SURPRISING SURVEY ABOUT CHRISTIANS AND SOCIAL DISTANCE EXEMPTIONS
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SURPRISING SURVEY ABOUT CHRISTIANS AND SOCIAL DISTANCE EXEMPTIONS
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The vast majority of Americans believe churches should operate according to the same social distancing guidelines as other organizations, according to a recent survey by Pew Research Center. 79% of those surveyed said that houses of worship should “be subject to the same social distancing rules as other organizations.” Only 19% of those surveyed disagreed.
Three out of four Christians who responded to the survey, which was conducted between July 13th and 19th, also agreed that churches should follow the same rules. 74% of all Christians said churches should follow the same guidelines as other businesses while 25% said churches should be given more flexibility.
When Christians were polled about what they believed their churches should be doing right now, only 13% believed that their congregation should be operating in the same manner as it did before the outbreak of COVID-19. 28% believed their churches should still be closed to public gatherings and 57% said their churches should be opened with modifications. . . .
Only 6% of respondents said their churches were meeting just as they were before the pandemic. 31% of those surveyed said their churches were still closed and 55% replied that their churches were open with modifications. Those modifications included social distancing, requiring masks, and restricting attendance. 7% of those surveyed were not sure what their churches were currently doing.
The results of the survey come as debates about restrictions on churches have heated up in recent weeks. In July, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to reject an appeal by Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, who was seeking to suspend Nevada’s restrictions on in person gatherings which apply particularly to churches, The Christian Postreports.
Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California made headlines recently when his church decided to defy California’s restrictions and meet in person. The church initially complied with state mandates, but the church’s elders decided to begin meeting in person again in late July. 3,000 attended the first weekend and 6,000 worshipped together the second weekend. MacArthur remains committed to meeting in person even though local authorities have threatened sanctions against the church.
On a recent episode of the “Edifi with Billy Hallowell” podcast, MacArthur said, “The governor said the church is not essential. Some things were essential – liquor stores were essential, abortion clinics were essential, grocery stores were essential but the church was not essential.” He continued, “Based on the Constitution, the governor doesn’t have the authority to say what is essential… the governor has no constitutional authority to say the church is not.”
Other churches have decided to continue holding off meeting in person. . . .
One church not meeting in person until 2021 is Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina, which is pastored by Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear. Greear said the church may not be meeting, but their mission continues. He said, “The message we seek to send to our congregation and to our community is that, even when we are unable to gather as a large church on the weekend, the Summit Church is not ‘closed’ because the church exists everywhere the members of the church live.”
A growing number of evangelicals have attended services in recent weeks. 44% of those who were faithfully attending worship before the pandemic began said they have attended a service in person recently, while over 80% said they have been watching services virtually.
(Excerpt from Christian Headlines. Article by Scott Slayton. Photo from Getty Images.)
Share your prayers and comments in light of this recent survey!
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I pray that God will direct with discernment each pastor and church attendee according to the the teaching of God’s Word on this issue. Grant courage and resolve to do what is pleasing to You, God, first and foremost. Many churches may have to take a stand like pastor John MacArthur since it is impossible for them to meet outside as others have been able to do. I pray that we all may understand the times in which we live and that we will support these pastors and churches. I am so thankful for those who love God and His ways so much that they are still preaching and living His Truth.
UPDATE: 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.
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).
As legal proceedings get underway, MacArthur has pledged to keep the doors of his church open to serve Angelenos eager to return for Sunday morning services.
“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.”
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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.”
Faithwire: John MacArthur Defies Covid Orders: ‘Welcome to the Grace Community Church Peaceful Protest’
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. Instead of enforcing the public health orders, public officials were all too eager to grant a de facto exception for these favored protestors.”
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.”
During an appearance Tuesday morning on CNN, MacArthur told host Brianna Keilar he believes the California government is intentionally “targeting” the church.
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.
Most Americans couldn’t recite The Bill of Rights or even tell why The First Amendment was even written.
Lord, give us discernment on following our appointed leaders without compromising our obedience to you. We are facing unprecedented choices right now. I pray that your people will not live in fear or apathy, but will walk in faith. Give us boldness to reach out to our friends and neighbors who don’t know you and don’t have the reason for the hope that we have. May your people shine brightly with the love of Christ even when we are called to stand against unrighteous authority. In Jesus name and for His glory, amen
We are commanded in God’s Word to forsake NOT the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some, but so much the more as we see the day approaching. Every member of the church body needs all the other members. We cannot be all God called us to be without each other. Plain and simple. We NEED each other. This is not some social club that we can take it or leave it! Of course all those of high risk should take all the precautions. But, the rest of us should be obeying our LORD’s command!!!
I have been going to in-person services for several weeks. One was a Free-Methodist Curch. The other is affiliated with Assemblies of God. Both Pastors were ministering on the Indifference of the Church and the other The Great Falling Away, Christians leaving the Beliefs in The One and Only True God, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit. Me I will not leave the Worship of my Lord.
I have been attended my church in person for at least a month now in NC using social distancing or wearing masks as needed and we have plenty of hand sanitizer. We have always had a vibrant online ministry and none of the virus disruptions have stopped our financial tithes or our Sunday services. In fact, the minister says they will never pass the plate again; we will just have a box outside the Sanctuary since God has spoken so firmly to meet our needs.
I understand 222 people have started as new visitors online. It is probably unfair to compare my church services to other churches since it is unique. It is the only church I’ve ever attended that had salvations during our Christmas programs.
I believe the Holy Spirit loves to be present during our songs of praise in this church; that is what I have missed most– congregational singing. I am uncomfortable with this whole regulation of churches yet I understand God may be doing a new things to draw our attention to our blessings in America.
I attend a satellite church of New Hope in Durham, NC. I think our congregational mission outreach has suffered the most at my satellite church. My last mission was 2nd Saturday volunteering at an organization feeding the homeless with my church in March. To my knowledge no one member our churches has had Covid-19.
The children’s ministry prepare teaching packages for families to use each Sunday at home with the children. We have also had Wed nights with food trucks and special events since church began again. Still, I think God is opening our eyes anew to our blessings and our unique religious freedom that can so easily be lost in some states. I pray this will lead to a new spiritual awakening & conviction in America. May the Holy Spirit awaken America in a mighty movement!
The better questions to ask are: “How many people have you led to Christ during the pandemic? How many people have you preached the gospel to? How many times have you cast out the devil? How many people have you laid hands on (oh, we can’t do that so how many people have you prayed for to get healed)?
Even though my Church is meeting in person, the Lord has shown me how to carry out the Great Commission during this time both in the Church and outside of the Church. Being in Church has strengthened my faith to rely more heavily on the Holy Ghost. Compared to virtual service, there’s nothing like being under the corporate anointing.
“This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage ad urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.” (TPT)
Suzy
I whole heartily agree. We as Bible believing Christians are the source of Joy, Glorifying our Lord Jesus in everything we do. We are not “to walk in fear.” Stand strong in Our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for everything our sins past, present and future, our healing, jobs,finances everything. We need to tell people about our Loving God and what a relationship with Him truly means.
Perhaps it is the Lord’s hand pushing His Church out of the building and into the world to seek and save the lost. Neither Jesus nor his disciples built a building and sat in it week after week. Gather wherever you can to pray and read the Wird and then GO OU!