CHALLENGING TIMES, No. 2.

6. THE CHURCH

Churches are being challenged, and in many cases, prohibited from gathering with more than 50 people, and that with social distancing.

Isn’t it crazy that multitudes can protest in the streets unmasked, and without social distancing, and destroy life and property and at the same time pastors are fined and threatened with imprisonment if they allow their churches to assemble together?

And yet church assemblies are forbidden to be hindered or stopped according to the US Constitution. Those that forbid church gatherings are to be imprisoned according to our Constitution.

We need to be daily reminded of our First Amendment:

“The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prevents the government from making laws which regulate an establishment of religion, prohibit the free exercise of religion, or abridge the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assembly, or the right to petition the government for redress of grievances”

Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242 states:

“Whoever, under color of any law statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, . . . shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both . . .”

And have you read this? It was the ruling of the United States Supreme Court shortly after the Civil War in Ex parte Millligan, 71 U.S. 2 (1866) which still stands to this day:

“Neither the legislature nor any executive or judicial officer may disregard the provisions of the Constitution in case of emergency . . .

Section 98: “Anyone who declares the suspension of constitutionally guaranteed rights (to freely travel, peacefully assemble, earn a living, freely worship etc.) and or attempts to enforce such suspension within 50 independent, sovereign, continental United States of America is making war against our Constitution, and therefore, we the people. They violate their constitutional oath and thus immediately forfeit their office and authority and their proclamations may be disregarded with impunity and that means anyone, even the governor and President.”

Thank God for pastors who are prepared to stand up for the truth. We must stand behind 81-year-old Dr. John McArthur (Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California) who refuses to bow to a leftist governor. He is now being fined $1,000.00 a day and possible jail but he will not compromise.

He states: “This is not the first time we as Christ’s church have stood for Truth. We will continue to stand firm for the Truth today like we have every prior day in our 63-year history and as the biblical New Testament Church has done for more than 2000 years . . . We stand firm to continue fulfilling our biblical mandate from Christ to proclaim the Gospel and assemble together, and I earnestly hope that our stance will encourage other pastors, churches, and the general public across America and the world to also stand firm for biblical Truth. Church is essential.”

Where are all the rest of the pastors in this nation who will stop compromising and stand true to God and his Word? It seems that compromise and fear have become worse viruses than the covid.

Christians are meant to be a together people. There is so much written in God’s Word relating to the congregation of His people.

Hebrews 10:24, 25 says: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.”

Virtual meetings and online meetings are good, but not a substitute for the real thing because there is no “one anothering.”

There is no togethering.
There is no considering one another.
There is no provoking one another to love and good works.
There is no blessing one another.
There is no fellowshipping with one another.
There is no hospitality together.
There is no serving one another.
There is no sharing with another.
You can only do these things as you get together.

How can we “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” if we are not gathering together (Galatians 6.2)?

More to come.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell