Maybe some of our churches are not essential after all

[Persevero]

As someone who believes the physical assembly is a positive command we must obey even if authorities forbid it -

I agree.

If my church - which is just starting to meet in a weird truncated form - was not willing to obey God rather than man at this juncture, then perhaps it was a test we did not pass.

God tests us. May we be found faithful.

[Persevero]

Cuban I have lost trust too but the solution is not to stop worshiping. It is to find a church that is true and faithful and serve and build there.

[cyclotic]

Too many seem to take the approach that asserting your rights as citizens is unbiblical.

I point you to the Apostle Paul. He was jailed for his faith. At one point, he pointed out his Roman citizenship by which jail without trial was punishable by death. The jailer offered to release him but Paul refused. He demanded the magistrates publicly escort him out of the jail. They did and told him to leave town. Instead he went to a house where believers were meeting, probably in secret.

I believe that like most americans, church leaders are constitutionally illiterate.

This will happen again and these leaders must learn and assert their rights.

[cuban leaf]

Nope. I’m “Christian”. I mean the offshoot of the “Church of Christ”. We’re not a Capella only. ;)

[cuban leaf]

The whole point of church is personal gatherings. I tried a couple of zoom sunday school classes. Nope.

The only thing Church brings me that I don’t get at home is the gathering together of believers. When that aspect is removed, church becomes utterly irrelevant for me.

[cuban leaf]

My wife and I have considered just starting our own church.

[cuban leaf]

I’ve always seen church as performing this function: A place to bless others and be blessed by others - iron sharpening iron, etc. But that requires personal gatherings. And here is the rub even on that. When we are gathered while social distancing and wearing masks, all I am seeing is forced social distancing and the wearing of masks, and my anger grows by the minute. It’s like being in a state run “Christian” church in the old soviet union.

To quote Jordan Peterson: I’m not doin’ it.

[MNDude]

Good idea. I would call it the OPEN doors.

[shanover]

COVID and now Floyd are both lies and easily are toppling the country over. The contrast of the docile nature of the people in lock downs and the barbaric anarchy of the rioters is stunning. The American “karen” is a Medusa.

[OrangeHoof]

Please keep in mind that I’m not being critical however the purpose of a church is for the building up of believers to spread the gospel and to help people develop a functioning relationship with God. We are here for His purpose and we should be reading Scripture and praying to learn what His will is for each of us.

What I’m trying to say is that Americans have so many different choices that they develop an attitude that the church is there for whatever YOU want it to be when, in reality, we should be where God WANTS us to be. The Holy Spirit will tell us if we’re in the wrong place. But it should be His calling, not our choosing and we should be willing to submit to the challenges God places before us not seeking to avoid it for a church that makes us more comfortable.

I’m not telling you to stay or go. I’m just urging you to humble yourself to God’s choice, whichever it is.

[cuban leaf]

I completely agree with all of that, but here’s the rub: All the “good” teaching I get from books, the internet and podcasts. Sermons are a dime a dozen and sunday school is good for bouncing ideas off each other, but that’s about it. I’m really in church more from a perspective of “Christian community”. i.e. the main reason I need to keep going is to stay plugged into the local community.

[BarbM]

The lukewarm response from church leaders and many are constitutionally illiterate.
__________

The hierarchy in my church is lead by a few lawyers, one is a law professor. I can’t understand how they could easily roll over and give up our right to worship. Virtual mass is not real.

And I am disheartened that there wasn’t anybody willing to open their church. I’m starting to wonder if the little commie in Rome has more than just “concern for the weakest” when he shut down the church...