Christian Group: You Must Reject Sensible COVID Restrictions... for Jesus!

[NeoGreen]

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/07/29/christian-group-you-must-reject-sensible-covid-restrictions-for-jesus/

Christian Group: You Must Reject Sensible COVID Restrictions… for Jesus!
By Hemant Mehta, July 29, 2020

Late last week, California megachurch leader John MacArthur acted like a persecuted hero when he announced that his Grace Community Church would refuse to obey lockdown orders in the wake of the pandemic. He said of any further closures that applied to churches, “Compliance would be disobedience to our Lord’s clear commands.”

It was selfish. It was dangerous. It was irresponsible.

So naturally the American Family Association is jumping onboard the hype. The conservative Christian group is urging people to “serve Christ first, not Caesar.”

Take the pledge to stand with other Christians to worship Jesus. Now is the time to serve Christ first, not Caesar. Put on the whole armor of God and take a stand against government leaders who insist that Christians must abandon their corporate worship of God.

Jesus Christ, these people are threats to public health…

Literally no government official has ever told Christians to stop worshiping. (How weak is their God that such a thing could even happen?!)

Christians can gather online, livestream sermons over Facebook, and even meet in person in limited numbers and with sensible precautions. (Obviously no one’s stopping them from praying privately.) But these evangelicals are acting like any restrictions are unfairly targeting them. As the saying goes, they’re confusing a paper cut with decapitation, and they’re unwilling to acknowledge that we’re all dealing with the paper cuts!

Worth repeating:
"... these people are threats to public health…"

[Docreed2003]

1. Never underestimate

The conservative evangelical Christian's ability to play the victim and take ludicrous, nonsensical political stands which are in direct conflict with the teachings of their Christ.

Literally no one is trying to interfere with their ability to "worship". In fact, I think I remember JC saying something along the lines of "wherever two are gathered". But, you know, I'm just a liberal trying to limit their ability to do business...err, I mean worship.

[smirkymonkey]

4. Matthew 6:5

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites
are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and
in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."

The fake Khristians want their money. It has nothing to do with faith. They are sickening hypocrites.

[teenagebambam]

2. My SANE pastor likes to say

“The Church is open for business. It just happens that the building is closed right now.” I doubt we’ll be back in person before Christmas, if even then.

[sanatanadharma]

6. Do all Christians ignore Jesus?

(The following may be read as metaphor or parable rather than scriptural treatise)

Red letter bible believers know that the entire teaching can be reduced to the few words of Jesus actually quoted.

And, from my point of view, it takes a Vedic point of view to understand Jesus' point of view.

When Jesus says render onto Caesar, render onto God, we need to understand that Jesus was pointing out the different realms of the Absolute and of the transient (transactional) and never shall the twain meet. One never saves one's own soul by shouting down (or worse) other souls.

Corona virus and masks exist in the transactional world where God's own creation and plans are playing out, or not.
Science and wisdom are gifts of the Divine. Why do some Christians deny the Divine?

(The above may be read as metaphor or parable rather than scriptural. The ideas presented here do not necessarily represent the opinions of the author)

[icymist]

7. The mega-church needs a mega-audience

in order to produce mega-profits; er tax free donations.
a.k.a.: Daddy wants another Maserati. You know, for the mistress.
Praise Mammon!