Senators Have Message for Kentucky Governor Who Pledged to Record Churchgoers' License Plates

Easter Sunday is one of the most important days of the year for Christians around the globe. Yet the holiday will look much different this year during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of celebrating with fellow worshipers, most Christians will be celebrating Jesus's resurrection from their living rooms. Including Vice President Mike Pence. The CDC wants it that way, having issued guidelines that Americans avoid gatherings of more than ten people.

However, some churches are defying those guidelines on Sunday and holding Easter services as previously planned. Louisiana Pastor Tony Spell, for instance, was charged with half a dozen misdemeanors last week for defying government orders and proceeding with his in-person church services.

It's making officials justifiably nervous because COVID-19 is extremely contagious. But, did Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear go a step too far when he announced that authorities would be writing down the license plate numbers of anyone they see attending church this Lord's Day?

"For those who decide to participate in a mass gathering of any type of which the state is notified of, the license plates of those individuals will be recorded and given to health department officials," News Channel 5 Nashville reported. "They will then visit the individuals home bringing with them an order to quarantine for 14 days."

Conservative critics Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rand Paul (R-KY) thought Beshear was overstepping his authority.

Beshear did not, however, completely oppose drive-through church services. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron encouraged religious Kentuckians to use the method for their Sunday worship, arguing that they should have that right as long as drive-through services are still available for liquor stores, restaurants and other businesses.

"As long as religious groups and worshippers are complying with current Centers for Disease Control recommendations for social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, we see no problem with these drive-in services," Cameron said. “Religious organizations should not be treated any differently than other entities that are simultaneously conducting drive-through organizations, while also abiding by social distancing policies."

Judge Justin Walker, who was recently nominated to the D.C. Circuit Court, issued a restraining order on Saturday allowing for drive-through church service in Louisville. Kentucky Republicans Mitch McConnell and Sen. Paul approved.

Grateful for this strong, eloquent ruling defending Kentuckians’ religious liberty from Judge Justin Walker, @POTUS’s outstanding nominee for the D.C. Circuit. Of course church parking lots cannot be singled out with unfair standards that differ from other establishments. https://t.co/uS0V9lJ2uX— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) April 11, 2020

Thank God for a judge who understands the First Amendment prevents the government from prohibiting the free government exercise of religion.

COVID-19 in Kentucky: Judge grants church's request to hold services https://t.co/FMPfOe9GB0— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 11, 2020

Sanity. https://t.co/1s2y7fWZor— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 11, 2020

No matter how or where you're celebrating this Sunday, a very Happy Easter to you all!

The Resurrection is Against the Law

An excerpt from Bill Wylie-Kellermann’s classic Seasons of Faith and Conscience (1991).

The sealing of the tomb is, I believe, notoriously misunderstood. I grew up with a Sunday School notion that to seal the tomb was a matter of hefting the big stone and cementing it tight. The seal, in my mind’s eye, was something like first-century caulking–puttying up the cracks to keep the stink in. Not so. This is a legal seal. Cords would be strung across the rock and anchored at each end with clay. To move the stone would break the seal and indicate tampering.

The event conspicuously echoes the story of Daniel sealed in the den of lions. “And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel” (Daniel 6:18). As there, this is a legal lock on the tomb door–not air tight, but politically tight. To move the stone and break the seal is a civil crime. The resurrection is against the law.

The seal is also a recurring theme in the book of Revelation. Remember the scroll of history sealed with seven seals? Only One is worthy to break them and look upon or unveil the truth: that One is the Lamb who was slain. The seal is a claim of ownership and authority. Its meaning in Revelation is at least that God in Christ reigns sovereign over all history and in all events.

Caesar, in Pilate, on the other hand, violently disputes the claim. He has set his seal of approval on Jesus’ death, and now he guarantees it with troops. Secured by security forces. When the seal is broken in the resurrection, it stands among the signs that the power of the powers (death in all its forms) has been broken. The dominion of political authority–especially inflated, aggressive–and imperial authority has been cut to the heart.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.