Posts by Tim Stephens (Page 9)
Gathering, Restrictions, and Fines
This past Sunday I received a $1200 fine from City of Calgary bylaw officers for breaking the province’s COVID health orders. It was not that I was the only one in violation of health orders as we gathered to worship God, but as the pastor and leader I was given this fine in an effort to see our entire church comply with the latest COVID regulations. When the most recent health orders were given on December 10, I wrote to inform…
COVID-19 Restrictions: A Theological, Scientific, Legal, and Political Analysis
New health restrictions were announced this Tuesday that take effect this Sunday, December 13th. Concerning the church, these new restrictions would limit our gathering for worship to 22 people (15% capacity) and forbid us from finding a larger venue to gather in greater numbers. They also forbid any social gatherings of any size both inside or outside. This effectively forbids us from gathering together in worship as a church. So what shall we do? Before I tell you, I know…
Latest COVID Mandates
This week has been a difficult week. For myself, this week was spent from morning hours to late at night in reading, research, prayer, writing, weeping, more prayer, phone calls, debate and discussion. I’ve heard from doctors, lawyers, and poured over the writings of many pastors in Canada as we seek to navigate through these times. I’ve written a number of emails and responses, most of which haven’t seen anyone’s eyes but my own. My struggle is seeking to navigate…
Tell It to the Church
This article is part two in a series of articles on Church Discipline. You can see the previous article here. When the Scriptures instruct us to judge those in the church and purge the evil person (1 Cor 5:13), how should such an action take place? In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives the follow instructions, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained…
Purge the Evil Person
This article is part one in a series of articles on Church Discipline. The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 5 is devoted to the subject of purging evil people from the church. Paul, used by the Holy Spirit of God to give us God’s infallible word, elaborates on a previous letter to the church in Corinth by saying, “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this…
Recent Health Orders and Social Gatherings
This week, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer issued an order concerning social gatherings in Edmonton and Calgary. This order, due to the revisions to the Public Health Act made earlier this year, is not a recommendation but is mandatory and can be penalized with fines if violated. While this new order doesn’t apply to worship services directly, it would apply to all social events (birthday parties, wedding receptions, hospitality in our homes, and the evening we have planned for this Saturday). The reason…
Dual Citizens, Constitution, and COVID
This year has been a cause for much reflection on the roles of state and church and their respective jurisdiction. We are citizens of the kingdom of God and citizens of Canada. I want to consider today this dual citizenship. Let’s begin by considering Paul the Apostle and the frequent opposition he faced. Paul in Philippi (Acts 16) Paul and Silas were opposed for causing a disturbance in the city through preaching the gospel. The crowds were enraged and the…
The Injustice of Lockdowns
Lockdowns, closures, and cancelations have gone on for seven months in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. In many jurisdictions in Canada (like Ontario and Quebec), restrictions are increasing. The same kind of restrictions may soon be coming to Alberta. Seven months in, we know more about the virus and the consequence of decisions designed to protect people—especially the most vulnerable. It is clear now that lockdowns, closures, and cancelations lasting months on end are not protecting our…
Someone was sick at church!
I admit it. The title to this email was click bait. As far as I know, no one at Fairview is sick with COVID or another contagious illness. Did the title make you fearful? Did you think, “I told you so!”? How did you react? My aim in writing is to remind us that we are entering fall. Cold and flu season will begin (adding to the virus already going around) and people will get sick. What will this mean…
Important Update Regarding Gathering
Starting this Sunday (August 9th) the downstairs basement will be setup with an audio/video feed from upstairs. This will allow the basement to be used as an area for those who feel comfortable with greater physical distancing, overflow when there isn’t enough room upstairs, or mothers with young children. Video will be available for the pastoral prayer and preaching, and audio will be available for the singing and for communion after the sermon.
Masks Revisited
Romans 13 and MasksRomans 13 is clear. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Romans 13:1-2). Most would understand that we ought to follow this teaching unless the government is requiring us to sin or forbidding what God has commanded. That is, “we must obey God rather…
Face Coverings
Face coverings have become a political and polarizing issue today. The range of opinions are legion yet there is a growing consensus among policy makers that masks should be mandatory in public. In Alberta, the province has shied away from making masks mandatory in public. Calgary City Council will make them mandatory effective August 1st. This new bylaw does apply to churches and other places of worship. What will our policy be as a church? As we gather for worship…