Louisiana church expecting 2,000 at Easter service despite coronavirus: 'Satan and a virus will not stop us'

The Hill ^ | April 10, 2020 | Brooke Spiel

[C19fan]

While many churches across the nation plan to hold their Easter services online Sunday, a Louisiana pastor says his church near Baton Rouge is expecting a crowd of 2,000 or more despite federal coronavirus guidance advising social distancing. “Satan and a virus will not stop us,” Rev. Tony Spell told Reuters. “God will shield us from all harm and sickness. We are not afraid. We are called by God to stand against the Antichrist creeping into America’s borders. We will spread the Gospel.” Spell has gained attention in recent days for insisting on holding in-person services as the coronavirus pandemic has left more than 14,700 dead in the United States and as cases nationwide top 431,000.

[faucetman]

STUPID!

Religiosity. MUST ATTEND CHURCH BUILDING and hear from a “man”, when you can stay safe at home and talk with God directly.

[Bob434]

[[“God will shield us from all harm and sickness.]]

All the parishioners will be driving 90 miles an hour with their eyes closed to get there? Of course not- they practice common sense when it comes to things like that- why not when it comes to things like viruses an being in close proximity with others who are infected?-

God doesn’t promise to shield us from the results of sin (ie viruses, accidents, drownings, hurricanes, etc etc etc- all these things came about because of original sin, and God makes it rain on the just and the unjust alike- in otherwords, He allows the dangers found in nature to affect everyone, Christian and nonChristian alike-)

He expects us to use common sense- God didn’t shield His disciples from death when they were hung, stoned by a mob, tortured, murdered in cold blood- He didn’t shield Christians during the roman times coliseum ‘games’ He doesn’t shield us from diseases, early deaths, etc etc-

Had a report posted on FR not long ago where a church gathered and more than 3 dozen people got infected- God didn’t shield them from the virus-

[abb]

Here’s the video from the Greenville, MS preacher after action report.

https://www.facebook.com/charles.hamilton.336/videos/2815558101813318/?fref=mentions&__tn__=K-R

Charles E. Hamilton Jr. was live.
April 9 at 7:45 PM ·

Update from our service this evening:

[jimmygrace]

First of all, this no one is forcing anyone to go. This is covered in something called the Constitution. Once the 2nd amendment got attacked full square by a major political party, now all bets are off because nothing is sacrosanct. Our speech is the next to go, and religion is already under attack. People don’t just want to live...they want to LIVE the life they choose. They take risks every day driving a car. When you say this gives Christians a bad name, what you are saying is that we should be sheep like the characterize us to be. To christians, death is not the worst thing that can happen to you.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Typical “ church”... Church is the operative word here not Christianity it’s all about the money it’s all about the money got to bring them in on Easter for the money there are many ways to have a service that’s still protects the parishioners Outdoors on the beach in a field with plenty of social distancing or on the Internet this guy is a show boater out for the money....drama queen...big ego

[Professional]

Damn...aren’t you a Judge.

[Professional]

True. But...”they” will say that these people exercising their free will somehow mysteriously will carry this virus around and then spread it to others....

These Fearpers have an excuse for everything. We can already see their apologies for the will ass guesses that were made to scare everyone over the last 6 weeks. But they have hope, the hope that soon...very soon....everyone gonna die....

We both know that the only real risk here is the fallout from economic collapse.

[abb]

Also this,

RULE OF LAW — The Governor of Louisiana has absolutely no power under RS 29:721-736 (Emergency Powers) to interfere with Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Assembly, the Right to Property or any other provision of the Declaration of Rights of the Louisiana Constitution. RS 29:736(D) specifically prohibits that. It says nothing in this Chapter shall diminish the rights spelled out in the Constitution

http://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=85685

D. Nothing in this Chapter shall be interpreted to diminish the rights guaranteed to all persons under the Declaration of Rights of the Louisiana Constitution or the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. This Chapter shall not violate Article II (Distribution of Powers), Article III (Legislative Branch), or Article V (Judicial Branch) of the Louisiana Constitution. The courts shall be open, and every person shall have an adequate remedy by due process of law and justice, administered without denial, partiality, or unreasonable delay, for injury to him in his person, property, reputation, or other rights. The orders of all courts shall have their full force and effect. The legislature may call itself into session at any time and shall exercise its powers and duties. Its ability to enact law, appropriate funds, and confirm appointees shall be in full force. The privileges and immunities of legislators shall be respected.

[Veggie Todd]

And a helicopter

Ha! Beat me to it.

[Dacula]

There are Catholics here ?

I am a proud Catholic and a Sir Knight with the Knights of Columbus. I was also the previous Honor Guard Commander for my Assembly.

[VanDeKoik]

"There isn’t a shred of evidence that this virus is some sort of doomsday illness."

"Well, it certainly isnt, that is for sure.

"Freerepublic has either been invaded by fanatics, left wingers, bots, zombies...? But man, if you actually think you’re a conservative and you condone the police state..."

Dude, seriously, I'm keeping my distance without a state order, and I've done so since Feb.. Some of us have vulnerable family members, and some of us would prefer not to put ourselves in situations if we can help it just to prove anything to people on the internet that are only going to be able to offer prayers if anyone gets it...If that's ok? Not everyone that doesnt want this thing is doing so because "we luvz tha police statez".

I honestly think a bunch of this stuff being ordered by these idiot governors and mayors is just pure BS. That being said, that doesn't mean I'm not going to protect myself as a personal choice just like the Gov. of South Dakota has said we should.

[Vermont Lt]

Good for them. Let’s get this shit out of the way fast.

[amihow]

Listen to the Lord.

“Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the test” Luke 4:12

[dfwgator]

Conservatism is all about personal responsibility, and it works great if everyone is personally responsible.

But we all know that ship sailed in this country a long time ago.

In a relatively mono-ethnic country, like Japan, yes that approach can work, especially since Japanese tend to be real big on that social sanctioning thing.

[cloudmountain]

You just showed your ignorance. No offense
Read about his church
If you’re Catholic like half this forum is don’t bother

HALF this forum is Catholic? My goodness. How do you know that...unless there is a symbolic fish next to the call sign?
Just curious.

[Daffynition]

Can those of us who weren’t close to normal in the first place just go back to being that?

Please.

[Da_Shrimp]

No He won't: God may note the fall of a sparrow, but doesn't make any effort to catch it.

[cloudmountain]

Conservatism is all about personal responsibility, and it works great if everyone is personally responsible.
But we all know that ship sailed in this country a long time ago.
In a relatively mono-ethnic country, like Japan, yes that approach can work, especially since Japanese tend to be real big on that social sanctioning thing.

The mono-ethnic country part is 100% true.
Sweden USED to be that way
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_immigrants_to_Sweden

Things didn't turn out, er, as the Swedes expected. Whodda thunk that an entire Nordic country would be so naive? It wasn't quite as bad as Cuba emptying their prisons and sending them to the USA...but it was close.

[Bob434]

[[They take risks every day driving a car.]]

True- but they take common sense precautions too- they don’t drive blindly- and folks don’t go to leper colonies and hang out for a couple of hours a day, at least not without taking very reasonable precautions

[[When you say this gives Christians a bad name, what you are saying is that we should be sheep like the characterize us to be.]]

I didn’t get that from what he said- My interpretation of his comment was that Christians should exercise reasonable precautions, while still maintaining their religious freedoms- for instance, we’ve seen reports of folks going to churches and staying in their cars, listening to the radio of live sermons, or perhaps a loudspeaker playing to the cars outside- Everyone gets to hear the message while endangering noone (many church goers are elderly folks)

[[To christians, death is not the worst thing that can happen to you.]]

That is true, but why rush it for others by infecting them possibly? I know that if i had the virus, and went to church, and a person with compromised immune system got it and died- that would be on my conscience- forever- not something I’d want to live with- people are downplaying this, but a church in Arkansas held a gathering and more than 3 dozen people got the virus - Did- they all come from that meeting? Perhaps not- but perhaps many did- We don’t know- they all got sick around the same time apparently-

Another church gathering for choir practice in Washington saw 45 people get sick and 2 died- I think the original poster is just calling for common sense about things like this- at least that’s how i understood their post- I don’t think they meant we should all be sheep- there are safe ways to hold services while the virus is spreading-

[Da_Shrimp]

“God will shield us from all harm and sickness.

No He won't. God may note the fall of every sparrow, but he makes no effort to catch them.