An Open Letter to Dr. Kevin Schaal President of the FBFI

An Open Letter to Dr. Kevin Schaal, President of the FBFI, concerning his blog post, “On Worship, Freedom, and Love” at the Proclaim and Defend blog.

I have a question.  Why do you hope that “wisdom and governmental guidelines coincide” concerning when a church should again gather together in person?  If this wisdom can be acted upon truly independent of outside guidelines as you stated elsewhere in your article, what does it matter?  (By the way, what expectation should the church have that it and the world will be in agreement about anything especially since our worldviews are supposed to be different?)

At a time when religious liberty is under attack in the United States, one should not be opining about “foolish” defenses of liberty and hopeful coincidence of church wisdom and governmental guidelines.  While some who might be perceived as leaders among us (due mainly to their pastoring a “successful” church) increasingly sound like Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s urging a fleeing in the face of danger, there are a handful of now seemingly despised pastors who are willing to stand their ground for the defense of the faith including that a church must gather in person.

Nothing done for God is foolish

My Bible teaches me about men who defended a field of lentils (2 Samuel 23:11-12), of men who risked their lives just to retrieve water from Bethlehem’s spring (2 Samuel 23:15-16).  Even Paul informs us of Epaphroditus who hazarded his life for the sole purpose of meeting Paul’s material needs with gifts from Philippi (Philippians 2:25-30).  I must admit that I do not recognize this spirit of a “foolish” defense of liberty of which you speak.  Nothing done for God is foolish.  These passages do not just make “good preaching;” they make good practice.

We must allow God the opportunity to be a difference maker

My Bible teaches me that God makes a difference in the lives of those who trust in him. (i.e. Psalm 124:1-5)  While an expression for a hopeful coincidence of wisdom and guidance may be rooted in a desire for a lack of conflict (that is a good thing), it unintentionally would deprive the church of an undeniable testimony to the world that faith in God makes a difference.  As I urged my church in person in our building yesterday, we cannot expect people to want our God when we act in crisis just like they do.  We must allow God the opportunity to be a difference maker.  We surely MUST not tempt God with foolish behavior, but neither should we deprive Him of a witness to His power and glory in such a time.  “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9  Where in your counsel to others would God have that opportunity?