“The Local Church and Covid-19”

Dear Believer in Christ and member of The Bridge Church

1) Statement (video time line 15:30)
It is right for us to desire to corporately gather for worship.

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10: 19-25

2) Statement (video time line 22:3)
It is right for us to be concerned about and for the welfare of other people.

Loving Others:

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13: 34-35

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot^[a] love God whom he has not seen. ²¹ And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 John 4: 19-21

¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16: 14

3) Statement (video time line 26:44)
It is not right for christians to live in abject fear.

Caution and Concern

⁷ for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1: 7

Fearless Spirit with God

¹⁰ fear not, for I am with you;

    be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41: 10

4) Statement (video time line 30:11)
It is not right for the State or the Government to exceed it’s biblical mandate in dealing with the church.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ² Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Romans 13: 1-2

Last Point (video time line 34:02)

It is right for us to have disagreements on matters of conscience and methodology, but not right for us to stir dissension or to treat the body of Christ harshly in doing so.