Posted on 04/10/2020 8:35:45 AM PDT by chicagolady
DESTINY CHURCH SERVICE CONSIDERED UNLAWFUL DESTINY CHURCH SPRINGFIELD·THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020·3 MINUTES Destiny Church in Springfield, IL has willingly held all church services online. However, for Easter we wanted to have a special parking lot service, just like the old drive in theater where no one got out of their cars. People were more than excited. But only 5 days before Easter, on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Mr. Bill Dart of the Sangamon County Department of Public health informed us that Destiny’s, “Easter Sunday, Drive-in Parking Lot Church Service” was in violation of Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order. I told Mr. Dart that I strongly disagreed as I had thoroughly examined the Executive Order for myself. I then immediately emailed the Sangamon County Sheriff, Jack Campbell, stating that I needed his understanding of the Governor’s Executive Order; paragraph 12C, where it clearly states that “organizations that provide charitable and social services”are exempt. In the interim I consulted with two, nationally known, Constitutional lawyers who totally agree with us; that we are clearly within our rights to assemble yet stay in our cars. However, late on Wednesday (4 days before Easter), April 8, 2020, Sheriff Jack Campbell responded to my email with a phone call. He informed me that he believes the church would be in violation. We had a very civil conversation for 15 minutes where he made his position clear. I disagreed, and then clearly stated our position. We both are considerate of each other’s dilemma. We believe the safety measures we put in place far exceed the CDC social distancing standards. Pastors would wear masks and gloves, no one would exit their car and the 1-hour service would be broadcast to their car radio. Even the cars would be more than 6 feet part. We even had food to distribute to those who have been affected by the Executive Order. I informed the Sheriff that today I had gone to both, Menards and Walmart. There were 100’s of cars, people walking around without masks, touching everything, exchanging/touching money etc… I expressed my utter distaste that the church (of which the government shall not regulate) has been marginalized as non-essential to our community. I told him that the church is clearly an “essential service” to the community and to deem pot dispensaries and liquor stores essential while in the same breath say the Church isn’t, is not only saddening, it is maddening. Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, Delaware, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia and other states have all decreed that church services may proceed and are indeed essential. However, even though we strongly believe the Body of Christ in Illinois is being unfairly targeted by this Executive Order. We will comply, for now. Sheriff Campbell was very polite, professional, understanding and even sympathetic. Together we are praying for a quick resolution to these oppressive restrictions slated to end on April 30th. Sincerely, Rev., Dr. Eric A. Hansen
Means something to some here and there...
“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Yeah, legalists.
Huh?
Context of that verse...confronting a brother in sin, who refuses to repent. The other believing brothers who confront him stand as a testimony that the Lord is in their decision.
Jesus is present at all times.
To the unbeliever He is beside them ...”para” convicting to God’s glory.
To the believer He is inside him ..”en” convicting to truth and righteousness
To the believer to do His work, for His glory, He is upon them ...”epi” upon them in His power.
The three positions of the Holy Spirit, as given in clear words in the NT.
If the verses are needed for further understanding, I’ll gladly provide them in reply after I cut the lawn, with God’s Spirit inside “en” me =o)
“IL has a weasel out clause:
SECTION 3. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, shall forever be guaranteed, and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege or capacity, on account of his religious opinions; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the State. No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship against his consent, nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)”
Superseded by the federal U.S. Constitution, if a case re this issue ended up in the SCOTUS.
There’s someone in a large group like that always needs to go to the bathroom...especially toddlers and adults on diuretics... just saying which is why these Drive Ins are problematic...still it is interesting observing how these governors are playing regulation wackamole as free people come up with ways to enjoy freedoms while trying to comply with tyrannical orders...
Now Christ said he is with “2-3 who are gathered in his name”...so that is why at home videos of services can work. Drive ins not needed.
There is no reason for religious people not to return a Bright line for the governor not to cross however. If he attempts the banning of internet broadband connections to church members’ pastors for corporate worship as unnecessary uses of resources during the “virus emergency”...then the state had better be ready to jail 10’s of thousands as they flood their churches. Make the state try to arrest them and force Trump to intervene...!
Amen!
Yup strange quiet about mosque worshippers in the media...not a peep.
My view is that requires our physical assembly in worship. I can support this from scripture. I can also support from scripture that folks who are ill or injured can lawfully stay home and are not winning. I don’t oppose livestream or other workarounds for those in that situation.
Otherwise we need to assemble, and not virtually, imo. Keeping six feet or working out bathroom situations is fine these are all doable.
When there’s a will there’s a way. I find the lack of will horrifying.
Good grief. GOD requires our physical assembly. And they aren’t SINNING if actually ill or in prison etc.
Well I think so too...but “In God we live and move and have our Being...” If that be the case then all of us are in spiritual contact everywhere, even if the physical can’t always happen. Indeed the brethren are to be encouraged to gather together...physically if possible...if not..God will cover for us!(And will allow us, like David to eat of the “shewbread” if there was nothing else)
I think you have church in defiance of the government or don’t have church if yours was to be the prevailing view. The bathroom thing was one such issue that freedom’s enemies would enjoy snickering over as we turned ourselves into pretzels trying to deal with it while worshipping in our minivans and cars....”oooh mommie Billie’s poo stinks”.
A family worshipping together in Christ’s name(as he promised that he would be with them) with others so connected via the internet with their pastors is not chopped liver. The test of what the Governors’ intentions towards worshippers would be if they tried to institute controls of content and bandwidth and times of usage...if that happens the reactions of patriots needs to be swift. The governors can try to arrest and bluster but theirs is a mighty weak hand with nominal military guard strength to back them up even if Trump allows it.
Don’t they have better things to do than micromanage the Density Church? Oh yeah, leftist governments can’t resist the temptation to walk around being the little SS and oppress because it’s fun, it’s what angry little twits live for. They do this while fantasizing how fun it would be if Bernie won and got the presidency for life (oh wait, that’s only 3 years).
It's not a "fact" and he knows it. He's a liar.
I wonder what he would do if say, they decided to have a Gay day or Gay parade?
Surely he would send in the swat team to stop it. Yes?
You do have the church in defiance of the government forbids the church To assemble physically.
That’s too far for the government to go.
It is wonderful to small w worship as a family. But there is Worship commanded by God that happens on Sundays and it’s run by biblically ordained elders and the gospel is live preached and baptisms occur and communion is taken. Offerings are brought and there is corporate live prayer and singing. Not replaceable by livestream or family or etc.
I don’t think it is a sin for us as members to not attend if our elders cancel.
But I think the elders should not cancel.
They should direct us to where to go if they can’t continue. They could have separate family groups with six feet distance, or have a-J in the main sanctuary and k- n in the nursery and o- z in the foyer. They can utilize masks. Whatever. But to wholesale cancel, no, I object.
Don't forget that Gay Pride parades and "celebrations" start in May. We will see what happens.
Congress didn’t make any such law.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
OK, IMO it's real simple Nobody may interfere with any of the items listed in the text of the 1st Amendment. No if, ands or buts about it.
The problem I see is the 1st Amendment starts with the word : (read the first word in the first sentence of My Tagline). So does that mean it applies ONLY to (see Tagline again) or do the lower level political scumbags think that the power extends to them as well ?
I opine that NOBODY has any authority to decide for Others. Only an individual may choose for themselves. So that means that any President, goobiner, city, town or county council(s) or boards, LEO of any type or Rank, National/State Guard, Code enforcement person, Crossing Guard or Hall Monitorhas any authority over Religious Services.
As a matter of fact the County Sheriff has the Responsablity to be sure that Every Citizens Rights are unincumbered in anyway.
A Fire Marshall may have Jurisdiction ONLY of building capacity & head count for Fire Safety purposes. <---- Doesn't apply in this case since it's an outside gathering.
Now of course I'm sure if anyone checks out the Local Ammunition Depot (aka mosque) things will be normal and no interference by anyone !!!
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