Pastor Arrested

[ezrider]

when they are already showj in the key stone state that said laws are unconstitutional,and that ruling was based on science ?

And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

 

[Corn Pop]

I'm tired.

 

[WIP]

Way back in early March I tried ordering a box of masks from Amazon, it said they shipped... then 3 months later they showed up on my doorstep. Why? I don't know, I heard the federal government confiscated them and stockpiled them.

In late July, I had symptoms and tested positive for COVID. Now the regular antigen test was taking 14 to 21 days to receive the test results. But for $150 a test, I could do the Rapid test and have my results back within 24 hours. Now to go back to work afterwards, I had to produce two negative test results. $150 for a test that was maybe 85% accurate with known false positives, or wait three weeks for your results? What do you do?

They still can't even manage to get efficient testing for the virus.

Three weeks ago today, Friday, my brother's girlfriend's daughter was experiencing muscle aches, stomach cramps, and low grade fever so she got tested. The next day, Saturday, my brother also experienced muscle and joint aches. He took Nyquil before bed and woke up feeling good the next day, Sunday. The daughter got her test results on Monday showing she was positive for Covid-19 so my brother got tested the next day, Tuesday. The following Thursday, two days later, he was informed that he tested positive. Since he hadn't been anywhere since the previous Friday when he went to the dentist, he self-quarantined for another week as recommended. He also contacted the dentist to let them know that he was likely positive during his visit.

 

[jasonc]

And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

I guess God understands when China made church illegal and persecuted it,you don't have to actually fillow the bible ,cuz that's Gods sergeant telling you can be saved by serving the ccp of China or the devil

 

[Edward]

I cannot comment on the law in the states, but can comment on spiritual matters.
As Christians we are to show sacrifical love to our neighbours, keeping our neighbours save from an infectious virus by not assembling together would come under that.

Does a Christians right to meet in worship trump every concern for the welfare of others?

You've asked a very good question here. Now we do know that scripture says to follow the law of the government because He put the government in place, I get that.

But scripture also says to resist the devil and he will flee. And as we come into the last days of the end times it is going to be even more important for us to resist the status quo. How long should we wait Brother? Until they come on the news and says the mark of the beast is here get yours while you can?

Going against the status quo can bring serious consequences. However, going with the flow can bring eternal consequences. Us Brothers & Sisters absolutely must begin drifting away from the status quo sooner rather than later. Because if you think that we'll be able to go along with them until the very last moment and then somehow everything turns out just peachy for us when we turn away from them, I believe you have another thing coming. You can't wait until they're at the door before you prepare.

This is just the beginning. You better get used to it. There will be division. There already is. Your position of complying may have made somewhat better sense 20 or 30 years ago, but not in today's world. Are you planning to go down and take their vaccine out of a sacrificial love for your neighbors too? I'm not. I don't care if they link it to more stimulus money, they can keep it if they do that. My provider is the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know their tool is deception. We know they lie. Covid is real, but way over blown. We know they are inflating the statistics. We know they are pressuring doctors to falsify death certificates. Red flag red flag red flag. I think it is entirely possible that you are being naive about government and their agendas and intentions.

 

[Corn Pop]

I am scared of catching 19, I mean everyone I fish with knows I catch everything.

Was that politically correct enough.

 

[Michael74]

Catching 19 fish should make the people you give the fish to happy.

 

[Couppy]

While all this is true, God's laws/rules/commands supersede man's (Acts 5:27-29). Scripture says we are not to forego meeting together (Hebrews 10:24-25). The Catholic church teaches that to miss gathering together is not only a sin but a mortal sin.
[/QUOTE]

Christians have been meeting online, in houses, either as a group and in twos/threes. I would not say, they have been foregoing meeting together because they can't meet in a physical building. God is a wise God, and he has given his children wisdom to discern what is right and what is not. We have not been asked to abandon our faith in God, but to temporarily restrain from meeting physically to contain the virus. God is Spirit and those who worship him, do so in the Spirit. This means that there is no constraint on how we can worship God or where.

Some Churches have worked around the restraint of having several people in their buildings for service by conducting more than one service in order to limit the number of people in a building at the same time. Some have held meetings in open spaces, so I heard.

 

[WIP]

While all this is true, God's laws/rules/commands supersede man's (Acts 5:27-29). Scripture says we are not to forego meeting together (Hebrews 10:24-25). The Catholic church teaches that to miss gathering together is not only a sin but a mortal sin.

Christians have been meeting online, in houses, either as a group and in twos/threes. I would not say, they have been foregoing meeting together because they can't meet in a physical building. God is a wise God, and he has given his children wisdom to discern what is right and what is not. We have not been asked to abandon our faith in God, but to temporarily restrain from meeting physically to contain the virus. God is Spirit and those who worship him, do so in the Spirit. This means that there is no constraint on how we can worship God or where.

Some Churches have worked around the restraint of having several people in their buildings for service by conducting more than one service in order to limit the number of people in a building at the same time. Some have held meetings in open spaces, so I heard.

I wonder though, does meeting together also need to include Christian Communion and fellowship? I believe it does because gathering together in Christian community is far more than just a social gathering. Just as nonbelievers are capable of loving one another and treating others well so too are they able to gather together but that is not the same as Christian fellowship.

I believe the adage "Out of sight, out of mind" fits here. Even participating or viewing online is not the same as attending in person. During the lockdowns of March and April, we began experimenting with live streaming our Sunday worship services and have continued to do this going forward.

But, even so, members including myself began to recognize that we were missing something important. We were missing the bond of Christian fellowship with one another. So, when our governor relaxed the lockdown situation, we were more than happy to find a way to once again open our church for personal attendance. Our church is a small country church and even with everyone in attendance we probably don't exceed 20% capacity. We rearranged the pews to force social distancing, provided masks and hand sanitizer at the entrance, and personally employ social distancing practices.

Even though this change was welcome and we felt needed, there was still something missing in our regular gatherings....Holy Communion. So, about six weeks ago our pastor and deacons met to discuss how we could resume Holy Communion in our worship services while practicing recommended social distancing to help people feel as comfortable as possible and a month ago we started doing just that.

And as of last week we are now discussing how to resume our Bible study groups beginning the first of October. Judging from how members interact here on CFnet, my own experiences with in-person studies, and other online Bible studies, I feel quite confident that verbal in-person discussions are far better and the people are far more polite with each other.

 

[Susannah]

There are others ways to worship and serve the Lord during this crisis. Church is great for fellowship, but we still have our Bibles and prayer and meditation plus services on television. We need to wait until the virus in gone. Just my opinion. Our faith will keep us strong, not Sunday worship.

 

[WIP]

We need to wait until the virus in gone.

There's a very slim chance of that ever happening. It's a coronavirus which includes viruses such as the common cold and various strains of flu and we have those all the time.

 

[jasonc]

There's a very slim chance of that ever happening. It's a coronavirus which includes viruses such as the common cold and various strains of flu and we have those all the time.

yellow and scarlet fever were epidemics in the west .

 

[Couppy]

I wonder though, does meeting together also need to include Christian Communion and fellowship? I believe it does because gathering together in Christian community is far more than just a social gathering. Just as nonbelievers are capable of loving one another and treating others well so too are they able to gather together but that is not the same as Christian fellowship.

I believe the adage "Out of sight, out of mind" fits here. Even participating or viewing online is not the same as attending in person. During the lockdowns of March and April, we began experimenting with live streaming our Sunday worship services and have continued to do this going forward.

But, even so, members including myself began to recognize that we were missing something important. We were missing the bond of Christian fellowship with one another. So, when our governor relaxed the lockdown situation, we were more than happy to find a way to once again open our church for personal attendance. Our church is a small country church and even with everyone in attendance we probably don't exceed 20% capacity. We rearranged the pews to force social distancing, provided masks and hand sanitizer at the entrance, and personally employ social distancing practices.

Even though this change was welcome and we felt needed, there was still something missing in our regular gatherings....Holy Communion. So, about six weeks ago our pastor and deacons met to discuss how we could resume Holy Communion in our worship services while practicing recommended social distancing to help people feel as comfortable as possible and a month ago we started doing just that.

And as of last week we are now discussing how to resume our Bible study groups beginning the first of October. Judging from how members interact here on CFnet, my own experiences with in-person studies, and other online Bible studies, I feel quite confident that verbal in-person discussions are far better and the people are far more polite with each other.

I agree with you that online service is not the same as face-to-face fellowship. Some Churches have taken the step to return to their Church building in line with the government guidelines, but I think some Churches are not even making the effort.

 

[WIP]

I agree with you that online service is not the same as face-to-face fellowship. Some Churches have taken the step to return to their Church building in line with the government guidelines, but I think some Churches are not even making the effort.

I know some have moved their services outside and from what I hear, many enjoy it.

 

[Corn Pop]

Just because some people don't fear Covid does not mean they don't care about other people.

 

[WIP]

Just because some people don't fear Covid does not mean they don't care about other people.

Yes, people like to throw those ad hominem strawmen into the arguments, don't they?

 

[Tessa]

My personal opinion is if churches are going to break laws intended to keep people safe, they should go the whole hog and open up as free hospitals for the poor and to be staffed by church members.
If they are not prepared to serve and care for those in real need they should obey the regulations.

As for those with no internet.
It might surprise you but it happens here in the UK.
Our solution was to ask for spare, unused, surplus mobiles to be donated the church set then up and they have been lent to members or they are invited into near by members homes ( we are allowed up to 6 people in a house )
That solves the internet problem and visiting a neighbor the isolation problem.

I like the sound of your church.

 

[Tessa]

There are a few churches within walking distance from me. I don't belong to any of them. I am starting to warm toward one though.
It is The Chutch of Christ.
I know quite a few of the congregation, and have helped them with some of their activities.
They only have 34 members.
Simce lockdown in March they have been providing and delivering meals for 120 poor families, and one of the ministers rolled his sleeves up one day every week to help. As a result they are turning people to God because of their witness.

 

[jasonc]

There are a few churches within walking distance from me. I don't belong to any of them. I am starting to warm toward one though.
It is The Chutch of Christ.
I know quite a few of the congregation, and have helped them with some of their activities.
They only have 34 members.
Simce lockdown in March they have been providing and delivering meals for 120 poor families, and one of the ministers rolled his sleeves up one day every week to help. As a result they are turning people to God because of their witness.

my church and others have been doing,that

 

[Michael74]

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. Matthew 10:42 KJV