The Essential Church is a fascinating exploration of a battle between church and state during the Covid lockdowns.

It is said that the brightest light follows the darkest dawn, and the Covid lockdowns were dark days indeed. For many Christians this was especially so, with congregants and parishioners restricted from attending their church, even when lockdown laws eased for casinos and bars and shopping centres. Let’s not forget the “peaceful” mass protests from all matter of left-wing activist who burned down cities while Christians were forced to stream their church service into their homes.

The question as to why the government would want to restrict the need for faith and community during a time of nihilistic driven violence and division can by answered simply by delving into history.

The Essential Church opens with the story of Jenny Geddes who in 1637, Scotland, protested the first reading of the Church of Scotland’s revised version of the Book of Common Prayers during church service by throwing a three-legged stool at the pulpit. This simple yet practical expression of disgust would lead to the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Throughout The Essential Church director Shannon Halliday consistently uses historical examples of battles between church and state – and those martyrs who stood up for their faith – to underpin the fight between Grace Community Church and the state of California during the Covid lockdowns.

Fronted by Pastor John MacArthur, Grace Community Church did what other complacent, and in some cases cowardly, Christian churches would not do and stood up for the belief that not only is there a power and authority higher than government, but that freedom of religion – to worship, to congregate, to believe – is an essential bedrock of American and indeed western civilization.

It was a fight that came with consequences. Smears, fines, and imprisonment – as exemplified in the jailing of pastors James Coates and Tim Stephens in Canada – were utilised to break the resolve of Grace Church, yet only worked in strengthening their spirit. More interesting, perhaps, is the internal debate within the church regarding church law versus state law, and the clear divisions that led to members leaving the church.

Above all, The Essential Church chronicles authentic belief in action through righteous defiance and the God-given law that no person, or administration, has the right to govern an individual’s conscience. If or when the next pandemic happens (heaven forbid) hopefully the example of The Essential Church will be remembered.