Lockdown church? Straight jacket the church

[R. Hartono]

1 hour ago, LadyKay said:

Oh look. Another "anti-stay at home" thread from vic66! Okay....I'm ready! 

Yes. 

No.  But there are many many ways to feed God's sheep.  You have to be smart enough to think outside the box though to do it. 

Yes. So I sing at home. I sing in the shower. I sing in my Jeep. I sing when I do the dishes. 

I think the church family as a whole should look after each other in all times.  A phone call. An email mail message. A card or letter in the mail. 

Hummm........Perhaps if they are made for reason other than for the  health and safety of people. Such laws have always been in place. For example you can't have overcrowding in the church building due to fire codes. 

Churches should be good citizens of their community. And try to obey all laws of the community. But especially laws for health and safety reasons. 

We have not forsaken the assembling.  We meet every Sunday morning at 10:45 over the net.  I do not think that God wants us to be foolhardy. He gave each of us a mind in which we can reason. 

Well I think I answer everything. If you have any more questions feel free to ask. 

Many churches worry this lockdown preventing cashflow instead of worrying the people's safety.

[leah777]

11 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

"There are other ways to have a personal relationship with God." Forsaking  regular assembly with the saints is not one of them. 

Tell the disabled and shut in and isolated that they cannot be a good Christian because they cannot fellowship. Not.

[Neighbor]

38 minutes ago, leah777 said:

Tell the disabled and shut in and isolated that they cannot be a good Christian because they cannot fellowship. Not.

I was not addressing a shut in nor a disabled person.  There is no excuse for an abled bodied person to act like a disabled person may need to act.

Fact is I used to make a run to pick up severely mentally  and physically disabled individuals and take them to corporate worship. They loved it, participated and brought much to the quality of fellowship amongst the saints. I had one the most severely disabled that was on a gurney her body badly twisted up like a pretzel. She could not speak just utter sounds.

There was no way to know if she understood or not; except when I brought her into the main corporate worship she  seemed to brighten up. And when worship songs were sung with the word Jesus in it she would just get all excited and give out a loud joyful noise. No matter how limited she was  there was something about the name Jesus being sung that just lifted her greatly. To think that someone so limited  was blessed and also a blessing to others  does make me wonder at anyone that champions staying at home forsaking the privilege and duty of corporate worship.

Personally I find serious fault to be within anyone that can physically go to be with  brethren, but instead chooses not to  for they find the church  brethren not to be their brethren.  I do feel very sorry for them that they suffer such a plight, seems born of pride to me. Often it is claimed there was a hurt  from a brother or sister, but  I think it is pride. It was  for me, till I overcame my own folly of thinking  local church not worthy of me nor my time. I had made myself a congregation of one. Silly game to play. Fortunately the Holy Spirit righted me one day and I was led to a terrific twenty years of participation and work .

[LadyKay]

1 hour ago, Traveler said:

Change the venue of the church gathering to a drive in cinema where the radio speakers can be used to broadcast the message and the people can all stay in their own cars.

some places have done that. How dose that sound @vic66 dose that sound okay with you? 

[warrior12]

 Another thread with the same old argument. Sensible people look both ways before crossing the street, why, cause they don't want to get hit by the  bus.  

Common sense has to prevail here.  There is a crisis in the world, regardless if some see it as conspiracy or a systematic governmental control mechanism or other .  The FACT is, people are dying from a disease that humans can contract easily. What is so difficult to understand about that.  Yes, there are hardships and setbacks that we don't like and want to get back to normal, but  a bit of patience has to be endured here.

As the saying goes, Time heals every wound, no matter how fast you want that broken foot to heal, it will take the time that is needed and nothing can be done about it.  

So, those who think that God does not see every situation and knows the willingness of his saints to gather, is  arrogant and just being silly.  

I think  many want to try a social experiment that can come back to haunt them for a long long time.  Be patient and not like the kid that wants the candy at all cost, crying and being obstinate.  

I think also, the Christians who are advocating this impatience has not understood ALL of scripture.  

Did not scripture say to "endure hardship as a good soldier" and  

 

  1 Peter 4 King James Version (KJV)

¹² Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Edited May 12, 2020 by warrior12

[shortangel]

I agree with everything said here,  the church is not just a building we are the church,  a lot of churches are meeting online through a platform called Zoom,  there are pastors preaching online,  churches will probably be allowed to start meeting again with cleaning requirements in buildings,  like having hand wipes and plenty of antibacterial soap and hand santizer,  the Word of God says we are to obey the goverment except when it violates the Word of God

[Logostician]

You're right.  We need to get back to church and expand the church in revivalist fashion now more than ever.

[vic66]

8 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I think this is a good time for people to re-evaluate their definition of church. Listening to the pastor preach a sermon is fine, but there are more ways to feed the flock. God has given us multiple ways to assemble ourselves and reach out even in conditions like this. His ability to bless and make His presence known are certainly not hindered by distance and technology.

The definition  of church  needs no evaluation what is needed is faith obedience, courage to obey the words of christ regardless of what these unsaved gentiles governments decreed.

Yes sometimes in is right to obey rulers but not ALL the time. especially when their decreeds start to impact, close and stop the work of christ.(This is outrageous) we needs the spirit of Christ, the prophets and apostles that spoke the truth regardless.

Internet helps but not everyone has internet, neither is internet private, intelligence agencies  can easily spy on it.

local Church gatherings, house church  is essential to the support of the saints and the outreach of the community.

Many not all ministries are just falling down to shut up church and surrender to leaders who are not saved, and are using  covidv19 to in still fear in the church.

One might understand the unsaved being fearful of lossing their lives.(they have no hope and are fearful of what is to come)

But the spirit filled christian who loses their life for christ and the gospel will gain it on to eternal life.

Edited May 12, 2020 by vic66

[vic66]

7 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Hi,

Are you part of any local body  of Christ Jesus? I ask because the presentation made seems to be askew of facts in evidence.

 I associate with more than one local body of Christ Jesus. Each group has been extremely active during this so called lock down.  It is not a lockdown for we have had worship and sermon via youtube and facebook, plus prayer times, plus zoom conferences,  plus ministry to the local community helping  those with needs, gathering food and support  for many in need.

Some have had parking lot services as well, and are now planning the  worship building services for this coming weekend where we will have multiple services Saturdays and Sundays, More choices with fewer people in each time slot, plus Tuesday prayer meetings, and other group functions . All without violating  government decrees.

The extra times of contact via facebook and Youtube will continue as well. So there is expansion of outreach  as well as teaching and worship, not a contraction of opportunity.

The churches  are flexing  muscles learning to be strong  and very active in the face of harsh times. This is grand stuff no one is hidingtheir light under a bushel basket, most everyone is bold in  proclaiming the gospel of Jesus as never before in my lifetime.

Sadly this not the case everywhere

[Guest]

Right now we have no choice. Life or death depends on it. 

This virus is spread through breathing on each other. People close to each other, singing, touching, is the primary way it transmits. So no church or gathering can be allowed. 

It is so hard being without our collective worship. But obey our government we must.