Should Churches Mandate Social Distancing During Pandemics?
The Bible promotes physical contact between believers that cannot be accomplished from six feet away:
Romans 16:16:
Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
1 Corinthians 16:20:
All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
2 Corinthians 13:12:
Greet one another with an holy kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:26:
Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
1 Peter 5:14:
Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
The concept behind social distancing is the unproven notion that you cannot get a disease from someone if you stay six feet away from him. This became very popular – and mandated in many cases – during the COVID epidemic. However, this kind of distancing makes obeying the verses above impossible. As far as the Bible is concerned, social distancing is not God’s will.
But could it be His will to stay temporarily apart from people during a pandemic? I don’t see any conditions or exceptions above. However, I understand if you would be skittish about being close to people during a pandemic, and if you are just going to be in constant fear if you are closer to people than six feet, I would have no problem with you staying distant as long as you don’t belittle those who are still physically approachable – especially if you would stay away from church completely if you weren’t practicing social distancing.
I have a suggestion that could work in some churches. Have one section for huggers and handshakers and another for stay-six-feet-away-from-me people. This could accommodate both positions. You would know someone’s desire by where he sat.
I saw another church give out colored bands. Green meant that you could hug and carry on as normal. Yellow meant that you didn’t want direct physical contact but you didn’t have to stay six feet away from others. Red meant, “Stay six feet away from me!” You would know people’s desires so that you could accommodate them.