A Command is Still A Command

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It has been argued that the command to gather for worship in Hebrews 10:25 is not really a command at all, but something of a suggestion that can be set aside for something more important, say, the civil authority’s desire to end in-person worship. So to proclaim as the Apostles, “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) is not really appropriate since God does not here, nor anywhere else, actually command assembled worship.

Or so goes the argument.

But in Hebrews there is a verb form called hortatory subjunctive, a participle of means. It is used repeatedly as a command, often in a form that reads, “let us . . .” These statements are not options, but actual commands. See 4:1; 4:11; 4:14, 4:16; 6:1; 10:22; 10:23; 12:1; 12:28; 13:15; and 13:15. These are clearly commands, carrying the same weight as imperatives.

Therefore, the command to meet together is contained here:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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 10:24–25, ESV)

If meeting together is not a command, then neither is the first part of the sentence, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” God in Hebrews is commanding the stirring up of love and good works, which includes gathering together. It is unimaginable that this can be seen as anything but an actual command.

Some members of the wider Evangelical church in Canada argued that the civil government has authority over the church in the matter of gathering together. This was widely disseminated through the Gospel Coalition Canada, but other churches, denominations, and fellowships had their own version. Placing an impossible interpretation of Romans 13 ahead of God’s command to assemble, they surrendered to the state in this matter.

Jesus said, “the gates of Hell will not prevail” against His church (Matthew 16:18). But it seems the gates of Hell are doing just fine. lately. Perhaps it is because the church is not pressing the attack!

It would be far simpler for the Canadian church to simply confess the sin of disbanding than to go through the mental gymnastics necessary to make the commands of God into suggestions. We are facing this again soon—this time let’s get it right.

A New Memorial Day

Today, March 1st, is supposed to be a day of new freedoms in Ontario. These freedoms are being “given” by a government and bureaucracy that has no authority to give, let alone remove them, in the first place.

I propose that March first become a day of memory, a day to remember the loss of so much that will not soon be reclaimed.  It should also be a day to remind those who did this to us:

  1. The loss of faith to fear.
  2. The loss of family
  3. The loss of choice due to the loss of bodily autonomy
  4. The loss of life to a treatable disease
  5. The loss of life due to medical interventions that were inappropriate, unnecessary, and politically driven
  6. The loss of life due to needlessly cancelled surgeries
  7. The loss of free expression and thought
  8. The loss of freedom to travel
  9. The loss of freedom to gather with others
  10. The loss of grandparents
  11. The loss of God-given freedoms and liberties
  12. The loss of trust and respect of science
  13. The lost of what remained of trust in journalism
  14. The loss of integrity in law and political process
  15. The loss of community
  16. The loss of employment
  17. The loss of homes
  18. The loss of education and career opportunities
  19. The loss of confidence in critical thinking
  20. The loss of respect of law enforcement
  21. The loss of the church’s obedience to Christ and witness in the community
  22. The loss of the elderly of the children
  23. The loss of children of their elders
  24. The loss of truth
  25. The loss of well-being: mental, physical, spiritual, and social
  26. The loss of hope
  27. The loss of kindness

It should also be a time to remember the gains:

  1. The gain of wealth by a few at the expense of millions
  2. The gain of power and control over the story of the past two years by a tiny minority
  3. The gain of State authority over every detail of life
  4. The gain of the power of lies
  5. The gain of drug abuse
  6. The gain of suicide
  7. The gain of abuse

I intend to mark the names of politicians and bureaucrats who have inflicted this upon the citizens of Ontario without consequence to themselves. I will send this email each March to each one of them every year.