Image courtesy of Wave 3 News

Governor Andy Beshear provided an update on the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kentucky on March 11th. In his comments, the governor acknowledged that state schools are still open but wanted them to understand they may be asked to close on short notice. He also made a variety of other comments regarding state institutions and facilities, most of which are still open.

But then the governor went on to recommend that all churches in the state of Kentucky cancel services. My suggestion for governor Beshear is to stay focused on the KY governmental response to COVID-19, rather than making recommendations for what churches should be doing.

Why would the governor make a recommendation about churches closing while at the same time not recommending that all other institutions close as well?

The article confirms that the governor isn’t recommending that people NOT attend the girls Sweet 16 that starts Wednesday afternoon at Rupp Arena but rather is merely recommending that the people who attend meet the CDC guidelines. It is certainly an interesting contrast regarding what the governor recommends on how churches should respond as compared to how he recommends other institutions should respond.

I have been checking each day the excellent information put out from the Kentucky Department of Public Health. The update this morning contains this information:

Updated KY Department of Health Information as of March 10th:

“The current risk for COVID-19 to people in Kentucky is low. Evidence to date indicates those most at risk for becoming ill with COVID-19 are:

Those in close contact with someone with a confirmed COVID-19 infection, including healthcare workers

and

Those who have traveled in the past 14 days in countries with ongoing community spread of the virus.”

Current as of March 10, 2020 at

5:05 p.m. Eastern time

Kentucky Coronavirus Monitoring
Number Tested: 54
Positive: 8
Negative: 46
Note: Monitoring data is dynamic and may change as more information becomes available.

I am thankful for this type of information from the KY Department of Health and for the almost daily updates governor Beshear has been providing about the KY government’s response. It seems to me, the appropriate posture right now is a real concern but not panic. And more importantly, as Christians, prayer and gospel compassion.

To governor Beshear, I say you have no greater ally than the prayer support of Christian believers as you lead our great Commonwealth at this time. But let me also say governor, we do not look to you for guidance on how to proceed in leading our churches to follow Christ in this situation or any other.

Whatever decisions pastors and church leaders make in these days about worship, ministry, or anything else, should be made through prayer, with Bibles open, and listening to the leadership of our Lord, the Risen Christ. We think government is important and serves a vital role in our society. We love basketball and our High School students. But make no mistake-Jesus is Lord! He is the only leader we need in making decisions regarding Christian discipleship and corporate worship.