We stand with The Chruch Must Gather initiative orchestrated by Liberty Coalition Canada. Click here to see other chruches in Canada and the US who are doing the same.
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Whereas, the first and great commandment is that “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37; cf. Deuteronomy 6:5);
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And whereas, this first and great commandment is a summary of the first four of the ten commandments (Matthew 22:37-40);
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And whereas, the first commandment tells us who to worship, the second commandment tells us how to worship, the third commandment tells us the manner of worship, and the fourth commandment tells us the when of worship (Exodus 20:3-11; cf. Deuteronomy 5:7-15);
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And whereas, since the resurrection of Christ, the first day of the week called the Lord’s Day is to be kept holy unto Him (1 Corinthians 16:1; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10);
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And whereas, it is impossible to love God without regard to the first four commandments (John 14:15; John 15:14; 1 Jn. 2:3, 5; 5:3);
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And whereas, God defines public worship to include the physical gathering of his people (Leviticus 23:3; Psalm 89:7; Hebrews 10:25);
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And whereas, we are explicitly forbidden from rendering to Caesar what is God’s (Mark 12:17);
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And whereas, we must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29);
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And whereas, Christ is the only Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18; cf. Ephesians 1:19-23);
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And whereas God alone is the Lord of the conscience, and has left it free from the doctrines, traditions and commandments of men, which are in anything that is contrary to His word; or beside it in matters of faith and worship (Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29; 1 Cor 7:23; Matt 23:8; 2 Cor. 1:24; Matt 15:9);
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And whereas, only the demonstrably sick are to be quarantined (Leviticus 13:1-9);
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And whereas, believers are no longer subject to bondage through fear of death (Hebrews 2:15; cf. 1 John 4:18; Philippians 1:21);
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And whereas, the mission of the Church is the glory of God in the salvation of sinners (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 4:4-5; 5:20)
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And whereas, the primary means of the spread of Christ’s kingdom is through the preaching of God’s Word (1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11; 2 Timothy 4:2; Romans 10:17);
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And whereas, love for God takes precedence over our love for our neighbour (Matthew 22:37);
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And whereas obedience to God shapes our love for our neighbour (Romans 13:7-14);
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And whereas, love for neighbour concerns itself with the whole man, soul and body (Proverbs 1:7; Ezekiel 18:4; Matthew 10:18; 2 Corinthians 5:10-21);
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And whereas, God’s glory is our reason for being (Philippians 1:20)