Non-essential church

[silentreader]

Grace, you and I often have different viewpoints but here we are on the same page.

Count me in also.

I guess in my opinion it has been a long time since that ministry last had a good testimony.

[Bootstrap]

That all sounds reasonable for you Americans, but not so much when here in BC I can go to Yoga class, go to the bar, go to the ski hill, participate in adult dance classes, but I am completely forbidden and could face fines to even have a family from church come sit in my backyard 50feet away with masks on..

Sure, I think the measures you take for church should be proportional to the measures you take for other really important things, and that can depend on the risk where you are. Here, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and colleges are also making dramatic changes because of Covid-19. Families are canceling large gatherings for Thanksgiving and even Christmas.

Those are also things I would consider essential.

[ken_sylvania]

On a different tangent concerning what is essential and what isn't. The Governor of Pennsylvania has put Covid mitigation restrictions on and one of the restrictions is phrohibiting large gatherings and events.

The following event will garner hundreds of people and is a clear violation to those restrictions. I am asking myself what testimony this type of gathering gives to the community for the cause of Christ.

The health care system, hospitals, ICU's in this area are full to capacity, surgeries are being cancelled, reserving health care workers for Covid patients, and then a Christian organization conducts a super spreader event, clearly violating the governing authorities ?

Frankly I am very disappointed in Gospel Express ministries.

I believe churches are specifically exempted from the current mass gatherings restrictions in PA. I don't know if this qualifies as a church event, but possibly it's not a violation of governor's orders per se. Not saying that it is a good idea though.

[ohio jones]

"I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live" which may not be very long, but at least I'll go out singing.

They have been to my area several times in the last few months, but to individual churches rather than a community-wide event.

[Grace]

I believe churches are specifically exempted from the current mass gatherings restrictions in PA. I don't know if this qualifies as a church event, but possibly it's not a violation of governor's orders per se. Not saying that it is a good idea though.

Event or Church service, you are right, it wasn't a good idea.

[Wade]

I think people are getting real tired of the continued prejudice against church services(and that includes any creative things to worship too) here in Canada while non essential things like skiing and bars were allowed to continue for so long

[KirkDaniel]

I think people are getting real tired of the continued prejudice against church services(and that includes any creative things to worship too) here in Canada while non essential things like skiing and bars were allowed to continue for so long

I personally loved this one. It is pure fire!

If more stood up, they'd have no choice but to back down.

[Sudsy]

I can't agree with this approach with the yelling and terrible name calling. Yes, Jesus did overthrew tables in the temple but he tells us to turn the other cheek. I don't think this preacher represents an Anabaptist approach to the situation. To me, the response would be more 'forgive them Father for they know not what they do'.

[Wade]

I can't agree with this approach with the yelling and terrible name calling. Yes, Jesus did overthrew tables in the temple but he tells us to turn the other cheek. I don't think this preacher represents an Anabaptist approach to the situation. To me, the response would be more 'forgive them Father for they know not what they do'.

I agree Sudsy, however, I believe if I submit to no indoor church services(including in small groups in homes which is illegal), and submit to no interactions at outdoor church services whatsoever (not even allowed to talk to one another), and submit to the regulations that we are not allowed to sing, and submit to abortion supported vaccines, and etc. I would not be showing even the least bit of a Christlike or Anabaptist approach, nor do I think submitting to these regulations shows any understanding of what the church actually is as a body of believers - not a place to sit as robots and listen to sermons without interaction. While I disagree with this Pastors approach I think he has shown the recognition of character in these regulations and that the church is something that is unable to exist within the confines of these inconsistent God-denying regulations.

[Sudsy]

I can't agree with this approach with the yelling and terrible name calling. Yes, Jesus did overthrew tables in the temple but he tells us to turn the other cheek. I don't think this preacher represents an Anabaptist approach to the situation. To me, the response would be more 'forgive them Father for they know not what they do'.

I agree Sudsy, however, I believe if I submit to no indoor church services(including in small groups in homes which is illegal), and submit to no interactions at outdoor church services whatsoever (not even allowed to talk to one another), and submit to the regulations that we are not allowed to sing, and submit to abortion supported vaccines, and etc. I would not be showing even the least bit of a Christlike or Anabaptist approach, nor do I think submitting to these regulations shows any understanding of what the church actually is as a body of believers - not a place to sit as robots and listen to sermons without interaction. While I disagree with this Pastors approach I think he has shown the recognition of character in these regulations and that the church is something that is unable to exist within the confines of these inconsistent God-denying regulations.

Not convinced as Jesus said even the gates of hell will not prevail against His building His church. China is estimated to have Christians in the millions in a far tougher setting than we have. Me thinks we are pretty spoiled here with our freedoms to worship freely. Maybe a little persecution is what we need here to separate the professing Christians from the possessing Christians.