COVID-19 has brought many changes to the United States of America. This pandemic has also revealed the true state of our union in regards to religious freedoms. As the COVID-19 statistics began to rise earlier this year, many states required churches to close their doors. Most churches complied with these requirements out of a sense of duty to protect public health and because we felt like it was the right thing to do.
Many of these states have since relaxed these requirements and have allowed churches to reopen again. However, there are still some states, like California, that are continuing to prohibit in-person religious services. They also go a step further and specifically prohibit "singing, chanting, or shouting." They even take another step to prohibit private Bible study in a person's individual home.
While church buildings are closed, other businesses are considered "essential" and are open for business. You can shop at Walmart. Liquor stores are open. Abortion clinics are still open. Thousands are allowed to gather for violent protests and riots and social distancing requirements are not enforced. All the while, churches are considered "non-essential" and must remain closed.
The question is how much, if any, control should the government have over churches? Do they have the right to prohibit in-person church services? Do they have the right to prohibit singing? Do they have the right to stop someone from holding a Bible study in their own home? I hope you agree that the answer to those questions are a resounding "NO!"
Several pastors in California do not agree with their Governor's orders to close churches. The most well known of these is probably John MacArthur. However, there are other pastors and their congregations who are also refusing to just give in to the Governor's mandates regarding religious services.
Pastor Rob McCoy of Godspeak Calvary Chapel Church in Thousand Oaks, California is one of those pastors. Now, he and his congregation have received a temporary restraining order, essentially forcing them to shut down their worship services. Not only does this restraining order apply to the Pastor, but to every congregant that attends the worship service. The church can still perform non-religious functions, but cannot have worship services. They can give out food to the hungry, but they cannot preach the gospel. They can house the homeless overnight, but they cannot hold a worship service, Bible study, or meet for prayer. You can read an article regarding this on Charisma News here: https://www.charismanews.com/us/82170-california-church-ordered-to-stop-worship
Religious liberty is quickly being eroded away. What is taking place in California can be described as nothing short of religious persecution. This has been occurring slowly for a long time, but COVID-19 is the catalyst that has simply brought it to surface. The church needs to wake up and recognize what is taking place. This is not a problem that only Christians in other parts of the world face. This is happening in the United States of America. Preachers have been warning us for years about this day. Well church, this day has arrived. Religious liberty is quickly transforming into religious persecution. We can either sit back and simply watch it happen, or we can stand up and do something about it. Which one are you going to do?
Religious Liberty or Religious Persecution?
COVID-19 has brought many changes to the United States of America. This pandemic has also revealed the true state of our union in regards to religious freedoms. As the COVID-19 statistics began to rise earlier this year, many states required churches to close their doors. Most churches complied with these requirements out of a sense of duty to protect public health and because we felt like it was the right thing to do.
Many of these states have since relaxed these requirements and have allowed churches to reopen again. However, there are still some states, like California, that are continuing to prohibit in-person religious services. They also go a step further and specifically prohibit "singing, chanting, or shouting." They even take another step to prohibit private Bible study in a person's individual home.
While church buildings are closed, other businesses are considered "essential" and are open for business. You can shop at Walmart. Liquor stores are open. Abortion clinics are still open. Thousands are allowed to gather for violent protests and riots and social distancing requirements are not enforced. All the while, churches are considered "non-essential" and must remain closed.
The question is how much, if any, control should the government have over churches? Do they have the right to prohibit in-person church services? Do they have the right to prohibit singing? Do they have the right to stop someone from holding a Bible study in their own home? I hope you agree that the answer to those questions are a resounding "NO!"
Several pastors in California do not agree with their Governor's orders to close churches. The most well known of these is probably John MacArthur. However, there are other pastors and their congregations who are also refusing to just give in to the Governor's mandates regarding religious services.
Pastor Rob McCoy of Godspeak Calvary Chapel Church in Thousand Oaks, California is one of those pastors. Now, he and his congregation have received a temporary restraining order, essentially forcing them to shut down their worship services. Not only does this restraining order apply to the Pastor, but to every congregant that attends the worship service. The church can still perform non-religious functions, but cannot have worship services. They can give out food to the hungry, but they cannot preach the gospel. They can house the homeless overnight, but they cannot hold a worship service, Bible study, or meet for prayer. You can read an article regarding this on Charisma News here: https://www.charismanews.com/us/82170-california-church-ordered-to-stop-worship
Religious liberty is quickly being eroded away. What is taking place in California can be described as nothing short of religious persecution. This has been occurring slowly for a long time, but COVID-19 is the catalyst that has simply brought it to surface. The church needs to wake up and recognize what is taking place. This is not a problem that only Christians in other parts of the world face. This is happening in the United States of America. Preachers have been warning us for years about this day. Well church, this day has arrived. Religious liberty is quickly transforming into religious persecution. We can either sit back and simply watch it happen, or we can stand up and do something about it. Which one are you going to do?