tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post2859778364950430082..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Respecting Caesar. . . Obeying God. . . Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-13163864155705329612020-03-20T08:13:47.482-05:002020-03-20T08:13:47.482-05:00The kingdom of this world is, I believe, acting wi...The kingdom of this world is, I believe, acting within its sphere of competence when it acts in matters of public safety or civil order. If the kingdom of this world sought to close churches because of hostility to Christianity it would be acting in the sphere of authority belonging to the church and outside its competence. But just as Christians owe submission to spiritual authority in the church's realm they also owe temporal obedience to the kingdom of this world when it acts within its sphere of competence, if the act is not clearly sinful. Render unto Christ what is Christ's and unto Caesar what is Caesar's<br /><br />David Gray sent this comment but it would not post. I asked him to resend it but he did not. Even though I disagree, I will post his comment to add to the discussion. <br /><br />Just remember I am a full time pastor in exceptional times and do not deal with comments daily. OPastor Petershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-66107383829699246402020-03-18T19:17:11.020-05:002020-03-18T19:17:11.020-05:00I'm disappointed pastor that you don't wan...I'm disappointed pastor that you don't want to address the need to submit to civil authority given your decision not to post my comment. I think, even if you disagree, that the topic merits addressing. Best wishes.David Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11966977894876326659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-64367159762676547992020-03-18T01:56:51.533-05:002020-03-18T01:56:51.533-05:00Brothers: As the following preface to the order i...Brothers: As the following preface to the order indicates*, it's not a legal option. It's a legal ORDER based on the uncontested recommendation of the CDC and the best epidemiologists in history. Though one may have biblical and legal reason to challenge the order on the grounds that the church is not considered an "essential business" as defined by the order, the time to do so is before or after the three week moratorium, not during it when God's people so need pastoral care, albeit by web-page, podcast, email, phone, and 'snail-mail.' If it's extended much beyond that, it may have to be defied, especially to administer Word and Sacrament to the dying. But, complying with the God-ordained authorities'duty to protect public health and therefore do what it must to mitigate a deadly pandemic is to love our neighbor and to submit to the civil authority God has placed over us. A month without the Supper isn't at all desirable, but there was a time not so long ago when Lutheran laity and pastors received the Supper but once a month. To be sure, it wasn't as often as it should have been, but thank God that His Means of Grace delivers the forgiveness of sins and strengthening of faith through Baptism, Absolution and the preaching of His Word as well, or I wouldn't be serving a congregation which --under normal circumstances--receives the Sacrament weekly today. This pandemic will pass. Helping to mitigate the number of weak and elderly and pastors it takes with it, is, again, to love our neighbor. The doors of the church will again be open because God's people will joyfully come. And we will then be so grateful that our Lord sustained the faith of His baptized through His Word while we eagerly waited to return to His Table. Please pray for us, even as we will pray for you when you are required by law to do what we have been required by law to do. <br /><br />*The following is the text of the legal order from Contra Costa County announced Monday afternoon. Other Bay Area counties – Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Cruz and Marin, and the city of Berkeley – issued the same order:<br />Please read this Order carefully. Violation of or failure to comply with this Order is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both. (California Health and Safety Code § 120295, et seq.)D. Bestulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17695253871060722026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-53681216787023744222020-03-17T17:59:35.620-05:002020-03-17T17:59:35.620-05:00Please support your contention that cancelling ser...Please support your contention that cancelling services is a betrayal. I'm not just a troll who wants to argue. I, too, was disappointed to see how quickly churches would cancel Divine Services without at least trying to be imaginative in finding another option. Rob Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00043965853630628011noreply@blogger.com