Tag Archives: churches

The Real Answer

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This is a portion of the Mayflower Compact:

In the name of God, Amen.
We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc., having undertaken, for the glory of God, and
advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the
general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.

They came to find a place where they could freely practice their religion. Many of the principles in that short document can be found in America’s Constitution–equal laws, ordinances, a covenant executed in the presence of God, combining themselves into a civil body politic. When Connecticut was settled, you couldn’t establish a town unless you had a Pastor among the settlers. That’s what all of the  churches in the center of New England towns are about–you didn’t have to be a specific religion–you just had to worship God. We have lost that.

On June 5th, Doug Clay, General Superintendent, The General Council of the Assemblies of God, put out a prayer guide on how to pray for America. This is the link.

These are his five guidelines for praying for America:

1.  Pray for our country.

2.  Pray for righteousness in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of our government.

3.  Pray for wisdom.

4.  Pray for the integrity of democracy.

5.  Ask the Lord to give us the fruit of the Spirit as we exercise our rights in speech and as citizens who participate in our democracy.

That is the outline. Please follow the link to the article for further details. And yes, I know that we are a Representative Republic–not a Democracy, but unfortunately it is acceptable in public discourse to refer to America as a Democracy, even though it is not.

Prayer is the only thing that is going to save America.

 

I Need Someone To Explain The Logic Of This Decision To Me

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On Thursday The Washington Free Beacon posted an article about the current coronavirus restrictions in California.

The article reports:

A California judge ordered San Diego to reopen strip clubs even as local officials crack down on churches.

San Diego Superior Court judge Joel R. Wohlfeil ordered the state to end any actions that prevent the clubs from “being allowed to provide live adult entertainment,” according to the decision. The owners of two strip clubs argued that their business is legally protected speech guaranteed by the First Amendment—the same argument that churches have been making about their own services.

The judge’s decision is not final as that in a full hearing, which will occur at the end of the month, but it temporarily allows the strip clubs to reopen for indoor services, as other institutions close. In their legal complaint, strip-club owners argued they have complied with social distancing requirements. They also warned that another shutdown would mean financial ruin. The judge temporarily sided with them.

Religious-liberty advocates said that the case could pave the way for lifting coronavirus restrictions against churches. Paul Jonna, special counsel for the Thomas More Society, which is representing churches challenging the restrictions, expressed confidence that this decision bodes well for the churches. If strip clubs are entitled to constitutional protections, then churches are as well, he told the Free Beacon.

Somehow in the rush to stop a virus from spreading, we have lost the protections of our Constitution.

The article concludes:

Churches in California have been locked in legal struggles with state authorities for months as churches of different denominations take legal action to try to end the indefinite limitations on indoor services. Jonna said that the San Diego decision highlights “the absurdity” and double standards that have defined the state’s approach to lockdowns.

“A judge who understands the Constitution will recognize the absurdity of the current state of the law,” he said. “I think it’s a good sign that judges are starting to question whether the government has a legitimate interest in regulating any business or industry at this point.”

I am currently recovering from the coronavirus. I took ordinary precautions, but somehow contracted it. It is a virus. It is an airborne virus. To believe that we have the ability to tell a virus where to go and where not to go is the height of hubris. Vaccines will help curb the spread, but like the seasonal flu, this is now part of what we deal with. Stomping all over our God-given rights does nothing to prevent anyone from getting sick.