Isn't it REFRESHING to see a man who knows what is RIGHT and is willing to take his stand???

Pastor Slams Government Lockdowns: "I Will Go to Jail Before I Close My Church"

Pastors across America are speaking out against coronavirus orders that restrict religious gatherings, supposedly for safety reasons, while allowing huge protests to continue, casinos to open and abortion facilities to continue to kill unborn babies in elective abortions.

Last week, Tennessee pastor Greg Locke said he would rather go to jail than close his church, Global Vision Bible Church, the Washington Examiner reports.

"Churches should be open," Locke said. "There should be no excuses. I will go to jail before I close my church."

He said he refuses to "live in constant fear and media hysteria," and he will not stop holding services because of the coronavirus crisis.

The pastor also shared a popular July sermon by Pastor John MacArthur titled, "Christ, not Caesar, is head of the church."

Many believe government leaders are unfairly targeting houses of worship in violation of religious freedom, and a number of churches have filed lawsuits to challenge state orders.

In July, three California churches sued pro-abortion Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom for singling out houses of worship in his latest coronavirus restrictions.

The churches, Calvary Chapel of Ukiah, Calvary Chapel Fort Bragg and River of Life Church, said California leaders are unfairly targeting them by allowing massive protests to continue while heavily restricting religious worship.


 

Lawsuit claims Governor Andrew Cuomo's executive orders violate religious rights

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Freedom of speech and freedom of religion - both rights protected by the First Amendment. But two couples and a Depew minister have filed a lawsuit claiming executive orders issued and enforced by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Attorney General Letitia James and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz violate their right to freely practice their religion because they can't host their weddings to the full capacity.

As of June 25th, all gatherings, including weddings, are not allowed to exceed 50 people. The lawsuit said the department of health strictly enforces this policy and has even threatened one couple's venue if does not comply.

But the lawsuit also said this executive order of social distancing has not been fairly enforced and states there have been exceptions to that 50-person limit:

A deal reached by the National Football Leauge and the NFL Players Association bans players from attending any indoor church services that are above 25 percent capacity, multiple sources told NBC Sports on Saturday.

Alongside its restrictions on attending worship services, the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) also prohibits players from attending indoor nightclubs and bars (except for take-out), indoor concerts, professional sports games, and indoor parties that include 15 or more people.

The deal has not been publicly released, but NBC Sports made no mention of any restrictions on attending protests. Meanwhile, the NFL's Twitter account has been sharing and celebrating pictures of players engaging in protests around the country.




 

Will Authorities Cut Water and Electricity to Churches that Defy Newsom's Shutdown Order?

BY PAULA BOLYARD JUL 26, 2020 2:52 PM EST

On Saturday PJ Media reported that Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif., had announced it would not comply with Gov. Gavin Newsom's draconian COVID-19 order shuttering churches in counties that represent 80% of the state's population:

"We cannot and will not acquiesce to a government-imposed moratorium on our weekly congregational worship or other regular corporate gatherings," the church, led for the last half-century by Pastor John MacArthur, explained in a statement on its website. "Compliance would be disobedience to our Lord's clear commands" to meet together for worship. "The church by definition is an assembly," the pastors and elders of the church explained. "That is the literal meaning of the Greek word for 'church'-ekklesia-the assembly of the called-out ones." As a result, "no earthly state has a right to restrict, limit, or forbid the assembling of believers."

"Therefore, in response to the recent state order requiring churches in California to limit or suspend all meetings indefinitely, we, the pastors and elders of Grace Community Church, respectfully inform our civic leaders that they have exceeded their legitimate jurisdiction, and faithfulness to Christ prohibits us from observing the restrictions they want to impose on our corporate worship services," they wrote.

Any doubt that our CONSTITUTIONAL right to religious liberty is under attack??   I thought so.

We must PRAY and people must STAND for the truth.  Those with an anti-religious freedom agenda will only get away with what they are PERMITTED to get away with.

"....Having done all, to STAND'!!

Blessings

Bobbie Patray


TOMORROW IS PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IN TENNESSEE.  PLEASE, PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE!! So much will turn on the results of this election and YOUR vote is VITAL.