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Persecution in California

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  • Well, this is interesting.



    Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

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    • Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

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      • Even atheists should support what MacArthur is doing. We all must be concerned about human rights.

        Yay. the video has MacArthur sharing the gospel.

        Comment


        • Originally posted by mikewhitney View Post
          Even atheists should support what MacArthur is doing. We all must be concerned about human rights.

          Yay. the video has MacArthur sharing the gospel.
          And that's what he does at every opportunity.


          Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

          Comment


          • How dare they laugh at health regulations! Let's haul them into court again!

            https://www.toddstarnes.com/politics...grZj92PC_MDSqc

            DEVELOPING STORY: Los Angeles County is asking a state court to hold Grace Community Church in contempt of court for hugging, singing and laughing at health department regulations during a Sunday church service, the Todd Starnes Show has learned exclusively.

            Pastor John MacArthur has been holding indoor services in defiance of the law for weeks — citing his rights under the U.S. Constitution and under the authority of the Holy Bible.

            During Sunday’s sermon, MacArthur read a lengthy list of the rules and regulations that churches are required to follow per the LA County Health Dept.

            “At the beginning, Pastor John MacArthur listed out requirements from the (health department) protocol,” county health official Benjamin Mock wrote. “Attendees responded to some of the restrictions Pastor MacArthur identified by laughing.”

            Oh, the horror.

            “During the service, attendees sang two hymns,” Mock wrote in the court document. “I also observed attendees hugging and shaking hands.”

            Well, sweet mercy — Christians hugging one another? Call in the National Guard.

            Instead, the county sent environmental health specialists to the Sunday service. At least one security guard refused to let the government agents into the building.


            And yet we have an email from one of those officials who said there were 2 of them there for the entire service, one claiming to be a believer and commenting on how 90% of the health officials think the rules are ridiculous. Somebody's lying, and I don't think it's church officials.

            The court document revealed that at least one security guard was issued an “administrative citation” for interfering with a public health officer.

            “Fewer than five percent of the people we observed were wearing face coverings,” the government agent reported. “Social distancing was not being observed.”

            And perhaps the most egregious activity came at the end of the sermon when the Christians (brace yourself) walked out the doors.

            “No instructions or guidance was given regarding maintaining social distance while exiting the worship center,” the court document states. “There were no directional markings on the floor. Individuals streamed out of the doors without practicing social distancing.”


            Seriously? These are adults! Not 5-year olds! It's been drummed into our heads for 6 months that we need to stay far far away from each other, and we make a choice to follow or not to follow those directions. I don't think we need to have somebody tell us every 5 minutes what to do! And these folks have been sitting together for an hour and a half, what difference is it going to make if they file out 6 feet apart!


            Church leaders have been told to show up in court on Friday.

            They are literally trying to hold the church in contempt not just for being open, but for people hugging each other and shaking hands. And laughing.

            Thou shalt not chuckle at the ignorance of the health department overlords.


            Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

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            • Originally posted by mossrose View Post
              How dare they laugh at health regulations! Let's haul them into court again!

              https://www.toddstarnes.com/politics...grZj92PC_MDSqc

              DEVELOPING STORY: Los Angeles County is asking a state court to hold Grace Community Church in contempt of court for hugging, singing and laughing at health department regulations during a Sunday church service, the Todd Starnes Show has learned exclusively ...
              Well, sweet mercy — Christians hugging one another? Call in the National Guard.

              Instead, the county sent environmental health specialists to the Sunday service. At least one security guard refused to let the government agents into the building.


              And yet we have an email from one of those officials who said there were 2 of them there for the entire service, one claiming to be a believer and commenting on how 90% of the health officials think the rules are ridiculous. Somebody's lying, and I don't think it's church officials.

              The court document revealed that at least one security guard was issued an “administrative citation” for interfering with a public health officer.
              ...
              “No instructions or guidance was given regarding maintaining social distance while exiting the worship center,” the court document states.


              Seriously? These are adults! Not 5-year olds! It's been drummed into our heads for 6 months that we need to stay far far away from each other, and we make a choice to follow or not to follow those directions. I don't think we need to have somebody tell us every 5 minutes what to do! And these folks have been sitting together for an hour and a half, what difference is it going to make if they file out 6 feet apart!


              Church leaders have been told to show up in court on Friday.

              They are literally trying to hold the church in contempt not just for being open, but for people hugging each other and shaking hands. And laughing.

              Thou shalt not chuckle at the ignorance of the health department overlords.
              Next there will be a requirement to have the mask and distancing mantra repeated through the loudspeakers as MacArthur gives his message.

              If these 6 months of protections did nothing, why are we supposed to keep doing these. You are right that it is stupid to keep reinforcing these instructions everywhere. We grownups can make our decisions and consider the health lord's information heard the rest of the week. The overlords keep adding more restrictions on us as the worst has come to an end (even though they are promising and will make sure that a new outbreak happens). Even after following all these "guidelines", they then blame us for making the virus spread.

              You are right to note how arbitrary the complaint is about the hugging and shaking of hands after they have been together all this time.

              Maybe for next week they can put directional markers pointing in all different directions so that people are bumping into each other. Nah. It is better to just avoid those totally.

              Ooops. I just wondered how the church organization can be held in contempt for what the people are doing individually.
              Last edited by mikewhitney; 09-17-2020, 01:06 PM.

              Comment


              • Originally posted by mossrose View Post
                How dare they laugh at health regulations! Let's haul them into court again!

                https://www.toddstarnes.com/politics...grZj92PC_MDSqc

                DEVELOPING STORY: Los Angeles County is asking a state court to hold Grace Community Church in contempt of court for hugging, singing and laughing at health department regulations during a Sunday church service, the Todd Starnes Show has learned exclusively.

                Pastor John MacArthur has been holding indoor services in defiance of the law for weeks — citing his rights under the U.S. Constitution and under the authority of the Holy Bible.

                During Sunday’s sermon, MacArthur read a lengthy list of the rules and regulations that churches are required to follow per the LA County Health Dept.

                “At the beginning, Pastor John MacArthur listed out requirements from the (health department) protocol,” county health official Benjamin Mock wrote. “Attendees responded to some of the restrictions Pastor MacArthur identified by laughing.”

                Oh, the horror.

                “During the service, attendees sang two hymns,” Mock wrote in the court document. “I also observed attendees hugging and shaking hands.”

                Well, sweet mercy — Christians hugging one another? Call in the National Guard.

                Instead, the county sent environmental health specialists to the Sunday service. At least one security guard refused to let the government agents into the building.


                And yet we have an email from one of those officials who said there were 2 of them there for the entire service, one claiming to be a believer and commenting on how 90% of the health officials think the rules are ridiculous. Somebody's lying, and I don't think it's church officials.

                The court document revealed that at least one security guard was issued an “administrative citation” for interfering with a public health officer.

                “Fewer than five percent of the people we observed were wearing face coverings,” the government agent reported. “Social distancing was not being observed.”

                And perhaps the most egregious activity came at the end of the sermon when the Christians (brace yourself) walked out the doors.

                “No instructions or guidance was given regarding maintaining social distance while exiting the worship center,” the court document states. “There were no directional markings on the floor. Individuals streamed out of the doors without practicing social distancing.”


                Seriously? These are adults! Not 5-year olds! It's been drummed into our heads for 6 months that we need to stay far far away from each other, and we make a choice to follow or not to follow those directions. I don't think we need to have somebody tell us every 5 minutes what to do! And these folks have been sitting together for an hour and a half, what difference is it going to make if they file out 6 feet apart!


                Church leaders have been told to show up in court on Friday.

                They are literally trying to hold the church in contempt not just for being open, but for people hugging each other and shaking hands. And laughing.

                Thou shalt not chuckle at the ignorance of the health department overlords.
                Stupid Mask Nazis!

                Comment


                • I am so sick of the arrows on the floors and the one way signs and the little feet on the floor telling you to "stand here".

                  Had lunch with a friend yesterday. There were arrows on the floor. When we got up from the table she obediently followed the arrows all around the restaurant, going past 10 tables with people sitting at them.

                  I got up from the table and went straight to the checkout counter. Passing one occupied table and no other people in the aisle. She said to me, quite reprovingly, which annoys me, "You didn't follow the arrows!".

                  I said that I sure didn't. And it wasn't because I didn't know they were there. I CHOSE to go a shorter way, past fewer people, to get to my destination. But I sure didn't need anybody else to tell me that if the aisle was crowded I should go along the arrows.

                  I refuse to be dumbed down like the rest of society and be told over and over again what I "should" be doing. Especially when it doesn't make sense.

                  And LA County health regulations don't make sense.


                  Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

                  Comment


                  • Originally posted by mossrose View Post
                    I am so sick of the arrows on the floors and the one way signs and the little feet on the floor telling you to "stand here".

                    Had lunch with a friend yesterday. There were arrows on the floor. When we got up from the table she obediently followed the arrows all around the restaurant, going past 10 tables with people sitting at them.

                    I got up from the table and went straight to the checkout counter. Passing one occupied table and no other people in the aisle. She said to me, quite reprovingly, which annoys me, "You didn't follow the arrows!".

                    I said that I sure didn't. And it wasn't because I didn't know they were there. I CHOSE to go a shorter way, past fewer people, to get to my destination. But I sure didn't need anybody else to tell me that if the aisle was crowded I should go along the arrows.

                    I refuse to be dumbed down like the rest of society and be told over and over again what I "should" be doing. Especially when it doesn't make sense.

                    And LA County health regulations don't make sense.
                    You missed the fact that the virus is directional. If you go against the arrows, the virus is going to take notice and then target you. BEWARE!!!

                    I saw a video where someone referred to this as the Einstein virus.

                    Comment


                    • Originally posted by mikewhitney View Post
                      You missed the fact that the virus is directional. If you go against the arrows, the virus is going to take notice and then target you. BEWARE!!!

                      I saw a video where someone referred to this as the Einstein virus.
                      I think it should be called the "let's see how many people we can make stupid" virus.


                      Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

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                      • Originally posted by mossrose View Post
                        I think it should be called the "let's see how many people we can make stupid" virus.
                        I assume thousands of people attending GCC also see it that way.

                        Comment


                        • Today is the first I've heard about the ruling from the court date last Friday morning.

                          https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politic...ckdown-n954648


                          LA County Rushes to Slap Hefty Fines on John MacArthur for Going to Church Amid Lockdown


                          Los Angeles County has expressed its intention to haul Grace Community Church (GCC) Pastor John MacArthur back into court, attempting to secure a contempt ruling against him, which would involve hefty fines. On Monday, an LA superior court judge punted on contempt, but the county told MacArthur’s lawyers that it intends to refile charges in another court. Earlier this month, Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff issued a preliminary injunction allowing LA County to ban indoor church services, but the church has appealed the injunction.


                          MacArthur’s lawyers argue that since they are challenging the preliminary injunction, any contempt proceedings should wait until the underlying constitutionality of the county’s coronavirus lockdown orders has been fully litigated. Yet Los Angeles has refused to wait, instead rushing to use a constitutionally dubious order as a cudgel against Christians who insist on going to church.

                          Jenna Ellis, President Donald Trump’s personal attorney and an attorney for MacArthur, told PJ Media that she will continue to fight on behalf of MacArthur and the church.

                          “Pastor MacArthur has remained firm in his conviction and constitutionally protected right that church is essential. We look forward to continuing our advocacy on behalf of Grace Community Church and religious freedom,” Ellis said.
                          The religious freedom battle


                          MacArthur and his church had challenged lockdown orders from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) and LA County while continuing to meet in person. LA County had tried — no fewer than four times — to convince judges to issue restraining orders preventing the church from gathering in person.

                          Rather than enforcing the existing health order, which imposes a fine of $1,000 and jail time, the county has sought court orders, ostensibly to shift blame to the court but also to penalize the church further. The county has asked a judge to find MacArthur and his church in contempt of court, which would cost the church more than $20,000 and attorney’s fees. Courts repeatedly rejected these shenanigans until the preliminary injunction on September 10.


                          Gov. Newsom has reportedly threatened to cut off power to any church that continues to meet in-person. Yet he is facing a large movement of civil disobedience. A network of California churches sued him last month and many churches throughout the state have vowed to hold in-person worship services despite the state ban on gatherings.

                          In an ultimate sign of pettiness, LA County canceled the church’s lease to its parking lot.

                          Charles LiMandri, one of MacArthur’s lawyers, noted that California “has given free rein to protestors, and is not similarly restricting marijuana dispensaries, large retail outlets and factories, and abortion providers.”

                          “Nothing about this is truly about health. It’s an unconstitutional power grab,” Ellis told PJ Media earlier this month.

                          When Beckloff issued the injunction earlier this month, Ellis condemned the county’s arguments as tyrannical.

                          “Church is essential, and no government agent has the runaway, unlimited power to force churches to close indefinitely. The County’s argument was basically ‘because we can,’ which is the very definition of tyranny,” she said. “Without limiting government’s power in favor of freedom and protected rights, we have no liberty. We will fight for religious freedom, as our founders did when they wrote the First Amendment.”

                          This legal battle is far from over.



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                          • I'll be praying for the church's persecutors. Will try to resist the temptation to make any of them imprecatory.

                            [Edit: The edit button works. ]
                            ~ Russell ("MelMak")

                            "[Sing] and [make] melody in your heart to the Lord." -- Ephesians 5:19b

                            Fight spam!

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                            • https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/ma...tled-to-trial/

                              MacArthur Prevails – California Court Says Church and Pastor Entitled to Trial


                              Attorneys for Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church prevailed in yet another hearing today in Los Angeles Superior Court, arguing that MacArthur and the Church are entitled to a full trial on the merits of their challenge to the constitutionality of the government shut-down orders and the preliminary injunction. Los Angeles County has sought to shut down the church and hold MacArthur in contempt, but Thomas More Society attorneys argued that a final determination on the constitutionality of the orders must occur before the county could seek contempt against MacArthur for merely holding church.

                              Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff indicated that he agreed there are serious constitutional concerns that have not been fully tried, and he reiterated that his prior ruling on the preliminary injunction was not a decision on the merits regarding the constitutionality of those orders. Because a contempt hearing is a quasi-criminal proceeding, Beckloff agreed that MacArthur and Grace Community Church are entitled to constitutional protections at any such trial.

                              Thomas More Society Special Counsel Jenna Ellis explained, “This is significant because no person can or should be held in contempt of a constitutionally invalid order. Los Angeles County continues to presume that its order is valid, with utter disregard for First Amendment protections. It’s tyranny to even suggest that a government action cannot be challenged and must be obeyed without question. This case goes to the heart of what our founders designed for the purpose of legitimate government—not to be above the rule of law. Pastor MacArthur is simply holding church, which is clearly his constitutionally protected right in this country.”

                              Thomas More Society Special Counsel Charles LiMandri stated, “This ruling prevents Los Angeles County’s attempted rush to judgment in its continued prosecution of Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church for courageously exercising their First Amendment rights. We are pleased that Judge Beckloff indicated he agreed with the major points that we made on behalf of Pastor MacArthur and Grace Community Church and we are very gratified that the judge’s ruling today reflects that he appreciates the importance of the constitutionally protected rights at issue in this case.”

                              Pastor MacArthur declared, “We are holding church. The Lord Jesus requires us to meet together and we will continue to do that because we are commanded to and because it is our right. I’m very grateful to Judge Beckloff for providing full due process and recognizing the importance of these constitutional protections. The reality is that the county cannot show that their order is even rational, much less necessary. They have also applied their orders arbitrarily and discriminatorily against churches and we enjoy a heightened protection in America to hold church. I’ll continue to stand firm and we will continue to fight to protect religious freedom for the church.”

                              In his September 20, 2020, sermon, MacArthur described the scriptural definition of true church and why church is essential.

                              Because of California’s shut-down orders, the contempt trial is not expected to take place until early next year. The court scheduled a hearing before Beckloff on November 13, 2020, to consider the scope of the challenge to the validity of the preliminary injunction order for purposes of the contempt trial, which Thomas More Society attorneys will continue to argue should trail a full trial on the merits.




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                              • Originally posted by mossrose View Post
                                https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/ma...tled-to-trial/

                                [B]Thomas More Society Special Counsel Charles LiMandri stated, “This ruling prevents Los Angeles County’s attempted rush to judgment in its continued prosecution of Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church for courageously exercising their First Amendment rights. We are pleased that Judge Beckloff indicated he agreed with the major points that we made on behalf of Pastor MacArthur and Grace Community Church and we are very gratified that the judge’s ruling today reflects that he appreciates the importance of the constitutionally protected rights at issue in this case.
                                I think they misspelled "persecution".
                                When I Survey....

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