(ChurchLeaders) As COVID-19 infections rise in the U.S., the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) has issued a statement pleading with churches to stop meeting in person. Bioethicist Dr. Jeffrey Barrows, who co-authored the statement, says the healthcare industry is once more feeling the burden of a large number of cases.
“We believe the church is a major priority in our lives, but it should not become an idol by itself,” says the statement, which was written by Barrows and Dr. Christopher Hook, a hematologist and medical ethicist. “Loving God with all our heart, mind and strength is our first priority, and it can be done with our families outside of church. It can be done via the gifts of electronic communication that allow us to join virtually with other church members. We are not being prevented from having Bibles, reading Scripture and singing songs of praise because we can do them at home and with the church through these virtual tools.”