covid-19 updates
Friday, May 21
Moving forward, masks and distancing will be optional for all of our gatherings and events, but we would ask you to still bring a mask with you as a common courtesy for interacting with anyone not yet ready to be maskless.
For the last year, we've been asking three questions as we evaluate how to apply governmental and public health policies in our church:
Based on things like declining case counts, new CDC guidelines for the vaccinated, high availability of the vaccine, various food and retail stores relaxing restrictions, and Washington State projections for relaxing restrictions, we feel that with basic common sense and courtesy in place, it is reasonably safe for us to meet together without requiring masks at all times. We also believe that the culture around us has changed enough that this policy will not do needless damage to the name and reputation of Jesus.
The question of obedience has always been a difficult and complex one. Technically, mask restrictions have only been lifted by our local, state, and federal governing agencies for people fully vaccinated (although Governor Inslee has projected a June 30 statewide reprieve for all). But given all the information, plus the fact that our church has done an excellent job demonstrating selfless care and courtesy toward one another, the elders and pastors of the church are in unanimous agreement that we are no longer bound by either conscience or Scripture to require masks at our gatherings. We recognize that your conscience may not yet give you that freedom individually, and we are confident that our church will continue to be respectful of differing positions on these issues as it has all year long.
As is always the case, if you have questions or concerns about this, please don't hesitate to get in touch with a pastor or elder.
For the last year, we've been asking three questions as we evaluate how to apply governmental and public health policies in our church:
- What is right? This is a question about our obedience.
- What is safe? This is a question about our safety.
- What is wise? This is a question about our witness.
Based on things like declining case counts, new CDC guidelines for the vaccinated, high availability of the vaccine, various food and retail stores relaxing restrictions, and Washington State projections for relaxing restrictions, we feel that with basic common sense and courtesy in place, it is reasonably safe for us to meet together without requiring masks at all times. We also believe that the culture around us has changed enough that this policy will not do needless damage to the name and reputation of Jesus.
The question of obedience has always been a difficult and complex one. Technically, mask restrictions have only been lifted by our local, state, and federal governing agencies for people fully vaccinated (although Governor Inslee has projected a June 30 statewide reprieve for all). But given all the information, plus the fact that our church has done an excellent job demonstrating selfless care and courtesy toward one another, the elders and pastors of the church are in unanimous agreement that we are no longer bound by either conscience or Scripture to require masks at our gatherings. We recognize that your conscience may not yet give you that freedom individually, and we are confident that our church will continue to be respectful of differing positions on these issues as it has all year long.
As is always the case, if you have questions or concerns about this, please don't hesitate to get in touch with a pastor or elder.
Thursday, December 17
A month ago, we made the decision to temporarily remove corporate singing from our worship gatherings as our government was requesting. We did so to show solidarity with those in our communities who are suffering, and also to remind ourselves that worship is more than singing, leaving us many options for expressing and demonstrating God’s glory.
The original ban on singing was meant to expire December 15, but, as expected, has been extended into the new year with no real indication that it will end as scheduled.
We now face, again, the question of whether to sing or not. This is not a simple question, because Scripture clearly commands us to sing together (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19, Psalm 149) and to obey our governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17). Back in May, we offered three guiding questions for our decision-making in the church:
Those questions have led us to the following decisions regarding whether we will sing, and also how we will sing and our posture in doing so.
One final note is necessary: this decision is not intended to bind your conscience (meaning we do not think this is the only way to understand and apply Scripture in this case). You may have drawn different conclusions in the questions of safety and wisdom, which could lead you to a different way of weighing Scripture with regard to what is right. We simply request that you strongly consider both the short- and long-term effects of avoiding the gathering, both for your spiritual vitality and the vitality of the church.
As we come together this Sunday to sing of the glorious truth of the gospel and proclaim the radiance of Jesus, God-with-us, our hope and prayer is that your souls would be encouraged, your faith invigorated, your joy quickened, and your hope fortified in Christ.
The original ban on singing was meant to expire December 15, but, as expected, has been extended into the new year with no real indication that it will end as scheduled.
We now face, again, the question of whether to sing or not. This is not a simple question, because Scripture clearly commands us to sing together (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19, Psalm 149) and to obey our governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17). Back in May, we offered three guiding questions for our decision-making in the church:
- What is right? This is a question about our obedience.
- What is safe? This is a question about our safety.
- What is wise? This is a question about our witness.
Those questions have led us to the following decisions regarding whether we will sing, and also how we will sing and our posture in doing so.
- What is right?
At this time, we believe that the commands in Scripture to sing together outweigh the commands to obey our government. Singing is one of the primary ways we encourage one another, admonish one another, and demonstrate our unity in the gospel. Through song, we both express and strengthen our affection for Christ! It is no wonder that Jesus commands this. - What is safe?
We are convinced that wearing masks and socially distancing as we have been is a sufficient safeguard against the spread of COVID when we are gathered. Our gathering space is large and we are always well below the required capacity limits. We will continue to be diligent in masking while singing. - What is wise?
The posture we take within this decision is of utmost importance. As we sing, it need not be an act of shaking our fists defiantly at our government, but instead ought to be a humble act of obedience to Christ and his Word. This is not something for us to boast in; rather, we boast “in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14).
Titus 3:1-2 states this posture well:
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”
Most of you are doing a wonderful job at this, and we commend you for your humility, gentleness, and persistence in placing your hope in Jesus! May you find strength in Christ to endure in this, because avoiding quarreling and showing simple courtesy to strangers right now is a strong witness to the hope of Christ within you.
One final note is necessary: this decision is not intended to bind your conscience (meaning we do not think this is the only way to understand and apply Scripture in this case). You may have drawn different conclusions in the questions of safety and wisdom, which could lead you to a different way of weighing Scripture with regard to what is right. We simply request that you strongly consider both the short- and long-term effects of avoiding the gathering, both for your spiritual vitality and the vitality of the church.
As we come together this Sunday to sing of the glorious truth of the gospel and proclaim the radiance of Jesus, God-with-us, our hope and prayer is that your souls would be encouraged, your faith invigorated, your joy quickened, and your hope fortified in Christ.
Wednesday, November 18
By now, most of you are aware of the new restrictions the governor has imposed on our state due to the spike in COVID-19 cases. All areas of life are seemingly impacted by these, including church. While we are still able to gather at our current capacity, we are being told not to sing (even with masks) so as not to spread contagious droplets into the air.
We are not treating this prohibition lightly. The elders and pastors have been praying and wrestling over our response to this restriction. Singing together as a church is clearly an instruction in Scripture and an important part of how we worship Jesus in our gatherings. This is not something we treat casually or are comfortable forsaking. We are also aware of concern this creates for infringement upon religious liberties.
Although the Bible clearly instructs us to follow and to submit to government, we are not convinced that this falls into a valid place of government reach. And yet determining what to do in this area gives opportunity to consider more than just compliance or non-compliance. As followers of Jesus, we are called to lay down our lives, to give up our rights, and to die to ourselves for the sake of Christ and his kingdom. We believe this is an appropriate time to do that, and so we have determined we will abide by the restriction for the next four weeks, with thought towards the following.
We are called to love God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). In not singing together for a time, we have an opportunity to consider and remember the health and livelihood of our neighbors. Right now, due to restrictions, our neighbors are losing jobs and closing businesses. People are getting sick and the long-term implications of this illness are still unknown. We want to show love to them by standing in solidarity with them rather than thinking only of ourselves.
We hope this time will also draw our attention to the challenges and limitations that other Christians around the world face on a regular basis when they seek to worship God. Limitations that feel uncomfortable to us can remind us of the majority of believers around the world who struggle to worship and gather as they would desire, not merely during unique times or circumstances, but as a general way of life.
Additionally, while to many worship has become synonymous with singing, we know from Scripture that it is much more than that. In fact, we gather for a “worship service.” We are called to do all things to the glory of God, and there are many ways that we can and ought to direct our thoughts and affections toward Christ when we gather together. Deciding to lay down our right to sing gives us an opportunity to stretch our thoughts and attitudes towards worship. For the next four weeks, we will be reminded that worship is more than a song as we gather together and express God’s glory in new and unique ways. We will still utilize music in our gathering, but we will participate as a congregation in ways other than singing together.
Philippians 2 calls us to:
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
This is our heart as well. This call is rooted in the example and life of Jesus, as we are reminded to:
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As our services will look and feel different for a brief time beginning this Sunday, our hope is that we can use this time to follow Christ’s example of humility, while we see him “exalted above all names to the glory of God the Father.” We would encourage you to prayerfully prepare yourself to choose to make the most of our time together.
Again, please understand that as your elders and pastors we do not take these things lightly and we recognize the uncertainty and frustrations of these times. You may have additional questions, clarifications, or just heaviness you need to process through, and we are more than glad to do that together. Please also understand that other churches in our area will have different responses than us. Our conclusion is not the only valid Biblical one.
Let us continue to remember and remind one another that the grave is still empty, that Jesus is still on the throne, and that Jesus is building his church, here and around the world.
We are not treating this prohibition lightly. The elders and pastors have been praying and wrestling over our response to this restriction. Singing together as a church is clearly an instruction in Scripture and an important part of how we worship Jesus in our gatherings. This is not something we treat casually or are comfortable forsaking. We are also aware of concern this creates for infringement upon religious liberties.
Although the Bible clearly instructs us to follow and to submit to government, we are not convinced that this falls into a valid place of government reach. And yet determining what to do in this area gives opportunity to consider more than just compliance or non-compliance. As followers of Jesus, we are called to lay down our lives, to give up our rights, and to die to ourselves for the sake of Christ and his kingdom. We believe this is an appropriate time to do that, and so we have determined we will abide by the restriction for the next four weeks, with thought towards the following.
We are called to love God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). In not singing together for a time, we have an opportunity to consider and remember the health and livelihood of our neighbors. Right now, due to restrictions, our neighbors are losing jobs and closing businesses. People are getting sick and the long-term implications of this illness are still unknown. We want to show love to them by standing in solidarity with them rather than thinking only of ourselves.
We hope this time will also draw our attention to the challenges and limitations that other Christians around the world face on a regular basis when they seek to worship God. Limitations that feel uncomfortable to us can remind us of the majority of believers around the world who struggle to worship and gather as they would desire, not merely during unique times or circumstances, but as a general way of life.
Additionally, while to many worship has become synonymous with singing, we know from Scripture that it is much more than that. In fact, we gather for a “worship service.” We are called to do all things to the glory of God, and there are many ways that we can and ought to direct our thoughts and affections toward Christ when we gather together. Deciding to lay down our right to sing gives us an opportunity to stretch our thoughts and attitudes towards worship. For the next four weeks, we will be reminded that worship is more than a song as we gather together and express God’s glory in new and unique ways. We will still utilize music in our gathering, but we will participate as a congregation in ways other than singing together.
Philippians 2 calls us to:
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
This is our heart as well. This call is rooted in the example and life of Jesus, as we are reminded to:
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As our services will look and feel different for a brief time beginning this Sunday, our hope is that we can use this time to follow Christ’s example of humility, while we see him “exalted above all names to the glory of God the Father.” We would encourage you to prayerfully prepare yourself to choose to make the most of our time together.
Again, please understand that as your elders and pastors we do not take these things lightly and we recognize the uncertainty and frustrations of these times. You may have additional questions, clarifications, or just heaviness you need to process through, and we are more than glad to do that together. Please also understand that other churches in our area will have different responses than us. Our conclusion is not the only valid Biblical one.
Let us continue to remember and remind one another that the grave is still empty, that Jesus is still on the throne, and that Jesus is building his church, here and around the world.
Friday, October 16
This week, we’ve taken some time to update you on various things happening (and not happening) in our church. You might not learn much, but it’s important to our pastors that you know what kinds of things we’re thinking about, discussing, and planning, even if we’re not able to see much forward motion because of the state of our world.
As always, we encourage questions and input. Please get in touch with us if there's anything in this update (or missing in this update) that you'd like to discuss!
Thank you
Just as your year has been tumultuous for a variety of reasons (understatement?!), this has been a difficult chapter of ministry for our church. We greatly appreciate your commitment to our church, your persistence in difficult ministry environments, your frequent encouraging words and support, and your selfless love for one another. It is a joy and privilege to serve Christ and proclaim the gospel with you. Thank you.
Sunday Gatherings
In an effort to continue balancing our calling and mission with safety and government compliance, we are meeting in person on Sunday mornings, but with masks and social distancing in place. We’re currently providing a Livestream of our services for those who are immuno-compromised or whose consciences require them to stay home. We encourage anyone who is ill with COVID or any symptoms to stay home because, ultimately, we don’t want to spread any of our illnesses! Safety is still a priority when we are gathering, and if you have any safety concerns, either from anticipation or observation, please contact us immediately.
Our desire is to see people return to normal, healthy involvement in the life of the church. We ask that you lay down personal comfort, preferences, and political views about masking and social distancing in order to honor your commitment to your brothers and sisters in Christ and to see to their discipleship and encouragement as they, and you, live lives devoted first and foremost to Jesus.
For those who are immuno-compromised, we understand your desire to remain isolated and are striving to find creative ways to ensure that you are well cared for in this time, and that we continue, as a church, to see the liberating power of the gospel formed in you and advancing in our communities.
Life Groups
One of the things COVID has revealed is how much we need one another! In a time when gatherings of all kinds are restricted, including church, life groups have become vital. A life group may be your only constant and regular connection to others in our church right now. If you’d like to connect with a life group, you can see the options here.
If those don’t work for you, reach out to us so we can discuss—groups are always in some amount of flux.
In terms of safety, most of our groups are meeting under somewhat restricted circumstances, such as not sharing a meal together and attempting to stay 6 feet apart while gathered. For specific information, you can contact us or any group leader for details.
Youth
We are ready to resume ministry to our middle and high school students! This will be a Bible-study format, held every Wednesday evening (6-8pm) with alternating weeks for guys and gals. The young ladies will start next Wednesday, October 21 (and will maintain a schedule of 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month) at the Olson’s house. The young men will start the following week (and maintain a schedule of 2nd and 4th Wednesdays), location TBD. Families with students this age will be contacted more specifically about this soon, but don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we miss you!
Classes/Bible Studies
We are currently offering a class called How To Read Your Bible on Thursday evenings, which is nearly halfway done and going great! This is something we’ll likely offer again in the future.
We’re also offering a Women’s Bible Study on Saturday mornings. This group is planning to continue after they finish their current study on Romans 8, so there will be a natural onboarding point in the near future. Our smaller groups like this at the church meet without masks, but still socially distanced, in larger-than-necessary rooms.
Bridge Kids
Sadly, we are still unable to provide Bridge Kids ministries during Sunday gatherings right now. We are working to figure out how best to resource parents for discipling their children well during this time (and your iput is welcome and encouraged!).
Prayer
There are many reasons prayer is vital in our church right now, and we’ll speak more to this in the coming weeks. For now, please know you are invited and highly encouraged to come pray Sundays at 9am in the front office with Chris Weishaar. We’re also going to resume our every-other-month format for Elder-led Prayer, but outside in our parking lot as Tailgate Prayer (when dry) or under the tents (when wet), starting next Monday at 6pm!
Foster Support
Before COVID, our fostering support ministry was run in close partnership with an organization called Fostering Together. Unfortunately, that organization has been disbanded in a government effort to move fostering licensing and training to an online format. This means that our access to foster families in our area has been greatly diminished. At this point, nearly all of our efforts are completely stalled out, save for some one-on-one contact with families that used to attend our support group. We are currently working on figuring out how best to support fostering in our area, particularly in the area of schooling, and will update you when we know more (and your input and involvement is welcome!).
As always, we encourage questions and input. Please get in touch with us if there's anything in this update (or missing in this update) that you'd like to discuss!
Thank you
Just as your year has been tumultuous for a variety of reasons (understatement?!), this has been a difficult chapter of ministry for our church. We greatly appreciate your commitment to our church, your persistence in difficult ministry environments, your frequent encouraging words and support, and your selfless love for one another. It is a joy and privilege to serve Christ and proclaim the gospel with you. Thank you.
Sunday Gatherings
In an effort to continue balancing our calling and mission with safety and government compliance, we are meeting in person on Sunday mornings, but with masks and social distancing in place. We’re currently providing a Livestream of our services for those who are immuno-compromised or whose consciences require them to stay home. We encourage anyone who is ill with COVID or any symptoms to stay home because, ultimately, we don’t want to spread any of our illnesses! Safety is still a priority when we are gathering, and if you have any safety concerns, either from anticipation or observation, please contact us immediately.
Our desire is to see people return to normal, healthy involvement in the life of the church. We ask that you lay down personal comfort, preferences, and political views about masking and social distancing in order to honor your commitment to your brothers and sisters in Christ and to see to their discipleship and encouragement as they, and you, live lives devoted first and foremost to Jesus.
For those who are immuno-compromised, we understand your desire to remain isolated and are striving to find creative ways to ensure that you are well cared for in this time, and that we continue, as a church, to see the liberating power of the gospel formed in you and advancing in our communities.
Life Groups
One of the things COVID has revealed is how much we need one another! In a time when gatherings of all kinds are restricted, including church, life groups have become vital. A life group may be your only constant and regular connection to others in our church right now. If you’d like to connect with a life group, you can see the options here.
If those don’t work for you, reach out to us so we can discuss—groups are always in some amount of flux.
In terms of safety, most of our groups are meeting under somewhat restricted circumstances, such as not sharing a meal together and attempting to stay 6 feet apart while gathered. For specific information, you can contact us or any group leader for details.
Youth
We are ready to resume ministry to our middle and high school students! This will be a Bible-study format, held every Wednesday evening (6-8pm) with alternating weeks for guys and gals. The young ladies will start next Wednesday, October 21 (and will maintain a schedule of 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month) at the Olson’s house. The young men will start the following week (and maintain a schedule of 2nd and 4th Wednesdays), location TBD. Families with students this age will be contacted more specifically about this soon, but don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we miss you!
Classes/Bible Studies
We are currently offering a class called How To Read Your Bible on Thursday evenings, which is nearly halfway done and going great! This is something we’ll likely offer again in the future.
We’re also offering a Women’s Bible Study on Saturday mornings. This group is planning to continue after they finish their current study on Romans 8, so there will be a natural onboarding point in the near future. Our smaller groups like this at the church meet without masks, but still socially distanced, in larger-than-necessary rooms.
Bridge Kids
Sadly, we are still unable to provide Bridge Kids ministries during Sunday gatherings right now. We are working to figure out how best to resource parents for discipling their children well during this time (and your iput is welcome and encouraged!).
Prayer
There are many reasons prayer is vital in our church right now, and we’ll speak more to this in the coming weeks. For now, please know you are invited and highly encouraged to come pray Sundays at 9am in the front office with Chris Weishaar. We’re also going to resume our every-other-month format for Elder-led Prayer, but outside in our parking lot as Tailgate Prayer (when dry) or under the tents (when wet), starting next Monday at 6pm!
Foster Support
Before COVID, our fostering support ministry was run in close partnership with an organization called Fostering Together. Unfortunately, that organization has been disbanded in a government effort to move fostering licensing and training to an online format. This means that our access to foster families in our area has been greatly diminished. At this point, nearly all of our efforts are completely stalled out, save for some one-on-one contact with families that used to attend our support group. We are currently working on figuring out how best to support fostering in our area, particularly in the area of schooling, and will update you when we know more (and your input and involvement is welcome!).
Friday, May 29
To our brothers and sisters in Christ at The Bridge Church,
We hope and pray that this letter finds you experiencing the peace of God which transcends all understanding. We trust ultimately in Jesus, our Savior, who “suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). And we have a living hope, knowing that “he has caused us to be born again…to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:3-4). May those words be real, impactful, and meaningful to you in this time.
And yet Jesus himself told us to expect suffering. We find ourselves in a situation riddled with suffering, suffering that cannot simply be removed, but only traded for different forms. On the one side, we have a virus that has devastated many families and communities surrounding us. On the other side, we have restrictions that have also devastated many families and communities surrounding us. There are issues dividing us as a people everywhere we turn, and the church is not immune to those kinds of disagreements.
It has broken our hearts not to be able to be together as a church for so many weeks. Gathering together around God’s Word to proclaim and be reminded of the good news of our redemption and resultant freedom in Christ is vital to our flourishing as followers of Jesus, both in our inner spiritual lives and in our outward missional lives. We are meant to labor for the gospel in our communities as a body, and without our weekly gatherings, it is easy to feel like a severed limb. Our longing to gather right now is a beautiful and right echo of our longing to be together with all of God’s people around the throne of Jesus, which he has promised us will come to pass
.
And so the question is posed: do we gather right now? This letter is our answer to that complex question.
Understandably, ambiguity in the reasons for, and lifting of, restrictions has fostered a growing mistrust in some people toward the decision-makers in our community. The initial stated purpose of the restrictions was to slow the rate of infection or “flatten the curve” in order to protect our health system from being overwhelmed. Even though this goal has seemingly been accomplished, various experts recommended extending the orders. Every time the goal has been moved or a restriction extended, it has been characterized as an effort to best “love our neighbor.” Sadly, we are beginning to see that loving our neighbor this way is resulting in the unintentional forsaking of many other "neighbors”. There may be a decreasing number of people suffering directly from COVID-19, but there is an increasing number of people suffering indirectly from it. The impact of unintended consequences like depression, addiction, domestic violence, and poverty will last longer than a season, perhaps even a lifetime.
For this, and many other reasons, we are all eager to see our economy reopened, our community released, and our gatherings resumed. This holds particularly true as we think of gathering as a church. Without doubt, all of us recognize the importance of gathering for worship and the role it plays in our spiritual and emotional health. And though we neither fear the approval of men nor the infection by virus, we do fear God. As elders, we are accountable to God for how we live and how we guide this flock. At times, this requires us to shepherd our members by making judgments that are sometimes uncomfortable, often unpopular, and, on rare occasions, unlawful. Relative to the decision to gather, the elders are praying together, counseling with other pastors, and studying passages such as Romans 13.1-7, 1 Peter 2:11-17, and Hebrews 10:23-25 (all of which we’ll be covering this coming Sunday) to help our decision-making:
This passage, and others like it, remind us of the weight and cost of civil disobedience. Such decisions not only impact our relationship with men, but also with God himself. Because there are many instances in Scripture where believers opposed government, we know that the authority of God-ordained government is not unlimited, and that submission to these authorities is not intended to be without exception. The elders and pastors do believe it is possible to “honor” the governor and civilly disobey. We are prayerfully considering when it will be permissible and prudent to do so. (Please note that despite President Trump’s remarks on May 22, the only actual legal orders in place are from Governor Inslee.)
It must also be noted that we believe in Scripture alone, meaning, the Bible is our supreme authority. But we do not believe in Scripture only. We must, therefore, seriously consider issues of health and safety in so far as we can understand them with the information available. Simply, even if a decision is biblically warranted, we must also consider whether it is wise in the spirit of 1 Corinthians 10.23. We are, therefore, regularly asking questions like:
We understand that the elders may be required to make a judgment that involves disobedience to our government’s order as written. The elders do not feel compelled to make that decision at this time. We understand that this will be received as encouraging to some and disappointing to others. Please know that we take our responsibility very seriously. We are reluctant, therefore, to unintentionally bind anyone’s conscience by making a hasty decision of this nature. As the elders continue to wrestle through what the Bible teaches about our relationship to God and government, we encourage our members to engage in personal study, prayer, and counsel as you make decisions for you and your family.
Regardless of your personal viewpoint, the elders desire everyone to be patient and gracious in their responses to the governing authorities as well as those people we disagree with. That does not mean we must affirm every opinion held or decision made. It does mean that we must be discerning about how, or even if, we share our disagreement. When we disagree, and choose to express it in person or online, we want to encourage everyone to do so in a way that is honorable and loving, edifying and glorifying, both publicly and privately. In addition to spending time studying Romans 13, we would all do well to consider what Romans 14 requires of us in terms of forbearance towards others.
The elders believe, all conspiracy theories aside, that most of the governing authorities in the U.S. desire churches to be able to return to gathering. As of today, we believe these are reasonable restrictions and that any delay in lifting them is driven primarily by a good desire to preserve life. We believe we should defer as long as we can to these restrictions relative to our public gathering, in so far as they remain equitable and justifiable. Even if we disagree with the timeline or with the strategy of our government, the elders believe it would be difficult to make a case that we are being forced to choose between obeying God or man at this time, even with considering Hebrews 10:23-25, which we’ll discuss this weekend. We recognize that a day for this kind of choice may come sooner than later. But, as one elder at a nearby church recently said: When I picture myself standing before the judgment seat of God needing to explain why I did not submit myself to the governing authorities, I do not want to stand on a weak or questionable argument.
Thankfully, the governor released a statement yesterday easing restrictions on religious gatherings. In response to that, we will be holding a limited outdoor service on the church property this Sunday, May 31 that will also be live-streamed. Details will be released as soon as possible (you will be required to register to attend in-person). We are also reevaluating our plans for rephasing into full-scale gatherings. We realize there will be mixed reactions to this. Some of you will be opposed to gathering, saying it is too soon. Some will simply be excited for the opportunity, while others will still be vexed at any kind of restrictions.
At this point, we feel it is right, safe, and wise for us to meet this Sunday outdoors with a limited number of people and strict guidelines in place. As each day unfolds, however, the elders will prayerfully evaluate what is best next and, guided by God’s Spirit through His Word, make our judgments regarding when our family resumes gathering in less restricted ways.
Meanwhile, the elders encourage everyone to make their own decisions as we navigate a time none of us would have chosen to live through. As J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in The Fellowship of the Ring: “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Decide to rejoice always. Decide to pray without ceasing. Decide to give thanks in all circumstances. Decide to set your mind on the things above knowing that the “same kinds of suffering” are being experienced by our brotherhood around the world. After Jesus warned us of suffering, he said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” Decide to believe that soon, the God of all grace, will himself restore us all.
Grace,
The elders and pastors of The Bridge Church
We hope and pray that this letter finds you experiencing the peace of God which transcends all understanding. We trust ultimately in Jesus, our Savior, who “suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). And we have a living hope, knowing that “he has caused us to be born again…to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:3-4). May those words be real, impactful, and meaningful to you in this time.
And yet Jesus himself told us to expect suffering. We find ourselves in a situation riddled with suffering, suffering that cannot simply be removed, but only traded for different forms. On the one side, we have a virus that has devastated many families and communities surrounding us. On the other side, we have restrictions that have also devastated many families and communities surrounding us. There are issues dividing us as a people everywhere we turn, and the church is not immune to those kinds of disagreements.
It has broken our hearts not to be able to be together as a church for so many weeks. Gathering together around God’s Word to proclaim and be reminded of the good news of our redemption and resultant freedom in Christ is vital to our flourishing as followers of Jesus, both in our inner spiritual lives and in our outward missional lives. We are meant to labor for the gospel in our communities as a body, and without our weekly gatherings, it is easy to feel like a severed limb. Our longing to gather right now is a beautiful and right echo of our longing to be together with all of God’s people around the throne of Jesus, which he has promised us will come to pass
.
And so the question is posed: do we gather right now? This letter is our answer to that complex question.
Understandably, ambiguity in the reasons for, and lifting of, restrictions has fostered a growing mistrust in some people toward the decision-makers in our community. The initial stated purpose of the restrictions was to slow the rate of infection or “flatten the curve” in order to protect our health system from being overwhelmed. Even though this goal has seemingly been accomplished, various experts recommended extending the orders. Every time the goal has been moved or a restriction extended, it has been characterized as an effort to best “love our neighbor.” Sadly, we are beginning to see that loving our neighbor this way is resulting in the unintentional forsaking of many other "neighbors”. There may be a decreasing number of people suffering directly from COVID-19, but there is an increasing number of people suffering indirectly from it. The impact of unintended consequences like depression, addiction, domestic violence, and poverty will last longer than a season, perhaps even a lifetime.
For this, and many other reasons, we are all eager to see our economy reopened, our community released, and our gatherings resumed. This holds particularly true as we think of gathering as a church. Without doubt, all of us recognize the importance of gathering for worship and the role it plays in our spiritual and emotional health. And though we neither fear the approval of men nor the infection by virus, we do fear God. As elders, we are accountable to God for how we live and how we guide this flock. At times, this requires us to shepherd our members by making judgments that are sometimes uncomfortable, often unpopular, and, on rare occasions, unlawful. Relative to the decision to gather, the elders are praying together, counseling with other pastors, and studying passages such as Romans 13.1-7, 1 Peter 2:11-17, and Hebrews 10:23-25 (all of which we’ll be covering this coming Sunday) to help our decision-making:
Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.
This passage, and others like it, remind us of the weight and cost of civil disobedience. Such decisions not only impact our relationship with men, but also with God himself. Because there are many instances in Scripture where believers opposed government, we know that the authority of God-ordained government is not unlimited, and that submission to these authorities is not intended to be without exception. The elders and pastors do believe it is possible to “honor” the governor and civilly disobey. We are prayerfully considering when it will be permissible and prudent to do so. (Please note that despite President Trump’s remarks on May 22, the only actual legal orders in place are from Governor Inslee.)
It must also be noted that we believe in Scripture alone, meaning, the Bible is our supreme authority. But we do not believe in Scripture only. We must, therefore, seriously consider issues of health and safety in so far as we can understand them with the information available. Simply, even if a decision is biblically warranted, we must also consider whether it is wise in the spirit of 1 Corinthians 10.23. We are, therefore, regularly asking questions like:
- What is right? This is a question about our obedience.
- What is safe? This is a question about our safety.
- What is wise? This is a question about our witness.
We understand that the elders may be required to make a judgment that involves disobedience to our government’s order as written. The elders do not feel compelled to make that decision at this time. We understand that this will be received as encouraging to some and disappointing to others. Please know that we take our responsibility very seriously. We are reluctant, therefore, to unintentionally bind anyone’s conscience by making a hasty decision of this nature. As the elders continue to wrestle through what the Bible teaches about our relationship to God and government, we encourage our members to engage in personal study, prayer, and counsel as you make decisions for you and your family.
Regardless of your personal viewpoint, the elders desire everyone to be patient and gracious in their responses to the governing authorities as well as those people we disagree with. That does not mean we must affirm every opinion held or decision made. It does mean that we must be discerning about how, or even if, we share our disagreement. When we disagree, and choose to express it in person or online, we want to encourage everyone to do so in a way that is honorable and loving, edifying and glorifying, both publicly and privately. In addition to spending time studying Romans 13, we would all do well to consider what Romans 14 requires of us in terms of forbearance towards others.
The elders believe, all conspiracy theories aside, that most of the governing authorities in the U.S. desire churches to be able to return to gathering. As of today, we believe these are reasonable restrictions and that any delay in lifting them is driven primarily by a good desire to preserve life. We believe we should defer as long as we can to these restrictions relative to our public gathering, in so far as they remain equitable and justifiable. Even if we disagree with the timeline or with the strategy of our government, the elders believe it would be difficult to make a case that we are being forced to choose between obeying God or man at this time, even with considering Hebrews 10:23-25, which we’ll discuss this weekend. We recognize that a day for this kind of choice may come sooner than later. But, as one elder at a nearby church recently said: When I picture myself standing before the judgment seat of God needing to explain why I did not submit myself to the governing authorities, I do not want to stand on a weak or questionable argument.
Thankfully, the governor released a statement yesterday easing restrictions on religious gatherings. In response to that, we will be holding a limited outdoor service on the church property this Sunday, May 31 that will also be live-streamed. Details will be released as soon as possible (you will be required to register to attend in-person). We are also reevaluating our plans for rephasing into full-scale gatherings. We realize there will be mixed reactions to this. Some of you will be opposed to gathering, saying it is too soon. Some will simply be excited for the opportunity, while others will still be vexed at any kind of restrictions.
At this point, we feel it is right, safe, and wise for us to meet this Sunday outdoors with a limited number of people and strict guidelines in place. As each day unfolds, however, the elders will prayerfully evaluate what is best next and, guided by God’s Spirit through His Word, make our judgments regarding when our family resumes gathering in less restricted ways.
Meanwhile, the elders encourage everyone to make their own decisions as we navigate a time none of us would have chosen to live through. As J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in The Fellowship of the Ring: “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Decide to rejoice always. Decide to pray without ceasing. Decide to give thanks in all circumstances. Decide to set your mind on the things above knowing that the “same kinds of suffering” are being experienced by our brotherhood around the world. After Jesus warned us of suffering, he said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” Decide to believe that soon, the God of all grace, will himself restore us all.
Grace,
The elders and pastors of The Bridge Church