Why Your Church Should Safely Reopen Now

Why your church should safely reopen now Matt Stabler from the Council doing this today right here on the Christian will be read your program mission is to sharpen the biblical worldview of Christians to share the good news gospel that all people can be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ. The host web.

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It is now been nine weeks since government officials have ordered churches in America to cease worship services due to stated concerns about the spread of COBIT 19 many states there is no timetable for one government will allow churches to reopen way down the line and the phases of reopening but have you driven by your local big box retailer recently like Home Depot, Walmart or target parking lots are packed. People are lined up to enter in dozens and dozens if not hundreds of people are shopping inside so it is essential: court essential and reasonable and equal treatment that Home Depot is allowed to be open, not to mention Planned Parenthood and in bars in our neighboring state Wisconsin but not your local church.

Matt Stabler is an attorney and founder of Liberty Counsel to an international nonprofit litigation education and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and the family. He joins us today on the Christian real view to discuss why now is the time to safely open churches in America going to discuss the biblical and constitutional reasons for reopening, along with safety recommendations for your congregation and what to do if government authorities intervene as get to the first segment with Matt Stever, Matt. Thank you for for coming back on the program you know a lot's happened since you were last with us. It was actually in March 2019, we are talking about IEEE quality act and the loss of civil liberties, especially the danger for Christians with regard to that now we find ourselves at a new moment in American history with this coronavirus and V. The government shutdowns of really almost all of society, things are beginning to open back up but one thing that hasn't really open back up at least where we live in a many other states are churches. I think the main thing. Christians want to know is why are Home Depot, and Target and Walmart stores like these allowed to be open with literally hundreds of people in the store at one time but churches are still not allowed to be open while not a good question, and in fact that the unconstitutional issue that we are dealing with here to even categorize Walmart, Kmart, some of these other places, liquor stores, even abortion clinic is essential and not churches is a constitutional violation at unequal treatment to begin with, which at a minimum, the First Amendment demand, but frankly, churches are in the First Amendment with the free exercise free exercise of religion doesn't mean you just simply are a passive viewer. It means to be able to have the free exercise of religion and that also has a provision in the first minute that the government cannot establish religion and the government is attempting to do that by micromanaging and dictating the manner and form in the details of worship for all churches across the state and that's a real problem from a constitutional standpoint so we have been litigating on behalf of churches all over America and literally working with thousands and thousands of pastors nationwide.

Matt Stever of Liberty Counsel today. The sounder joins us. Their website is LC.org is an Liberty Counsel.org so for the churches that are being represented your regular church down the street what you recommend they do mean it will end in light of what the Bible talks about in Romans 13 other places about obeying government yet the government's transgressing way beyond the intention of our Constitution. Is this a time for civil disobedience in the start meeting again. Well let me address the Romans 13 and first Peter for example, because that is a period that the Scripture that often use and it's been probably one of the most abused scriptures in 2000 years of Christianity was certainly very abuse during the Nazi regime in 1933. That's when this a famous sermon was given in one of the Protestant churches with all the Nazi people there with all the Nazi regalia and flags and it was based on Romans 13. Just simply follow what the government is doing and we see that disaster that that ultimately resulted in so what we see in Romans 13 is very similar. First Peter and it's also very similar to what Jesus says in Matthew 2221 and Jesus gives a real balance to that of no mention in the second Roman 13, the first seven verses is where were talking about.

Obey the government and the reason why the government is established by God is for civic order light to punish the evildoers and to protect the good that's the purpose of government part punish the evildoers protect the good in that same context also talked about therefore that's why you pay taxes and Peter says something similar to that to pray for elected official, which we should always do. Jesus ultimately is presented with that question and they're trying to trick them and they say should we pay taxes to Caesar or not. He says to me, see one of the coins whose inscription is Caesar's.

He says render to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and to God the things that belong to God. That is really the jurisdictional question. If you go back from the Old Testament all the way through. Christianity tell the present what we have in the Old Testament, for example, is a division between the civic and the religious you have the king who does not have authority over the temple and worship you have the priest who does not have authority over the King. Those are two separate jurisdictions and we see sometimes where kings ultimately really stepped across the line and got into a lot of problems in trouble when they tried to interfere with and go into the actual temple to micromanage and dictate worship so you have two different spheres. The civic and you also have the religious Jesus is saying the same thing give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. So the real question is what about the church well the church is not under the jurisdiction of the government. The government has no right historically that even predates our Constitution throughout history, but also the First Amendment draws a line, you have no right of the government to prohibit the free exercise of religion and you have no right to micromanage or establish a religion. And that's exactly what you're doing when you're saying to churches across the board. Your form of worship has to be online or you can have a parking lot service, but no in person service, or you can have 10 people, but no more than that. Or if you're going to have a choir they shouldn't sing. Believe it. Those are some restrictions at around eight or if they sing no particular wind instruments. Only you know percussion instrument string instrument that really goes far and beyond what the Constitution provides. In fact, the constitutions of government has no authority in those areas. What you think the motivation is here for why churches are being allowed to open. I think the government would probably excuse as were not allowing large-scale sporting events, so we group churches into that, but what you think the reason is behind this is seemed it does seem big overreach like a very big overreach and you know the most restrictive states that were dealing with.

From the beginning even now are states in which you have an individual at the top who doesn't respect the sanctity of human life is very radically pro-abortion. And if they don't ask respect life that not respect your freedom or your liberty. So that's really a commonality that we see no respect life. You don't respect freedom and liberty. And that's what we see happening. There are people for several reasons.

One, they have an animosity to Christianity in church 02.

They have very little interaction with it and from their perspective. They're just not essential. So they wipe them off the map as though they don't exist yet at the same time saying that elective surgeries can't happen but you can have an elective abortion, or that you can go to the liquor store because that's an essential activity that you need to eat and then we could just shut that down during the pandemic of those of the kind of crazy things that are these arbitrary decisions that government is making and frankly you know the the liquor stores. The Walmart, Kmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, all of those different places, grocery stores, and they do not have a constitutional right to exist.

Churches do and there's two clauses of the First Amendment.

They give them special treatment over any other nonreligious entity and one of those is the free exercise of religion. Government has no right to tell you that you can or can't take communion that you can have only 10 people in the 5000 seat sanctuary doesn't matter whether it's a 50 seat church, or 5000 seat church or that you can't have parking lot services and I can give you examples of all of these things because we been litigating with them. We been pushing back on a lot of these restrictions met stable with us today on the Christian will be the founder of Liberty Counsel, an excellent organization that seeks to advance civil rights in the areas of religious freedom, sanctity of human life in the family. Correct me if I'm wrong. Summarize what you're saying is you think churches should be opening back up now and if the police come and try to interfere. What should churches or pastors do, then we are having conference calls with pastors. Three times a week now because we have so many that were dealing with throughout the country and work going through different options that they have and they vary from place to place and state to state locale to locale. So there is no one-size-fits-all. We do have a website that we created called reopened church.org reopen church.org as part of our liberty Council website which is LC.org get to it. Either way, LC.org reopen church.org and that that page is dedicated just to the process of beginning the process that the idea beginning the process of reopening the church not full-blown like we had them before. That'll come but to begin the process and so we have different ideas on there and also different health recommendations and guidelines that you can follow so that everyone can be safe, but that you can also begin the process of reopening and having in person services in a number of states there's restrictions are starting to relax. Florida, for example, the state that we've been working in a course that has changed ever since April 1. Churches have been considered essential and there's no mandatory restrictions on any church in the state of Florida. That's one of the largest states in the entire country has been like that since April 1 arising out of one of our cases out of Tampa, Florida, and there's other places around the country that are doing something similar, but on the other hand, there's some states like Illinois, Maine, Virginia California so many other states that have very restrictive regulations end up for some of these pastors.

I know they just are saying enough is enough.

Were going to be peaceful but were going to also not be treated like second-class citizens because everyone knows when you if you if you drive drive drive bio all Walmart or Home Depot not picking on those under St. everyone knows those it's like Christmas for three or four months in a row. They're having their busiest month ever matter always packed and yet you in many states or locales. They say you can even have parking lot services, or if you have in-service you can only have five people in New Mexico or 10 people. For example, in Chicago. Those are just absolutely out Landis restrictions and unconstitutional, so what should the church do they have their service I think it's unconstitutional. The police come what you recommended as an attorney as to how a pastor or church to deal with confrontation with the police. Okay Matt Stever is our guest today on the Christian real view, he will answer that particular question very real possibility in this world we live and ready for this first break of the day on the Christian world view were talking about why your church should safely reopen now we have a couple more segments with Matt. It's been excellent. Hope you're listening very carefully today. Especially people who were involved in churches will get into the biblical and constitutional basis for reopening how you should reopen what to do if the police comes Matt will answer that question.

Next, so much more to get to hear on the Christian real view today. By the way their website again is L.org great resources there also have reopen church.org, which is part of that website. More coming up in the Christian real view next. People everywhere have anxiety about the coronavirus pandemic.

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The email you get the short takes updates resources lots of resources available right now in our store. How to be fear of death by Ray comfort very popular booklet American gospel films, DVDs, kids resources, lots to do there@thechristianrealview.org why your church should safely reopen now that is our topic today on the program, Matt Stever, one of the most prominent leading experts attorneys on this these particular subjects from the liberty Council is our guest and I lets us get to the second segment of the interview with Matt seven Stever so what should a church do they have their service I think it's unconstitutional. The police come what you recommended as an attorney as to how a pastor or church to deal with confrontation with the police you want to avoid confrontation, obviously.

And that's going to can't speak for pastor or church leadership that the decision that they have to make. I can tell you and from a legal standpoint I haven't seen one regulation that I consider to be constitutional. I think they've all been away beyond their constitutional authority so that from a legal standpoint now from an active standpoint.

Terms of what you do. That's I can't tell in individuals what to do.

I can only say that's going to be a decision that you're going to have to consider and pray through and obviously in some cases, like for example, give you look at Kason and nine Virginia Virginia has a 10 person limitation of this church lighthouse Fellowship church that we were present on Palm Sunday had 16 people in a 293 seat sanctuary 16 people and they say 293 people so they were very far spaced out while the police came there and they gave a criminal summons to the pastor and he now faces up to a year in jail and a $2500 fine were going to represent him on that and I believe will clearly win the case. But on the other hand, we've also filed a federal lawsuit and that's that's pending moving forward in a particular situation.

So some cases like that that may be something that you have to consider is the possibility, but there it comes a time when you have to like Mark Luther King Junior safe enough is enough. They've gone too far. But that's not my decision that the pastor's decision and fortunately a lot of places around the country. You don't have to have that kind of decision that you're having to make because there are jurisdictions around the country where there are no or very few restrictions and you can work within some of those restrictions and so work were here to try to help you scope up the landscape of what's going on in your particular area and walk work through those situations and then you have to make a final decision is a pastor and church leader Matt Stever with us on the Christian real you today from the liberty Council.

He is the founder.

Their website is LC.org here in Minnesota. Matt, the governor just announced a going to be partially reopening the state on Monday but that does not include churches until.net back to the end to go to Illinois very similar. There's a template that's happening around in Minnesota is one of the states like that where this template is happening and what they're doing is they don't have churches in the essential category that has been from the very beginning when they start opening churches are nowhere down on that list and where you find them is in phase 4 phase 5 however many phases. They have a throw it in the last phase and like California, like Illinois, they say, well were never going to get past 50 people in the church for at least 12 to 18 months at least 12 to 18 months and that's only going to happen only have additional tracing, testing, and a vaccine that is universally available and frankly I don't think it's just going to be voluntary think you're going to require it. So that's going to be another battle coming down the road and that's what they're saying until we get all the stray cement testing and we get a universally available vaccine churches joint going you're not going back to normal uniting going back in Illinois beyond 50 people again.

It doesn't matter what you have a 5000 seat sanctuary and everything else in virtually in the community is open, the putting churches down at the very end of the list that is shocking. We shouldn't stand for that doesn't comport with anything we've ever known in this country. What this country is about, and it certainly unconstitutional.

You brought up the next question I want to ask you about this contact tracing the intimation of universal vaccination now means that this on the face of it does not seem constitutional you're forced to get a vaccination. What are your thoughts on that where I'm opposed to forced vaccinations. I think our freedom is. You know, people want to be vaccinated.

That's their free choice but want to be vaccinated that their free choice as well. This whole mandatory tracing testing and vaccination is something that has predated the COBIT 19 virus is something that has been in the planning phase globally by people such as Bill Gates, George Soros, Bill Clinton and many others like that pushing this universal tracing happening already in China.

It's already happening in other parts around the world with a or requiring an app on your phone that tracks every single move everyone that you come in contact with what even alert you if you're close to somebody that they don't want you to be close to and would be your digital immunity passport if you will actually be able to fly on an airplane or go into a public place or go into a restaurant in China.

The mandatory app you have to show that when you go into different public places like a restaurant has a green yellow and red light that comes up to give the person notice as to whether you have access to come in and that mandatory tracing tracking and testing and then the vaccination is all part of this global movement that's happening in the using COBIT 19 to literally excel or write their plan globally and that and we could talk a long time about what's going on with that particular plan but here's the shocking thing.

Believe it or not, even South Dakota. That is one state that didn't have any restrictions. Even South Dakota is moving forward with tracing and also this tracking the same thing as a one of the stimulus bills already gave money to the Centers for Disease Control to give out to the various state and other entities. Private entities for tracing and testing and right now there's a bill in the house. It already has about a week ago had 45 sponsors now it's got 60 or more sponsors in the house and it's called HR get this 6666 HR 6666 and it's the it's a bill that involves tracing.

It's that they want to do $100 million minimum a year to get to these governments so they can do exactly that trace every single movement and that becomes your digital passport as to whether you have your vaccinations whether you have been around someone that they don't want you to be around. And that gives you your access or give you a denial to actually gladden public here's one other thing New York is paying $27 an hour to people who will go out and knock on doors and then track down people using this digital information. There are right now. Tens of thousands of people that are already hired in currently being trained by these different states.

To do this very thing that I'm talking about. So there's a tracing aspects of you been in contact with and then they track you, they mandated a vaccination or else you knocking to be able to do X, Y, and Z. And now you've created a two-tier society of those who are privileged to have the vaccination. Those were not as an basic summary of what it is that I tried.

I mean even in Washington state right now when they're starting to open up, even some places you have to give your name and contact information as a prerequisite to come in to eat at the restaurant and so forth.

And that's happening in other places as well. We push back on that in Kansas City, Missouri, and they ultimately made it voluntary, but now you got it statewide in Washington and you're getting it pushed up throughout other parts of the country as well that the low-tech version of it and we already have instances in some places. What it had to give their name and contact information to go into stores or restaurants or someone took that and now starts stalking the women who patronize those locations. That's the low-tech version. The high-tech version will be something that tracks every single move and every person you come in contact with what is your overall view of this whole coronavirus pandemic as you think about this you as you look at governmental reaction even even societal reaction to this and initiatives have been put forward in the last two or three months in America.

What is your overall perspective on this whole thing. Okay, Matt, Steve, are our guest today on the Christian world. You, the founder of Liberty Council answered that question after this next break. He's giving very powerful concerning response responses to date about this particular issue of civil liberties in this in this country, specifically with regard to churches. But even beyond that and I were going to be going to a dark area of our society and our history in the something is done about it. I want to give you an alternate viewpoint on this. You heard Matt talk about the threat to constitutional liberties of religion in assembling everything else will. Here's Michigan Gov. Wittner Witmer she's on the left. She's been very much in the news very restrictive in her own state. Here's how she thinks she is so constitutional. Every decision that she makes in keeping her state shut down) is actually filed a law claiming emergency extension to May 28 is unlawful. They did not prove that. Are you acting beyond your authority here and you understand why there's so many concerns about government overreach. At this point, of course, I think that is a robust debate that we should absolutely have the fact of the matter is, every decision I made has been on the right side of the Constitution and always centered by epidemiology facts and science and to save lives, we taking these actions. We can't let all of the sacrifice that's been made be made in vain and watch people drop social distancing and go back to life is normal and run the risk of the very real risk of a second way is like living in an alternate universe. The left says all this is perfectly constitutional and justified people like Matt's neighbor obviously believe otherwise and with good reason.

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Within the Christian review ministry. We have one segment left with Matt Stever and them are going to get into three points about why your church should safely reopen now with regard to a biblical and constitutional basis. Matt's been talking about that how you should reopen what you should do if the authorities come to intervene. We have more soundbites coming up so much more to get you on the program.

Let's get to the last few minutes of our time with Matt Stever Stever of Liberty Council. What is your overall view of this whole coronavirus pandemic as you think about this you as you look at governmental reaction even even societal reaction to this and initiatives have been put forward in the last two or three months in America. What is your overall perspective on this whole thing, you know, we have to take pandemic seriously and at the same time, I was never ever afraid one minute one moment throughout this and that's I think one of the problems that we have.

Fear. Fear has ultimately fueled people and blinded people over this. I think that we knew before we did all of these outrageous lockdowns and restrictions we knew that those numbers were overblown. At least I did. I was opposed to those numbers I spoke against them from the very beginning I spoke against these restrictions.

From the very beginning.

Not one lie in favor of what has happened. I think we have we gone way beyond what we should have an and frankly, I think, and I think there's no question about that more people will die not only in the United States, but globally, by far, is going to dwarf the numbers of the people that have died and will die of covert, 19 then will die from the restrictions secondary to COBIT 19 and Rena right now. In some places South Africa there are roads of people and not talk about a single line talking about is why does a road to 1/2 miles long of people not being able to get food standing in line to try to get food there is. There are million hundreds of millions of people.

I think that will die worldwide from starvation because of what's happening in other countries that don't have the infrastructure we have. There are people I know already in this country that have died because they were able to get medical treatment have personal information about some of these individuals because think they stopped all the cancer treatment. They stopped you know other kinds of surgeries I stopped cancer surgery and heart surgery and all these other kinds of things at the same time allowing abortions to continue on. So I think it's been way, way overblown, and I think there's been a political agenda and a biased media that's really fueled this because of a broader agenda and that broader agenda is what I think the broader agendas control the broader agenda is depopulation and control while for example, if you make a vaccine. You have immunity from a lawsuit if your company that makes a vaccine. There's no liability, because Congress passed a law, a number of years ago give liability to pharmaceutical companies that create vaccine for crated drug otherwise outside of a vaccine that hurt somebody they can sue you but not for vaccines. So if you make a vaccine. You have protection from liability and then you want to mandate them and everyone you have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of billions into the trillions of dollars that that's take care. In addition to that, you have people like Bill Gates that want to reduce the global population by at least 15% and we see what happened in India with their vaccinations where they were laced with infertility drugs so that these people would become sterile, well it's really incredible. All that's taking place.

For now we appreciate your time today.

Matt coming on the Christian world you you are really in your organization Liberty Council really in the flashpoint right now.

What's taking place in our society so I know our listeners be praying for you and your staff as you litigate these various civil liberties issues going on right now and thank you as well for your comments and your encouragement for people and their churches. At this time right now to reopen. Thank you. Good to be with you again. Our website is LC.org and reopen church.org is the one just for churches. We will certainly direct people there. Thanks again Matt okay we would direct you to go there if you have more questions.

I hope you heard every minute of what Matt Stabler said today here on the Christian real view radio program it's really important at this time in our history that you're well aware of what's going on what your constitutional rights are what your duty to God is as a believer and if you missed any of it. Just go to our website the Christian rules you.org will have the audio up on their later today. Hopefully by this afternoon. We usually put it up after the program airs alive. The programmers live on Saturday mornings between 8:52 AM central time. Some of you here the program at later times over the weekend but that's when air is live and then once we get up there you can hear the program any time. Now let's get to some points here about why your church should safely reopen now and let's get to the biblical and constitutional basis for reopening first of the biblical basis and I think that the passage in acts chapter 4 is an important one to read and understand with regard to this issue because at that particular time. The disciples were being told by the religious leaders of the day not to preach in the name of Christ in their responses very interesting sites I just read part of that chapter because it's it's really does apply well were being told today as Christians don't do a a compulsory really a commanded part of our faith to assemble together. So it's slightly different command but is something that the essential to the Christian faith is to gather together Clay seah is the word for church. That word means to assemble assembly gather congregate Unigroup former body that's exactly what it is church watching church online is not the way church is meant to be. That's not church church is a gathering of believers together. So let's read this passage in acts chapter 4 and they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the sand in the Sadducees came up to them after the disciples being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead and they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day for was already evening that many of those who had heard the message of the disciples believed in the number of the men came to be about 5000 that evangelistic outreach verse five chapter 4 vacs in the next day their rulers and elders, and scribes are gathered together in Jerusalem and Annas the high priest was there and Caiaphas and John, and Alexander and all who were of high priestly dissent when they have placed them in the center.

They begin to inquire quote by what power or in what name have you done this" then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, rulers and elders of the people. If we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man they had healed someone as to how this man has been made.

Well, let it be known to all of you into all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead by this name. This man stands here before you in good health.

He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone and there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. Verse 13 now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed begin to recognize them as having been with Jesus and seeing the man who had been healed standing with them. They had nothing to say in reply, but when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they begin to confer with one another, saying, what shall we do with these men for the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem and we cannot deny it, but so that it will not spread any further among the people. Let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name. Stop being a Christian basically and when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus, but Peter and John answered and said to them, whether it is right in the sight of God, to give heed to you rather than to God. You be the judge. For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard. When they have threatened them further they let them go, finding no basis on which to punish them on account of the people because they were all glorifying God for what it happened for the man was more than 40 years old, on whom this miracle of healing had been performed when they have been released. The disciples went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders have said to them when they heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord, and said, oh Lord, it is you who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, who by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant said why did the Gentiles raise rage and the peoples devise futile things. The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers that are were gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed her against his Christ. For truly, in the city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel to do whatever your hand in your purpose predestined to occur or skip to the end is running out time this segment when they had prayed, the place for the I gather together was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. Now is the time to follow the model of these disciples and see what happens. The word gets spoken with boldness come back will get more into these points about how you should safely reopen your church. Now you listen to the Christian world you and David Wheaton David Wheaton here to tell you about my boys then story of love, loss and grace then was a yellow lab and inseparable companion stage of my life when I was single, competing in the professional tennis to.

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That's one AAA or 622 33 or my boys been.com. People everywhere have anxiety about the coronavirus pandemic. What will happen to their help, their job, their financial future. There is also heightened spiritual awareness is God doing in my right with him. We encourage you to order Ray comfort 20 page booklet how to be free from the fear of death, which explains how one can have peace with God in a confident hope this life and the next good news of the gospel. If you've never contacted the Christian worldview because the booklet how to be free from the fear of death free by calling is that one AAA 646-2233 for everyone else. You can order as many as you like for $0.50 per booklet, perfect for sharing with order go to the Christian worldview.board: one AAA 46 2233. The Christian worldview.org final segment of the day here in the Christian Realty radio program. Our topic is why your church should safely reopen now ready heard from Matt Stabler Stabler of Liberty Council and in the summary wrapup were answering that question with three points. The biblical and constitutional basis for reopening how you should reopen and .3 what you should do with the authorities tried to intervene still on the first point year we give you examples of the you the disciples being told not to preach by the religious leaders of their day and they said well you you may think that's right but we cannot contact. We cannot do any but preach the name of Christ are working to continue to do it. That's a command of God for us to do that just as gathering together in church command of God for believers of the biblical basis is that we should be gathering together of the state is saying the opposite is unsafe for people to gather in church. Therefore, we are ordering you not to gather for an undetermined length of time. There is no there is no many places we have no idea when churches will be deemed safe by government nursing the church is nonessential. This is an order that Christians cannot do it, at least for any length of time church online is not a church as the New Testament prescribes the New Testament prescribes church as in the example next to so then those who had received his word were baptized in that day there added 3000 souls another time of great outreach. They work years were churches. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship into the breaking of bread and prayer church is a corporate body of believers doing these things together. As I mentioned the word for churches at Clay seah in Greek. That means assembly did the go to another thesaurus for assembly. The words are gathering meeting congregation group body. Not only that the Scripture says in Hebrews 10 let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. I think it's fine for a church to decide for a short time in extraordinary circumstances as it was on the coronavirus first hit America trying to figure out what's going on here, but were way past that time. Now to classify the church as nonessential perfectly describes the worldview of biblical Christianity. It is just the opposite of the most essential part of life is exercising one's faith in God and part of that exercising of the faith is the church, the government response like that. Think Matt Stever for sure believes this is now an over response in its unconstitutional. I believe now it's time for the church to obey God rather than men. Matt explained the principle of Romans 13 the Christian should be good citizens, they should honor authorities and they should not be troublemakers that needs to be balanced against whether our authorities are exceeding their constitutional authority and commanding with that we do something different than what God commands us to do.

We look at the first amendment of the Constitution.

The very first one, 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 people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievance means these are exactly mean three or four. Those issues are exactly what's going on. This is literally the first amendment. The first freedom of this country are founders knew it was so important to put that right at the top. So these executive orders by governors and other elected officials is really supplanting the first right of citizens of this country and our Constitution were not in the state of martial law. Right now, many businesses and organizations are open. We mention this bars are open and are bordering state of Wisconsin. Planned Parenthood is open their scene is essential.

We now have experience with the virus. We can see the statistics of deaths per per the population size any fair court or judge would have a very difficult time justifying the continued shutdown of churches. It really is at this point, unjust treatment, or showing him showing partiality to order churches to remain closed and if Matt Stever a constitutional attorney specializing in religious rights is incurring encouraging churches to open. He must strongly believe there is a strong legal precedent to do so.

That's the first point, the biblical and constitutional basis for reopening the stick quickly to the second is how to reopen number one. I think there's a case here to be made for respectfully petitioning your governing authority and the disciples didn't.

In the case. The rednecks asked for, but Moses seemed to when he wanted to have the people go and worship the Lord you petition Pharaoh God told him to do that or you can petition the government talk about your safety plan. Why it's essential to open, but they turned down your reasonable petition then it's on to step two. Remember the early Americans petition to the government of England as well. So there. There is basis for petitioning the government rather than just going for. But if they just refuse unreasonably then step two.

Determine in your area using wisdom.

Wisdom.

Whether your air is being strongly impacted by the virus. If you're in a virus ridden part of New York City were still infecting large numbers of people. Wisdom dictates you may want to wait longer to meet in person just for the safety of your own congregation and for other people, but if you're almost anywhere else in the country like in Minnesota where there's been 650 deaths about 550 have been people who have lived an elder elderly care facilities in Home Depot and Walmart, target, OR are open for business.

It's a different story gift asked the question why is it more safe to be at a church.

Then at Walmart .3 how to reopen. Don't open in a defiant, rebellious or self-aggrandizing way or with a self-aggrandizing motive, a churches motivation should be. We need to obey God. We need to serve people's spiritual needs should not be trying to draw attention or conflict making grand announcement daring authorities to intervene just inform the congregation and open up safely. Number four. Establish a well-thought-out health and safety plan for your church, such as me give you bunch of bullet points or warning anyone who is sick or older or as underlying health conditions not to come early on avoiding physical contact like hugging her shaking hands and get the church spreading people out by family and your church giving there's physical distance may be doing multiple services. So your beer building can be more open and that's a closed-end with people together spreading the choir out suggesting people you don't go to bat, go to the bathroom before they come to church, administering communion by having people walk up to the front, surpassing a plate to tether everyone's touching it sanitizing the building before and after and recording everything by video and picture in case of lawsuits and then evaluating week by week. Are people getting sick. You look at that look at what's taking place, and if year not ready to meet on the inside of a church building, then there's no reason why you shouldn't be meeting on the outside and Alisa church parking lot service, and finally third point is what to do if the authorities come have your video cameras on. That's the only thing that's going to stand up in a court of law. You don't want to get into what you said they said type of situation be respectful. Don't be confrontational you're not looking for a fight, realize that civil authorities might try to even incite you don't talk too much. Explain why your opening and contact liberty, counsel or some other legal authority to be able to represent you and we do live in a changing and challenging world.

Everyone is time to think biblically and live accordingly about opening the church right now. We hope today's broadcast turned your heart toward God's word and his son to order a CD copy of today's program or sign up for our free weekly email or to find out how you can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ go to our website the Christian worldview dawdle. Call us toll-free at one Tripoli 646-2233. Christian worldview is a weekly one-hour radio program that is furnished by the overcoming foundation is supporting my listeners and sponsors request one of our current resources with your donation of any amount go to a Christian worldview dawdle or call us toll-free at one Tripoli 646-2230 3.2 SF Box 01, Excelsior, MN 55331 that's Box 401, Excelsior, MN 55331. Thanks for listening to the Christian world. Until next time think biblically live according