Christian Navigation of Conscience,
Government, and Church

Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world
has prompted the Elders of Immanuel Church to establish a clear position with regards to our conduct under a government imposing requirements that would compel a person to sin, should they obediently comply. 

The primary goal in establishing this position is the Scriptural edification of the church, as an organization and as individuals, that we may grow in our faith as it relates to practical matters of life under government jurisdiction. We desire to establish our security in God’s Word, that we would not be disoriented or disunified by fear and worry. This security allows us to obey when it is difficult, to dissent when it is necessary, and - above all - to magnify Christ in our conduct as citizens of our community.

Immanuel Church has no desire to dispute scientific claims or enter partisan politics. We desire to defend Biblical justice, truth, the dignity of all human life in all realms of human interaction; particularly where concerns of conscience, government, and church intersect. The following statements define three Biblical realms: God given freedom of conscience, God ordained authority of government, and God commissioned ministry of the church.

THE CONSCIENCE

God has given each person a conscience as an internal moral witness (Romans 2:15). The conscience is a human faculty through which people are aware of right and wrong, develop moral convictions, experience pleasure after doing right, and experience guilt after doing wrong. It is through the conscience that a person is driven to pursue justice and righteousness. 

We must understand three truths that the Bible teaches:

  • The conscience can be suppressed by sin (1 Timothy 4:2, Titus 1:15).

  • Acting against the conscience is always a sin (Romans 14:23).

  • The conscience is only subordinate to the Word of God (Acts 24:14-16, Hebrews 10:19-23).

Therefore, to violate a person’s conscience is to violate a God-ordained human right.

GOVERNMENT

God gives authority to governments to uphold the rule of law and exercise administrative powers; and it is God’s will that people subject themselves to such authority (Romans 13:1-7). When a government oversteps the boundaries of their authority, dissent and/or civil disobedience are Biblically justifiable. 

Reasons that justify dissent and/or civil disobedience:

  • Devaluing human life (examples: Exodus 1:8-22, Acts 12:1-19)

  • Actively suppressing the truth (examples: 2 Samuel 11 and 12, Romans 1:18-32)

  • Coercing sin and/or violations of conscience (examples: Daniel 1:8-21, chapters 3 and 6)

  • Unjust discrimination (examples: The book of Esther)

  • Compromise religious liberty (examples: Acts 4, Hebrews 10:32-39)

When a government engages in any or all of these five practices, Christians are morally justified to dissent and/or engage in civil disobedience.

CHURCH

God has called all followers of Jesus to be bound to a community of believers called the church (1 Peter 2:4-10). God then gives every Christian and every local church three primary purposes.

  • God calls the Church to worship Him through Jesus and by the Holy Spirit (Colossians 3:12-17).

  • God directs the Church to grow in spiritual maturity through their love for one another. (Ephesians 4:1-16). 

  • God has given the Church the ministry of reconciliation, in order to reconcile the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:16-21).

Anything that would hinder these God-given callings – whether born out of the systems of the world, the wiles of the devil, or the temptations of the flesh – must be overcome (Revelation 2 and 3). 

After Biblically considering the conscience, the government’s role, and the church’s calling; the Elders of Immanuel present the following statement: We will not comply with any government orders that would cause us to sin. 

  • We will not comply with government orders that would prevent the church from gathering. The Elders of Immanuel are the only human authority that will determine how, when, and where the church will gather. We will not neglect our regular gathering (Hebrews 10:23).

  • We will not comply with government orders that would cause us to discriminate against a person or people group that we have no Scriptural basis for denying communion. Similarly, we will not comply with government orders that would require us to include a person or people group for whom we do have Scriptural basis for denying communion. We will not adopt or submit to governmental policies or mandates that would coerce division, ostracization, or special attendance requirements (Galatians 3:27-29). 

We will dissent from any activity or position that would devalue human life, suppress the truth, coerce sin, unjustly discriminate, or compromise religious liberty. Let us strive side by side for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27-28).

Published by the Immanuel Church Elder Board, September 2022

  • Dave Fuller

  • Dave Nauss

  • Norm Fuqua

  • Jim Talento

  • Geoff Christian

  • Josiah Stevens

  • Fletch Matlack