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Thread: Prominent California Church Defies State Lockdown To Resume In-Person Assembly...

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    Prominent California Church Defies State Lockdown To Resume In-Person Assembly...


    'Compliance Would Be Disobedience': Prominent California Church Defies State Lockdown To Resume In-Person Assembly
    "We cannot and will not acquiesce to a government-imposed moratorium on our weekly congregational worship..."

    By Jon Brown
    Jul 25, 2020
    DailyWire.co
    'Compliance Would Be Disobedience': Prominent California Church Defies State Lockdown To Resume In-Person Assembly | The Daily Wire

    The pastor and elders of a prominent evangelical church in California issued a statement on Friday explaining why they will no longer comply with the state's mandate ordering them to refrain from in-person gatherings.

    John F. MacArthur, the 81-year-old senior pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, also claimed that the state had overstepped its legitimate, God-given authority. Citing Christ and the Bible as the ultimate authority over his congregation, MacArthur wrote in the lengthy blog post replete with scripture that "we cannot and will not acquiesce to a government-imposed moratorium on our weekly congregational worship or other regular corporate gatherings. Compliance would be disobedience to our Lord's clear commands."

    MacArthur went on to explain the church's view that God has given different spheres of authority to the family, the church, and the government, and that "when any one of the three institutions exceeds the bounds of its jurisdiction it is the duty of the other institutions to curtail that overreach."

    MacArthur also suggested that the statistics government officials have offered as justification for their sweeping mandates may not be accurate. "History is full of painful reminders that government power is easily and frequently abused for evil purposes," the statement reads. "Politicians may manipulate statistics and the media can cover up or camouflage inconvenient truths. So a discerning church cannot passively or automatically comply if the government orders a shutdown of congregational meetings—even if the reason given is a concern for public health and safety."...








    This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity (futility) of their mind, having the understanding darkened...
    (Ephesians 4:17-18)

    Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly...
    (Psalm 1)

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    Member WMBillPrice's Avatar
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    Can someone show me where we have to be in a building that cost millions of dollars in some cases to have church? What about in homes, in parks, on the street corners? We can fellowship, preach, & teach, go and make disciples everywhere. Remember folks, we have so much, so many tools at our fingertips, that we can close buildings and still be obedient to Christ's commandment to go and make disciples. Think not? Ask the Chinese, North Korean, and Iranian believers. Ask those who made disciples in Soviet Russia, and in the 10-40 window. I am not saying having a church building is wrong by no means, but the Church needs to get over a cathedral mentality and go be the Church. Just my thoughts.

    Grace, Shalom, and Maranatha in Jesus name.
    William M. (Bill) Price

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    Senior Member Smitty's Avatar
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    I've disagreed with Dr. MacArthur on biblical issues, but my hat is off to him for taking a bold stand against Newsom's regulations in trying to control and limit worship in California churches. There may be a showdown this Sunday at Grace Community Church as Newsom and CA. government authorities could attempt to shutdown pastor MacArthur's services. Could you imagine police entering the sanctuary Sunday morning and arresting John MacArthur. He has a 8000 member congregation and I think some of those members would not let it happen. Anyways, this is all speculation and just some of my own thoughts.

    If you put God First, you have Him at Last.

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    Quote Originally Posted by WMBillPrice View Post
    Can someone show me where we have to be in a building that cost millions of dollars in some cases to have church? What about in homes, in parks, on the street corners? We can fellowship, preach, & teach, go and make disciples everywhere. Remember folks, we have so much, so many tools at our fingertips, that we can close buildings and still be obedient to Christ's commandment to go and make disciples. Think not? Ask the Chinese, North Korean, and Iranian believers. Ask those who made disciples in Soviet Russia, and in the 10-40 window. I am not saying having a church building is wrong by no means, but the Church needs to get over a cathedral mentality and go be the Church. Just my thoughts.
    Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads (ten thousand times ten thousand in the KJV) and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,


    "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." (Rev 5:11-12 NASB)

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