In years past, Christians were an ascendant force in culture. More recently, they have become a forgotten relic. Whether cultural force or relic, governing authorities rarely had cause to make Christians uncomfortable. But the coronavirus pandemic led to regional lockdowns for businesses, churches, and public events. In light of this unique governmental pressure, Christians have had to revaluate their relationship with the government.
Responses fall along a spectrum but can be imperfectly organized around these four types of views. Some believe government leaders to be incompetent and occasionally nefarious. Others accuse the magistrate of defying divine law. Still others see the church and the magistrate as (uncomfortable and strained) associates. Lastly, some have supported government injunctions without objection. In this article, I do not intend to parse out our current political moment or these responses. Others have done and will continue to do so.
