HISTORIC WIN FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
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HISTORIC WIN FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
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A judge ruled late Friday afternoon that Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, can continue hosting indoor worship services and does not have to adhere to any attendance caps or bans on singing. Praise God for this win for religious freedom! Pray for no COVID cases at John MacArthur’s church, for the protection of the Lord to rest on all who meet to worship the Lord in churches everywhere.
Judge Allows Indoor Services https://t.co/d1J5gf4K9K
— John MacArthur (@johnmacarthur) August 15, 2020
California megachurch Pastor John MacArthur filed a lawsuit against Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state officials over ongoing restrictions for churches amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In the filing, submitted Thursday by attorneys Jenna Ellis and Charles LiMandri, MacArthur’s Grace Community Church in Sun Valley has sought “to prohibit California from enforcing its unconstitutional and onerous coronavirus pandemic regulations” against the congregation.
MacArthur said in a response to the court’s ruling, “I am very grateful the court has allowed us to meet inside and we are happy for a few weeks to comply and respect what the judge has asked of us because he is allowing us to meet. This vindicates our desire to stay open and serve our people. This also gives us an opportunity to show that we are not trying to be rebellious or unreasonable, but that we will stand firm to protect our church against unreasonable, unconstitutional restrictions.”
The official press release from @ThomasMoreSoc re: @GraceComChurch and Pastor @johnmacarthur: https://t.co/EOaK2hiy4Q
— Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) August 15, 2020
In addition to suing Newsom, Grace Community Church has named Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D) and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D).
“We are simply continuing to do today what we have done for the past 63 years, that Grace Community Church has been open to welcome the Los Angeles community and serve their spiritual needs,” the pastor said. “We will remain open and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who decide they want to come worship with us.”
According to the Thomas More Society, where Ellis serves as special counsel, the complaint from Grace Community Church states the American people “have begun to see that they are being [cheated] by their own government.” . . .
The lawsuit pointed to the double standard that has been applied to Black Lives Matter protesters, who have been allowed and even encouraged to flood the streets by the thousands while churches have been forced to keep their sanctuaries closed over concerns worship services could cause spikes in coronavirus infections.
“They have witnessed how the onerous restrictions imposed on them by public officials to allegedly fight the COVID-19 pandemic simply do not apply to certain, favored groups,” states MacArthur’s lawsuit. “When many went to the streets to engage in ‘political’ or ‘peaceful’ protests
purportedly against racism and police brutality, these protestors refused to comply with the pandemic restrictions. . . .
LiMandri argued it is “unconstitutional” for Newsom and his cohorts to “discriminate against churches by treating them less favorably than other organizations and activities that are not protected by the First Amendment.” He continued, “This is especially the case when the government has given free rein to protesters and is not similarly restricting marijuana dispensaries, large retail outlets and factories, and abortion providers.”
The legal filing comes not long after MacArthur’s church was met with a cease-and-desist letter from the County of Los Angeles.
MacArthur, for his part, has indicated he has no plans to comply with the demand. At the beginning of last Sunday’s worship service, the 81-year-old pastor cheekily welcomed congregants to “the Grace Community Church peaceful protest.” . . .
Church-goers, he said, “know life is being restricted in a way that is not constitutional, that is burdensome, that is targeting a church, and that makes no sense in light of the actual number of deaths that they’re seeing.”
As for whether it’s wise for certain attenders to return to in-person worship services, MacArthur told Keilar he has entrusted his congregants with that determination.
He said it’s up to attendees to “make adult decisions about the reality of their physical and spiritual health and how that balance works for each one of them.”
The judge is requiring congregants to wear masks and social distance between family groups while indoors. A full hearing is set for September 4, 2020.
(Excerpt from CBN News. Article by Tré Goins-Phillips. Photo Credit: Getty Images.)
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Wonderful, Godly courage. Wish more of us could add to this common sense thinking and get our country turned back around. God bless you.
So do great to know and hear a true man of God standing in a low place trusting the God of the universe to bring his church “up”. Thank you John.
Thank you Jesus, that Pastor MacArther is willing to stand up for what is essential to our faith. I pray more pastors would be ecouraged to do the same. The willingness to put what we believe in, at this time is far greater than some crazy edict. If we can’t or won’t stand for what we believe in,then I pray that we look at our hearts and minds and examine them, we must trust the finished work of Jesus Christ not a ill informed state government. John 16:33
I feel the restrictions are agenda driven and rejoice in seeking freedom from ungodly edicts
Father in Heaven I thank you for this small victory. May you guide the minds of the pastors of all of the churches and have them follow your lead. You constantly say in your word “do not be afraid” especially of what men can do to you. Father help all of us to stand firm and not participate in anything but the real deal of your word. Thank you for all of the pastors who are willing to stand against the government and their over reach into our time with you. Reveal yourself to them like never before. Get up into their business so that this charade ends. In Jesus’ name Amen
Today is a day that we must stand up and speak up for what we believe is Biblically correct and constitutionally correct.
I thank our Lord for John MacArthur.
May we all learn from his example. . that in kindness we can step up and speak up.
It will be Almighty God Who is our Attorney. . Who will fight for us and our Biblical Principles.
I am thankful to be a child of God during these difficult days.♡
Praying for the ruling to be upheld.
PRAISE GOD for righteous leaders to open up churches to sing and worship YOU Lord. It is nothing short of the devil’s plan, in the name of Covid 19, to silence the church by ‘divide and conquer’. ( Just like the way the public school system has operated for years!) Ohhhh, the enemy is lurking, waiting to kill and destroy! Jesus Followers- BATTLE back with His Armor and WIN in His Glorious Name!
Unfortunately this is not up to date ! Late saturday nite they, the county officials asked for and RECEIVED an emergency injunction against the earlier ruling. As for what happened sunday morning I am not aware and am looking for what happened then. The news sources here in the SFO East Bay region do not say much about these sorts of issues. Keep praying !
Thank you for this update. We will keep praying.
Great NEWS !! Looking on Calguns.net a site for us 2A types on the home page down the list to Discussions of Faith I checked the latest posting for today 20 aug 2020 and I found a story referring to The Capstone Report site with a story about the County LOSING another round today !
Apparently the church did hold the sunday morning service without issues ! Amen ! Check out the story on The Capstone Report for today 20 August. Keep the prayer assualt on LA County going.
Thanks for this update.
Once again our heavenly Father has used evil for good. By the governments all across our country banning church services but allowing riots and protests, the agenda and corruption has been exposed. God has once again exposed this evil. We worship an awesome God. Praise Him. Exalt Him. Worship Him…and then some more.
prov. 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Pastors need to be obedient to a
sovereign God instead of corrupt
government officials.
We are not to forsake the assembling of the body of Christ.
Corporate prayer and worship strengthens and protects the people of God. We must seek Him for His will in all things and be led by the Holy Spirit.
The wisdom of man is foolishness to God.
This is a huge answer to prayer. Thank you Jesus! May churches and Christians be free of fear and start attending church and praying in faith and boldness. Made this ruling set a precedent for churches all over America to freely open their doors to serve their congregations.God answers prayers and still does miracles. Believe it and walk in faith.
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
Let the whole America hear this news and Let all churches follow suit.
In Christ Jesus name, we pray for CALIFORNIA that every Christians will vote in person for YOUR VALUE in Nov. 3, 2020.
It’s time to take back CALIFORNIA to be a RED (conservative biblical value) STATE.
Your mighty will be done, Father. Thank You. Amen.