The elders of the church have read and agreed that the following statement should be stated as the official policy of First Baptist Church of Boardman in the event of any future issues that may require making a stand if so challenged.
This statement is connected to a national group of pastors and church leaders who agree to the same policy statement. The purpose is to make clear that any future attempts to undermine the rights that we as Christians and citizens of a nation that was built on the concept of religious freedom will be met with a stated resistance to such policies.
The basis is Acts 5:29 where the apostle Peter made the statement: “We must obey God rather than men.”
Here is the full statement:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
During the recent COVID-19 “pandemic,” representatives who were elected to secure our God-given rights, clearly transgressed their lawful authority in executive action that prohibited public meetings or mandated the wearing of masks and “social distancing.” God’s word directs us “not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.” (Hebrews 10:25) This verse is a Divine injunction.
We must obey God rather than the arbitrary decrees of men.
As a national coalition of pastors and churches, we reject any Presidential or gubernatorial decree requiring us to disobey the word of God. We will resist any attempt by a Federal, state or local official to restrict or prohibit the free exercise of our Religion or place restrictions thereon.
The end of all civil government being the good of society, we affirm our submission to lawful civil authority as instituted by God himself; but when rulers exceed the scope of their Constitutional and God-given authority, they act contrary to their office and the public good and effect the ruin and misery of society.
We do not need the permission of civil authorities to obey what God has commanded, nor does the Church need the approval of civil authorities to serve and worship our God in the way he has prescribed.
The Greek word translated Church is “Ekklesia” which means “the Assembly.” Our identity as the Church of Jesus Christ means we are by nature an assembly; we assemble to hear his Word preached, partake of the sacraments, and fellowship with one another. The Apostles’ teachings are unambiguous in this regard.
Civil magistrates have no authority to dictate what churches may do or not do.
The Constitution of the United States is the highest law in our land. In 1803 in Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court ruled that “any law repugnant to the Constitution is null and void.”
We are on solid Constitutional footing in our refusal to comply with restrictions on public worship. Again, the First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Any law, order, or mandate that infringes our God given right to worship according to conscience, violates the First Amendment and is unlawful.
Pastor Rick has signed this statement on the website as a personal position. The elders are also planning to sign that statement. We will make this statement available in the foyer for any others who would also like to agree to this position.