RISE YE UP MAN OF GOD!
'We Must Obey God Rather Than Men'
California pastor John MacArthur said in a sermon Sunday his church will continue to meet in-person despite a state-mandated ban on such gatherings, saying that Christ – not the state – is the “head of the church.”
“I can't think of anything worse than to put an entire world into fear and then shut down the only place they could go to have their fear finally and completely removed,” said MacArthur, a well-known author and preacher at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif.
Churches in at least 30 counties have been ordered by the state to close again due to rising COVID-19 cases. MacArthur’s sermon came three days after the elders of Grace Community Church released a public statement saying the congregation “will not bow” to the state restrictions because the state itself had exceeded its authority.
MacArthur, in his sermon, said Grace Community closed during the initial stages of the pandemic as a voluntary measure to protect its members.
MacArthur’s sermon examined the role of government and the responsibility of the Christian. He also spotlighted Daniel 6 and the story of Daniel praying to God despite a ban on prayers to any being or individual except the king.
MacArthur quoted data on deaths from alcohol, cigarettes and abortion, and noted all three remain legal.
“Kill people with alcohol, kill people with cigarettes, kill people with the diseases because the hospitals don't function,” he said, referencing hospitals not accepting certain patients during the outbreak. “Lock people up so that everybody's under stress and make sure churches can't meet where [it's] the only place they could find hope and help. We will not bow to such bizarre standards. We’ll follow our Lord and trust him.”
The universal church, he said, “always refines its convictions under duress.” end of quote.
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As for our statement to the world:
“This is not a problem to be feared readers. This is a triumphant hour for the church to be the church”........ Where are you?
“Christ is the one true head of His church.”
“For that preeminent reason, we cannot accept and will not bow to the intrusive restrictions government officials now want to impose on our congregation or ministry outreach. We offer this response without rancor, and not out of hearts that are combative or rebellious (1 Timothy 2:1-8; 1 Peter 2:13-17), but with a sobering awareness that we must answer to the Lord Jesus for the stewardship He has given to us as shepherds of His precious flock,”.
“To government officials, we respectfully say with the apostles, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge’ (Acts 4:19). And our unhesitating reply to that question is the same as the apostles’: ‘We must obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29).”
Lords Knight
'We Must Obey God Rather Than Men'
California pastor John MacArthur said in a sermon Sunday his church will continue to meet in-person despite a state-mandated ban on such gatherings, saying that Christ – not the state – is the “head of the church.”
“I can't think of anything worse than to put an entire world into fear and then shut down the only place they could go to have their fear finally and completely removed,” said MacArthur, a well-known author and preacher at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif.
Churches in at least 30 counties have been ordered by the state to close again due to rising COVID-19 cases. MacArthur’s sermon came three days after the elders of Grace Community Church released a public statement saying the congregation “will not bow” to the state restrictions because the state itself had exceeded its authority.
MacArthur, in his sermon, said Grace Community closed during the initial stages of the pandemic as a voluntary measure to protect its members.
MacArthur’s sermon examined the role of government and the responsibility of the Christian. He also spotlighted Daniel 6 and the story of Daniel praying to God despite a ban on prayers to any being or individual except the king.
MacArthur quoted data on deaths from alcohol, cigarettes and abortion, and noted all three remain legal.
“Kill people with alcohol, kill people with cigarettes, kill people with the diseases because the hospitals don't function,” he said, referencing hospitals not accepting certain patients during the outbreak. “Lock people up so that everybody's under stress and make sure churches can't meet where [it's] the only place they could find hope and help. We will not bow to such bizarre standards. We’ll follow our Lord and trust him.”
The universal church, he said, “always refines its convictions under duress.” end of quote.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As for our statement to the world:
“This is not a problem to be feared readers. This is a triumphant hour for the church to be the church”........ Where are you?
“Christ is the one true head of His church.”
“For that preeminent reason, we cannot accept and will not bow to the intrusive restrictions government officials now want to impose on our congregation or ministry outreach. We offer this response without rancor, and not out of hearts that are combative or rebellious (1 Timothy 2:1-8; 1 Peter 2:13-17), but with a sobering awareness that we must answer to the Lord Jesus for the stewardship He has given to us as shepherds of His precious flock,”.
“To government officials, we respectfully say with the apostles, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge’ (Acts 4:19). And our unhesitating reply to that question is the same as the apostles’: ‘We must obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29).”
Lords Knight
