Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Church vs State Showdown Looms





Religious people have had trouble with secular officials from the beginning of time and will until the end of time.

When the China coronavirus smacked the face of the world in the early days of 2020, the herd mentality took control as U.S. governors issued orders to close down all public gatherings. Any public movement had to be “essential.” This was the most aggressive, intrusive, pervasive edict by governments in history. And like sheep (or some would say as good citizens), people basically obeyed globally. Mankind had never seen anything like that. 

All state and county officials coerced pastors to shut down all church services in March of 2020, and the California governor decided church services were nonessential in the battle with the China coronavirus. That offended many pastors who pointed out that other businesses such as strip clubs could remain open. 

Most U.S. church leaders closed down in an attempt to help defeat the disease now called a pandemic. Many churches met in their parking lots with members sitting in their automobiles responding with lights and horns. Some produced their services via computers reaching many additional people worldwide.

But that got old and developed a new set of problems. Many church leaders struggled with the scriptural admonition of Hebrews 10:25 that warns, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” 

That is a command to go to church. 

They had refused to assemble; consequently, they were obeying men rather than God. Pastors, struggling with their conscience, decided to resist the governor’s order and opened their churches. However, most government officials think they are omnipotent and don’t like to be disobeyed by the hoi polloi—the little people. And they sure don’t like it when those who disobey are so sure they are right and think they are special. It is a fact that the church of the living God is special, and if government officials don’t like it, they can change the state and federal constitutions. ]






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