Breaking! Judge rules John MacArthur And Grace Church May NOT hold Indoor Services this Sunday
L.A. County officials are celebrating after L.A. County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff sided with the public health officials hell-bent on shutting down Grace Community Church (GCC), giving the adversarial officials a win after a string of losses against the Church.
The judge overseeing the case ruled Thursday that the MacArthur-led megachurch would be barred from having indoor services this coming Sunday, as well as every other Sunday for the foreseeable future, arguing that the church being open is an “immediate threat to public health and safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
With the county obtaining a preliminary injunction, it means that GCC cannot meet indoors until it is resolved, but may still meet outside, so long as they socially distance, wear face masks, and meet in smaller groups. Judge Beckloff wrote in his decision:
While the court is mindful that there is no substitute for indoor worship in the ‘spiritual refuge’ of a sanctuary, the court cannot ignore the County Health Order does not dictate a ban on worship…
[Furthermore] The potential consequences of community spread of COVID-19 and concomitant risk of death to members of the community, associated and unassociated with the church, outweighs the harm that flows from the restriction on indoor worship caused by the county health order.
While both he and Judge James Chalfant had denied four of the county’s previous bids for a temporary restraining order against the church, the county was able to persuade them on the fifth time. He writes:
“The county persuasively argues congregants of the church are not isolated amongst themselves, but circulate within the county outside of their times together in religious worship. All citizens of the community therefore — even those who do not worship at the church — would be at risk of infection through community spread.”
The order also requires that GCC allow public health officials into their church and onto their property to carry out inspections and ensure the church is in compliance. According to court documents, the church has not allowed them to do this up to this point.
There have been no updates yet or comment from Special Counsel Jenna Ellis of the Thomas More Society, who is representing MacArthur and the Church.
Pray for Grace Community Church and the wisdom of the elder board.
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Did these Judges close Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s or any other main line business in this area?! To focus on religion is discrimination & must not be tolerated!
Praying
I live in NC and have been watching with a heavy heart at what is happening with your church. However I have a heavier heart when I see that no other churches are taking a stand with you! Maybe it would take a group of individuals to quietly organize this. If all churches and Christians took a stand, it would be extremely difficult for the government to act.
Thank you for standing up for god but not man. You are a leader for us because of your teaching.
Thank you Ed
amen
Do not be afraid, or be dismayed be strong and of good courage; for this the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight. Joshua 10: 25b.
Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart. Wait I say, on the Lord. Psalm 24: 18.
I say let them do it. The virus will spread throughout the congregation and will kill some of them. So much the better.
Why so much hate?
Greg is just saying what most leftist think. leftist co-worker let it slip once that he wanted to get rid of us Bible believers then backtracked when I called him out on his hypocrisy.
BTW our church never closed. No massk, no social distancing, hugs and handshakes: not one case of COVID.
How big is your church? Since Grace Church is so big I can see why the judge decided they should meet outdoors in smaller groups. I’m a conservative Christian and I’m skeptical of this virus but trying to keep an open mind and listen to both sides. I know people who’ve had the virus and I believe it was purposely created and unleashed. I’m also seeing a lot of lies about the virus. But erring on the side of caution since it’s hard to know exactly what to believe, I don’t see a problem with the masks/ social six feet distance when it is a large crowd. I really don’t get why the gov allows Walmart and other businesses to function but churches can’t? I mean why not just say only if people wear masks just like these businesses? So things like this make me not sure what to believe. The double standards are there.
Another thing I wonder is that maybe the reason your church and Grace Church hasn’t seen cases yet is because of all the precautions being taken by your communities. Not because the virus isn’t “real.” I do know it is only dangerous to some people, people in higher risk groups. So it seems that to protect the weaker we should be careful, for now, till we learn more. Neglecting corporate worship is a terrible thing. But wearing masks or meeting in smaller groups or outside doesn’t seem so bad or go against Scripture.
You’ll be thrilled when the totalitarians round up all of us for slaughter. You’ll not be so thrilled when it’s your turn. And don’t fool yourself; your day is coming, whether you believe it or not.
Greg. One day you’ll stand before the same God they’re serving. I’d be careful with hateful words against His children
Unconstitutional ! Remember this when you all in every state vote
It starts in your local elections. Vote all democrats and liberals out of office in your elections
Christians make your voices heard and your vote counted.
“The LORD will fight for you” Exodus 14:14