John and Doves,Pastor John MacArthurOf Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA.(Los Angeles area)kept the doors of his Church open for Sunday Services after Govenor Gavin Newsom banned all California churches to be closed.
Pastor MacArthur is well known across America having been on Christian radio for decades. He is 81.
Even back in 1989 my mother listened to him in the closing months of her life,and favored his Biblical sermons.
Pastor John was in service on August 2, 2020when authorities came to close down his church.They were without warrants, and the Church's own hired Security Guards turned them away.
It has become a legal case now with Pastor John threatened with a fine of $1000 per day and /or arrest if he does not close down his church.
The Church has since hired the legal services of The Thomas More Societyand the Special Counselsof Jenna Ellis and Charles LiMandri who will defend Pastor John MacArthur in the legality of his stand.
Pastor MacArthur is not being civily disobedient.
**He is being Godly- Obedient** ACTS 5:29...
" We are to obey God, rather than man."
"Assemble all the more as you see the Day approaching".Hebrews 10:25
There are other pastors too who areas brave, courageous and Godly- Obedient as PastorMacArthur.
Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, also here in Southern California, is Godly-Obedient.He too has kept his Church open during the Governor's mandate to ban any assembling at allin churches in the State of California.
Also pastor Brandon Holthaus of Rock Harbor Church in Bakersfield, California is practicingGodly-Obedience with his church services for his flock being available.
These men are risking poverty if being fined by the government, andthey are risking arrest.
"I know your works, and tribulation and poverty, but thou art rich.".....(in the things that matter...like love of God and your fellow man.)Revelation 2:9.
When one suffers in the Church, we all suffer.Please uphold these men and their families in prayerthat Righteous justice prevails.
If we don't show prayer-care, then this is just the tip of the iceburg. Much more persecution will follow.All pastors across the land will have to take a stand--as well as all American Christians...and this will persist, despite the elections.
Only true Christians can turn the tide by crying out to God in their prayer closets.
"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of Hosts."Zechariah 4:6
These are men with families who are dedicated to feeding the flock of God. They do not seek confrontationswith others, but rather Reconciliation of man with God.As far as it lies within them, they seek peace with all men.Romans 12 :18
One can hear Patrick Henry(Founding Father 1775) saying:"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchasedat the price of chains and slavery ?"
[ ed: or political correctness?]
Forbid it Almighty God !"
"I know not what course others may take;But as for me,give me Liberty, or give me death !"
Pastor John MacArthur'sWebsite: Grace To You.His sermon on July 26, 2020 ...."ACTS 5 :29"