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COVID-19 Wrap-Up Reflections: Masks, Shots & Church Closures — Who Was Right and Who Was Wrong?

There’s no question that throughout history, the government and the church have had their share of clashes. The Covid 19 Pandemic and lockdowns brought that issue to the forefront once again as the faithful and the civil magistrate held very different views on the importance of corporate worship. Join Pastor Chris Gordon and guest Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan as they take a look back at Covid and how the lockdowns were mishandled by the civil magistrate.

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Title

COVID-19 Wrap-Up Reflections: Masks, Shots & Church Closures — Who Was Right and Who Was Wrong?

Summary

There’s no question that throughout history, the government and the church have had their share of clashes. The Covid 19 Pandemic and lockdowns brought that issue to the forefront once again as the faithful and the civil magistrate held very different views on the importance of corporate worship. Join Pastor Chris Gordon and guest Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan as they take a look back at Covid and how the lockdowns were mishandled by the civil magistrate.

Published

Jan 29, 2025

Hosted By

Pastor Chris Gordon

Where To Tune In

Youtube Spotify

Show Notes

Throughout history, the government and the church have often found themselves at odds, and the Covid-19 pandemic brought this tension to the forefront once again. During the lockdowns, stark differences emerged between the civil magistrate and the faithful regarding the importance of corporate worship.

In this episode, Pastor Chris Gordon is joined by Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan to reflect on the challenges of the Covid-19 lockdowns and examine how the civil magistrate mishandled this critical period. While the pandemic appears to be in the rearview mirror, the conversation extends beyond past events to explore how the church could have responded more effectively.

Drawing on lessons learned, the pastors emphasize the importance of readiness in the face of future disruptions or calamities. They discuss practical back-up plans and even highlight some of the positive developments that emerged from the lockdown experience.

How should the church respond during times of active persecution or when the ability to gather for worship is threatened? Even in a society that clearly undervalues the role of the church, it is vital for church leaders and followers of Christ to uphold and honor the sacred act of corporate worship. It’s during the most challenging times that God's people must come together to worship, displaying reverence and resolve in their faith.

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
01:00 - Covid Challenges
01:30 - A Church Caught Off Guard
03:00 - The Plague vs. Covid
05:30 - We Can’t Control A Virus
07:00 - The Great Divide
08:20 - What Justifies A Church Shut Down?
13:10 - Online Church Is Not Worship*
14:40 - Let’s Take This Outside…
19:00 - Going Back Indoors
21:30 - When To Defy The Civil Magistrate
23:45 - Don’t Know What You’ve Got Til It’s Gone
25:00 - Was The Church Persecuted?
27:00 - The Rebellious Response
28:25 - The Christian Nationalist Approach
31:05 - Sacrifice & The Shot
33:00 - Forcing The Shot & The Mask
36:30 - Worship Can Be Taken Away
38:20 - How Can We Function During Persecution
39:30 - Society Doesn’t Value The Church
41:00 - Repent & Believe
More:
Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan is pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church. His responsibilities are to “preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Daniel earned his Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Seminary California in 2011. As a student at Westminster Seminary he learned that all study of Scripture, theology, and church history is put into practice in the worship and work of the church. The goal is to glorify Christ by serving His church. At Westminster Seminary he also earned a Master of Arts degree in Historical Theology. His thesis paper was on Faustus Socinus.
Daniel is chairman of the Heidelberg Reformation Association. Some of his published articles are on the Heidelblog website. Daniel was installed as pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church September 29, 2023. Daniel is married to Marcy and they have two daughters and a son.

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