Posted on 04/01/2020 11:09:14 AM PDT by USA Conservative
The pastor of a Tampa megachurch is facing charges after refusing to close its doors despite a “safer at home” order in effect in Hillsborough County, meant to stop the spread of COVID-19. The sheriff says up to 500 people were in attendance at Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne’s Sunday services.
Howard-Browne, 58, turned himself in Monday afternoon after Sheriff Chad Chronister and State Attorney Andrew Warren on Monday announced an arrest warrant had been issued for charges of unlawful assembly and violating public health emergency rules of isolation and quarantine. Howard-Browne was released 40 minutes later after posting a $500 bond.
Some of Howard-Browne’s colleagues in the evangelical community also said that they will not obey the social distancing.
A conservative Christian pastor Jonathan Shuttlesworth is one of them.
He issued an angry rebuke of churches taking measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, calling them “sissies” and “pansies” who have been “neutered.”
Jonathan Shuttlesworth, a televangelist who co-founded Revival Today TV, called out European churches that are taking measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
He promised to hold a large Woodstock-like Christian gathering in defiance of stay-at-home orders.
Shuttlesworth said:
“I’m gonna announce it, that we’re gonna hold an outdoor Easter blowout service, not online. A national gathering. People come from all over, like Woodstock, and we’re gonna gather and lift up Jesus Christ. I’m not ashamed that Dr. Rodney got arrested. I’m ashamed that when they wanted to arrest preachers for having church in an entire state, there was only one to come for.”
Video below:
https://twitter.com/RightWingWatch/status/1245019150545760256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1245019150545760256&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconservativeus.com%2Fvideo-a-conservative-christian-pastor-announces-massive-outdoor-easter-service-like-woodstock-after-florida-pastor-arrested%2F
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How is this any different than the Muslims in Pakistan saying that Allah will protect them, while we ridicule them in here for congregating?
As a lifelong Christian, if you tell me up front you’re a “good Christian” I know you’re not. This congregation is evidently comprised of scientifically challenged and very selfish people. They are not looking out for, or loving others first, only trying to overcome their fear in the presence of others who feel the same.
Those who went to Mardi Gras proved that this is pure idiocy right now, spring breakers the same. Both Louisiana and Florida have skyrocketing numbers now from their gatherings.
Flame all you want - because if you think that a huge gathering of anyone is a good idea you’re just plain stupid right now. How many new vectors from just one infected person in the group??? Go out in your yard, whatever.
Grow up, stay home for a while, pray for those infected or dying. Take care of your families. But if you need an audience, or someone else to tell you how to communicate with the Lord, I pity you.
yes, I agree. It is imprudent and uncharitable. Hardly an example of love your neighbor. More of a we don’t really care about our neighbor because we want to do what we want to do.
“..Part of me agrees with the preacher, and the other part does not. But, what about the religion of hate? Any bans on they meeting? Just askin’ because methinks I know the answer.
Which, if correct, really p*sses me off!!....”
I’m kinda in the same thought pattern as yourself.
The Lord gave a “stay at home order” the night the angel of death passed through. God didn’t put that gray matter between our ears for nothing. People should use a little common sense and have some situational awareness and understanding of what’s going on around them.
As far as the moslems are concerned...let em have at it. The more, the better.
I’m all for the ‘nor the free exercise thereof’ part, but I’m also in favor of the exhortation to obey our rulers because God put them there. Now, I’m not advocating that Christians follow bad (unbiblical) laws and orders. Rather, it just makes good sense to not congregate (ooh - a nice play on words, if I do say so myself) at such times. There are alternatives to in-person worship, especially in these times.
And please let’s not play dueling Bibles. There are plenty of verses that can be pointed to in defense of either position. This is my opinion. Right or wrong, it isn’t going to keep me out of - or get me into - Heaven.
Only through through trust in what Jesus did for us in his death and resurrection can any of us gain access to Heaven.
Are the members of the church and pastoral leadership having an ego trip or obeying civil authorities?
Even tho the TV ‘preachers’ prove otherwise, maybe the present day Pastors etc feel if they haven’t got a ‘close’ audience the donations will ‘dry up’.
Now they could have a parking lot service with ALL in their cars and the preacher on a podium with a ‘bubble boy’ type rig.
The collection could be done by golf cart or Segway.
The OLD Drive In theaters would be perfect, just make sure the speakers are working and the collectors can get over the humps.
For old time sake, you can smuggle your friends in the trunk of your car to avoid the astronomical fee of a buck or two .....<: <: <:
I hope it’s not like Woodstock. Those hippies paraded around in the mud in near nakedness while they consuming large quantities of drugs!
“megachurch”
Donations have dried up?
Too bad they will be voting democrat for an eternity.
Didn’t Daniel get thrown in the lion’s den for something like this?
Yeah, but it’s not going to be enough.
MIT says instead of 6 feet it should be 4 times that.
If you talk you’re putting a lot of particles into the air.
If you sing, you’re probably putting a ton of particles into the air.
Is outside better than indoors? I would think so. You’ll have a breeze refreshing the air, but it will also be spreading it down wind to a lot of people.
I see this as a mistake that is going to cost lives.
Look if people arent comfortable, dont participate. But if people want to remember the greatest event of all time, leave them alone.
If you are a Christian for any length of time you should know the church is YOU, not a building! You should know that the Sabbath is Saturday, NOT Sunday. You should know that home church is just as valuable as going to a central building. If you aren't having church and Bible study from Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown in your home,...that's your fault.
Romans 13:1-7 tells us that we are to submit to the authorities because God has appointed them for a reason. Obama was to punish us and Trump was to reward us. God is always teaching us. If we continue to murder babies and approve of sodomites, we should expect war, sickness, and economic hardship. At some point God will cut the first seal and release the Antichrist on the world. After that the four horsemen will be released and real punishment will come upon the world. If we won't repent (2Chron 7:14), then expect more lessons to come your way. They will get more pronounced and more painful each time as "birth pangs' do. All of this could have been avoided if we had been voting for Christians for the last 70 years. Right now, we have fallen for the Apostate church to lead. One test is if you kill babies, you are NOT a Christian. (You will know them by their fruit) Having a Woodstock for Christians does NOTHING for the cause of Christ. Easter is even a pagan holiday given to us by the RCC. Jesus was killed on Passover, buried on Unleavened Bread, and rose form the Grave on First Fruits. Easter never happens on First Fruits. What a joke to have civil unrest on a pagan holiday to try to honor Jesus. I don't think that's gonna work.
“I’m gonna announce it, that we’re gonna hold an outdoor Easter blowout service, not online. A national gathering. People come from all over, like Woodstock, and we’re gonna gather and lift up Jesus Christ. I’m not ashamed that Dr. Rodney got arrested. I’m ashamed that when they wanted to arrest preachers for having church in an entire state, there was only one to come for.”
Good. Maybe I'll go.
Praise God but pass the Purell first brother.
Show that virus who’s boss !!
He gets high marks for hubris.
I have no problem with the law.
But what law is the governor referencing with this isolation order?
What is bro preacher trying to prove?
If Jesus Himself were holding the service, you’d have to kill me to keep away. As it’s just some clown who doesn’t give a damn how many would die because of it. Nothing but a charlatan who’s going broke so...
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