Religious Liberty Means COVID-19 Restrictions Cannot Target Churchgoers

Written by Tony Perkins | Fellowship is to Christianity as air is to the body. It is not just a social nicety, something secondary or even frivolous. Followers of Christ are called to a shared life in their Lord in spiritual community. Not to be in communion with others is to see your spiritual life begin to atrophy.

That’s one of the reasons COVID-19 has been difficult for so many. Friendship in Christ is about being able to gather for worship, teaching and prayer. It is the simple act of being with others who claim Jesus as their savior. Not assembling together has disrupted not just the rhythms of ordinary life but the needs of believers’ souls.

Christians across the country have tried many innovative ways to stay connected while honoring the government’s rules about large gatherings. We’ve gotten used to “virtual” church, courtesy of online streaming services. Some churches have gone to “parking lot” worship — driving to their houses of worship to listen to their pastors preach from makeshift podiums and just say a “six-foot hello” to people they know and love.

Churches are also reaching out by opening food banks, providing meals to healthcare providers, and creating hotlines for people feeling depressed or frightened by the danger of COVID-19. Churches like the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama, have even opened up virus testing sites in their church’s parking lot.