I believe churches will face a public outrage and push back if they use their protected status under the separation clause to defy public health interests. Churches should comply with public health recommendations. Our church is stubbornly going on with services despite the governor urging not to. Unfortunately, it all boils down to money. The budget cant stand the plate not passing for several weeks. That reveals a disturbing hypocrisy. We preach physical responsibility and stewardship, but cant cant survive canceling a few services. Sad state of affairs.
The people who give should give secretly by mail or some other ways rather than to be seen in public. And same way with prayers. These things done in secret, well the only reward can then come from God, and that is worth something a lot more.
Matthew 6
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
