are the believers themselves the church and wherever they meet, there is Christ among us.
I’m not unhappy with pastors and churches who want to challenge authorities on this but I believe He is greater than the world and this is an issue where we’re not limited by where we are not allowed to be should this only be temporary.
I think there will be massive resistance should anyone try to call for extreme lockdowns and stay-at-home orders if those behind this dare to try it again. The next big scare won’t work as well as this one.
The whole point of church is personal gatherings. I tried a couple of zoom sunday school classes. Nope.
The only thing Church brings me that I don’t get at home is the gathering together of believers. When that aspect is removed, church becomes utterly irrelevant for me.
I’ve always seen church as performing this function: A place to bless others and be blessed by others - iron sharpening iron, etc. But that requires personal gatherings. And here is the rub even on that. When we are gathered while social distancing and wearing masks, all I am seeing is forced social distancing and the wearing of masks, and my anger grows by the minute. It’s like being in a state run “Christian” church in the old soviet union.
To quote Jordan Peterson: I’m not doin’ it.