Persecution in California

[mikewhitney]

I just don't think John grasps the depth and strength of the hostility being directed at him. The first century Christians were under the authority of Christ but still got persecuted and killed by the government. I hope the church leadership is talking about what to do when the building is seized. I get they won't say anything publicly about that nor should they.

Optics note: Fox didn't help John cause any by mentioning the lawyer is also working on the Trump reelection campaign. That just strengthens the public belief about the depth of the ties between Trump and Christians and the blowback is going to bad if Biden wins.

A seizure of the church premises would be the most blatant violation of the freedom of worship. Hopefully Christians will come together in support of GCC.

It is possible that people will have a bad image of the church for not obeying the dictatorial edicts, but what are we supposed to do? just give up worship? There is a lot at stake here.

[mossrose]

A seizure of the church premises would be the most blatant violation of the freedom of worship. Hopefully Christians will come together in support of GCC.

It is possible that people will have a bad image of the church for not obeying the dictatorial edicts, but what are we supposed to do? just give up worship? There is a lot at stake here.

The world is so anti-Christ now that I don't see how it makes any difference to them. Hatred of God and Christians is already rampant, and a few churches going against public health edicts isn't going to cause truth-preaching churches to be hated any more than they already are.

But it certainly points, to thinking, reasonable people, to the hypocrisy of those liberal politicians who allow all sorts of vile behaviour while trying to shut down sanctuaries under a false premise of "public health".

[mikewhitney]

But it certainly points, to thinking, reasonable people, to the hypocrisy of those liberal politicians who allow all sorts of vile behaviour while trying to shut down sanctuaries under a false premise of "public health".

I heard of a presumably mythical island of reasonable, thinking people out in the South Pacific.

[mossrose]

This today, from Don Green, a former attorney, former pastor at GCC, and former Director of Grace to You, the radio ministry, now a pastor of a church in another state.

[mossrose]

I heard of a presumably mythical island of reasonable, thinking people out in the South Pacific.

Yeah. I think it gets more and more mythical.

[mikewhitney]

This today, from Don Green, a former attorney, former pastor at GCC, and former Director of Grace to You, the radio ministry, now a pastor of a church in another state.

The other thing that comes to mind is about having people meet outdoors now that the summer heat has come upon us. We have had many people skipping the outdoor meetings -- after enough drop of people when the indoor services were restarted.

[mossrose]

The other thing that comes to mind is about having people meet outdoors now that the summer heat has come upon us. We have had many people skipping the outdoor meetings -- after enough drop of people when the indoor services were restarted.

Yes. That was brought up a couple of weeks ago when the pastor commented during an interview (I think, it might have been, or during a service) that people can't sit outside in the heat in some parts of the country, and California was getting bad.

[The Melody Maker]

We interrupt this thread to bring you some breaking news from the Babylon Bee:


'Let My People Go To Church!' Bellows Bearded John MacArthur To Hard-Hearted Gavin Newsom


Source: https://babylonbee.com/news/let-my-p...-gavin-newsom/


We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.



(And this whole time I was thinking of it as more like Nehemiah versus Sanballat.)

[The Melody Maker]

Right from John's mouth, the list of governmental demands that make holding church next to impossible if followed to the letter:

Calling the demands "unconstitutional" is an understatement. The demands are downright criminal.

[mikewhitney]

Any law created that is unconstitutional is void at the moment it is created.

If the state can declare a 6 month long medical emergency ( even though the governor cannot make edicts without legislators), it would violate the free exercise of religion whenever it felt like doing so. Certainly the state and city governments are acting against their delegated powers now.

[mossrose]

I wonder if the Walmarts in California have to have every other parking space blocked off.

Or if Walmart shoppers have to self-isolate for 2 weeks after spending more than 15 minutes in the store with people who are not their family.

These regulations for churches are a joke.

[mikewhitney]

I wonder if the Walmarts in California have to have every other parking space blocked off.

Or if Walmart shoppers have to self-isolate for 2 weeks after spending more than 15 minutes in the store with people who are not their family.

These regulations for churches are a joke.

Hopefully the distinctions between Walmart and GCC requirements are sufficient to force the courts to concede.

I wonder if the loss of the parking lot would force people to car pool to get there. I'm sure that will help meet the silly social distancing rules.

What was the the portion of the attendees who were wearing masks?

[mossrose]

Hopefully the distinctions between Walmart and GCC requirements are sufficient to force the courts to concede.

I wonder if the loss of the parking lot would force people to car pool to get there. I'm sure that will help meet the silly social distancing rules.

What was the the portion of the attendees who were wearing masks?

I don't know. They didn't show the congregation at all this week, as they have in the past. In other services they have just done a look down the central aisle, which is a long one, showing how full the sanctuary is. Perhaps for the protection against prosecution of the folk attending? In previous weeks there have been some folks wearing masks, but not the majority by a long shot.

They have continued to not have the full choir of about 100 people. Twice, I think, in the past 6 weeks they've had a small group in the choir loft, spaced quite far apart. They also haven't had the full orchestra, which fills the stage, and have only had a small ensemble each week, either strings and woodwinds or brass.

[mikewhitney]

I noticed the orchestra followed social distancing but did not have masks -- as least the ones I saw. This was just in the videos posted here.

[mossrose]

I noticed the orchestra followed social distancing but did not have masks -- as least the ones I saw. This was just in the videos posted here.

Yes, they have been spaced well. But I expect masks would have been a hindrance with the woodwinds, and the brass when they are on stage. And even the violinists would have problems with a mask.

And, the ensembles have been on stage since fairly early, even in the lockdown. They weren't there at the very beginning, but I think about 2 months in they started to have the ensembles on the platform.