Government Demands or God's Commands - Whose Authority Rules the Church?

The message that John MacArthur gave on Sunday was dynamite.

One person on social media said this:

I feel like this John MacArthur sermon right now is one we'll read about in church history books.

— Marcus (@ImKingGinger) September 13, 2020

 The list of things churches in California are being expected to do is something that is way overboard!
John MacArthur listed some of the regulations on Sunday.

 

There are other churches out there doing basically the same thing as Grace Community Church (and I won't mention names to draw untoward attention by any government officials).
Sadly, you don't see many well-known evangelical leaders around the country speaking out in support of Grace Community Church or the other churches for that matter.

Those who understand that this situation is about more than an illness at this point will understand the dangers of governments creeping their tentacles into churches to try to control what they do or basically trying shut them down (and this isn't about building safety codes).
Liberal government authorities would love to control the church and ignore that Christ is its Head.

Don Green of Truth Community Church in Ohio did a Q & A last week where he was supportive of Grace. 
I'm very thankful for pastors like him.
TCC Q & A with Don Green

The world is a mess.
The U.S. is a mess right now, and we need Christian leaders and churches to stand up.   
It doesn't mean that people don't use the common sense God gave them when the situation calls for it (like when you have autoimmune issues and other health problems), but it does mean that people need to seek the Lord and pray and turn to Him rather than to trust in governments and our own strength (with virtually impossible regulations).
Shuttering or smothering large churches long term is not the answer.
People in Old Testament times were shown time and time again not to trust in their own strength, and when they did things went very badly for them.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man.
Psalm 118:8 NASB

Adoption Finalized, Sudden Sorrow, & Prayer Requests

I haven't shared anything on here for awhile, but I am still alive!

An Adoption Finalized 

I was happy to see that the adoption story that I've been following finally is complete. It was wonderful that they didn't have to wait until next year after all!

Sudden Sorrow

I heard a sobering yet encouraging message by Don Green this Sunday that is something that I believe could be both sobering and encouraging for many people. 

I plan to put the link with the title on here when/if they get it online (see update).

I remember how the Trusting God in Trying Times series made a difference to some people who listened, and I think that this one was good too.

Even when the hurricane of sudden trials comes upon you, there is still hope, though it has been obscured by the present trial.The sun may behind a cloud, but it is still there.
Earthly darkness cannot quench the Heavenly light which is in Christ.
(This was from listening to Don Green..not perfectly the way he said it.) 

Update: All You Need & So Much More 8/30/2020 message by Don Green.

Prayer Requests:

A family member is scheduled for a serious surgery this week which means it would involve a few days in the hospital if all goes well.

I would appreciate Christians praying for us.

Please also continue to pray for Grace Community Church and other churches like them who are facing difficulty from health and state leaders.  

Grace's next scheduled court date hearing is September 4th.

He Must Win the Battle

I finished another chapter in the Biblical Doctrine book recently, and I have 3 more chapters to go in the Ephesians commentary (by John MacArthur). 

It's been taking me years to go through these things.

Those who zipped right through, please don't laugh.

It always feels nice to finish a chapter! 

I got the commentary way back when they were having a good sale, and the other book was a gift. 

It's funny how some of the books and messages that I hear end up overlapping each other in what they talk about despite the fact that I'm crawling through the books.

The new chapter I'm reading in Biblical Doctrine (MacArthur/Mayhue) is speaking of angels (holy and not).

The chapter in the commentary that I finished today spoke of demons and the spiritual battle (and it's not about methods to try to get rid of demons), and Don Green (of Truth Community Church in the Cincinnati, OH area) has been teaching recently on the armor of God, etc. ...well from the same book of the Bible (Ephesians). 

Timing. 

And then with what is going on in this nation & even affecting churches, it is a reminder of the spiritual battle that is still going on. 

It's not just about political battles or earthly fighting or about COVID-19.

Satan wants to harm the church and do damage.

I've also been reminded more than once from a few sources about getting into the Word.

We need to not just be wading through it, but we need to dive deep.
The Word sanctifies believers, and it's the Sword.

I know I don't spend enough time in it.

How about you?

Prayer is also important.  God is the one who will win the battle.  

We can't fight in our own strength.

Support John MacArthur

This is the first amendment to the Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

My last blog post addressed how American churches are losing some of their freedom.

Since then, I have learned John MacArthur has been threatened with arrest and $1,000 a day fines against Grace Community Church and John MacArthur himself.

The Church and John are now being represented by a couple of well-trained and experienced lawyers.

The illness is serious, but I believe that Gavin Newsom has abused his authority.

Will the courts uphold the Constitution this time?

That remains to be seen.

See Articles:

CA Church Is Fighting State's Attempt to Squash Religious Freedom

Grace Church News

John MacArthur has not pushed anyone fearful of the disease to come.  He realizes there are vulnerable and ill people, even though last I heard there had not been a known recent problem with people of the church.

An Important Update from Our Pastor from Grace Community Church on Vimeo.

Last Sunday, John gave a clear Gospel church message, and I hope that people will spread that message:
The Truth About Death, Part 1 (Lessons About Death From Jesus).

Sadly, some "Christians" today would rather support protesters and the admittedly Marxist Black Lives Matter group (who are not standing for what those people think they are standing for).

There are some that are hesitant to stand behind a man (John MacArthur) who is standing up for Scripture's structure of church leadership and practice. 
John has been one to not get into the civil disobedience thing, so when you see him standing up you know it's a matter of conscience based on what he sees in Scripture.

For those who think that their statement was meant to make other elders make the same decision to

allow people to come to church, please read the Responses to Common Questions by Phil Johnson (and Friends). This isn't about a lack of care for anyone's health. 

Some of the state governments are overreaching their Constitutional authority even into telling churches whether they can sing or not.  If people start to get sick, the churches are capable of making decisions.  We can try (and believe me I try) to avoid illness, but one or two times going out even cautiously can get you sick. 
If physical food and healthcare are essential, true churches that teach Scripture are even more important.
In communist and Islamic countries, they try to shut down Christians and the church.
God's truth will march on, but those who try to stop it (governors, mayors, rioters who burn Bibles, or whatever) will in the end lose their futile efforts.
They need to repent and trust Christ, or they will face Him as their Judge in eternity.
I suspect that some governors are on a power trip as well as some are just afraid.

Please, Christians, support John MacArthur and pray for him.  He is not a young man.
He and the elders of Grace are standing no matter the cost much like those we defend in communist countries where they take down crosses and break up churches.
When you see a sports player stand up for the U.S. national anthem, remember that John is standing up for the church being able to follow the Biblical model. 
On another level, he is standing up for what the Constitution says - whether the U.S. Supreme Court will stand up for it or not.
Would you even support him on that level?
There is no need for people to snipe at him with public comments and blog posts just because their church hasn't done the same.
He needs his "friends" to stand alongside him.

Will you let John know that you are praying for him? 
Isn't that the very least Christians can do?

Freedom Lost & Freedom Gained

Freedom for churches is no longer guaranteed in the U.S.A.

I have read that the Supreme Court ruled against the appeal of a church in Nevada of attendance restrictions that made the allowance of only 50 people in a church regardless of the building size, yet they let casinos have 50% of their capacity.

In California, the governor (Gavin Newsome) has made some restrictions against churches meeting (especially indoors) as indefinite, yet they have allowed massive protests. 

They also have forbidden churches singing indoors.

Some churches are going outside.

John MacArthur and the elders of Grace Community Church at first went along with not meeting for a time due to the civil governments and churches being responsible about health (like Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2), but things have changed.

If you want to read their statement, you can see it HERE.

Here in Tennessee there is more freedom for churches, but there is no guarantee that it will last in this quickly changing nation and world.

This world is not the final home of the Christian.

Our true freedom is found in Christ no matter what happens to us down here.

If we lose our freedom here on earth, we must turn all the more to Christ for our hope and His eternal promises.

People need the Gospel in whatever ways we can get it out, and believers can pray for wisdom and courage for other believers who are making difficult decisions.

Whether or not we are completely certain about all of the decisions, people's consciences toward God to rule their lives (when it's basis is Scriptural) is something that should be considered.

There is a spiritual battle going on rather than solely a physical or political one.

It should not be a matter of a desire for being rebellious or worry about what others call caving in.  

It's a matter of conscience toward God.

People have to look at Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 as well as Acts 5:29 and Ephesians 5, etc.

We should care for and pray for brothers and sisters in Christ in these times.

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 

So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 

For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.

Hebrews 13:12-14 NASB

Este é o Evangelho!

Amigo, Deus é Santo.
Há um Deus no Céu o qual criou você e eu, e ele é a autoridade sobre ambos.
Ele é perfeitamente santo.
"Deus é luz, e não há nele treva nenhuma" (1 João 1:5).
E o problema com isto é que se nós quisermos ter comunhão com Deus, nós temos que ser luz e nenhuma escuridão.
E aqui está o problema: nós somos escuridão.
Nós somos cheios de pecados.
Todos quebramos a lei Dele.
Todos mentimos, roubamos, todos olhamos com luxúria, todos tivemos ódio contra nossos irmãos em nossos corações.
Todos estamos aquém do glorioso padrão de perfeição que Deus requer (Rom 3:23).
E não há nada que possamos fazer sobre isto.
Nenhuma quantidade de trabalhos, nenhuma quantidade de contrição, nenhuma quantidade de sentimentos ruins, nenhuma quantidade de presença em Igreja, nenhuma quantidade de leitura da Bíblia, nenhuma quantidade de evangelismo pode obter o perdão dos nossos pecados e a retidão que Deus requer (Tito 3:5; cf. Isa 64:6).

E ainda assim Deus é gracioso, e Ele nos ama, e enquanto Suas criaturas Ele quer mostrar a nós Sua glória ao nos resgatar disto.
E então Ele enviou Seu Filho – Deus na carne, o Senhor Jesus Cristo – para nascer como um bebezinho indefeso (João 1:14; 3:16; Col 2:9).
Deus do universo, sustentador do universo, Ele mesmo sendo sustentado no útero de uma jovem Hebraica, e sustentando o mundo pela palavra de Seu poder (Heb 1:3) enquanto Ele é sustentado pelos nutrientes do corpo dela!
Inexprimível!
E em grande humildade, Ele cresceu com as dores da vida num mundo caído, apesar Dele Mesmo nunca ter pecado algum em si – inteiramente sem pecado (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 7:26).
E Ele viveu uma vida de perfeita retidão.
Da forma que você e eu falhamos em viver às vistas de Deus – do jeito que nós falhamos em pensamento, palavra, e ato, e ficamos aquém da glória de Deus – Cristo nunca o ficou.
Nem sequer em pensamento.
Ele amou Deus, Seu Pai, perfeitamente.
Ele sempre caminhou em perfeita retidão.
Ele viveu a vida que você é comandado viver, que eu sou comandado viver, que nós falhamos em viver.
Ele viveu a vida perfeita que a dignidade de Deus demanda.

E não somente Ele viveu por nós, Ele morreu por nós.
Ele foi à Cruz.
Nosso Pecado exige a morte.
Nosso pecado exige punição eterna.
Nosso pecado exige a ira – a justa ira exercida em nós por toda a eternidade (Rom 6:23).
Mas por causa da infinita dignidade da pessoa de Cristo, Ele estava naquela cruz.
E naquela cruz, Deus exerceu Nele a complete fúria de Sua própria ira (Rom 3:24-26; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:10-14), que a mim e a vós era justamente devida, e que você vai receber se não se tornar do seu pecado e confiar neste Messias.
Cristo nasceu, viveu, morreu, e foi erguido (1 Cor 15:3-4).
E ele se ergueu do túmulo após ter sido morto, demonstrando assim Sua vitória sobre o pecado e a morte.

E agora Deus promete que se você se tornar do seu pecado, se você repudiar tudo que você é e tudo que foi e tudo que amas, e você se tornar contrário a uma vida procurando o pecado – e se você repudiar não somente seus trabalhos malignos como também suas benfeitorias, se você se tornar de tentar obter sua salvação por todos os bons atos que você possa desejar fazer enquanto uma pessoa moral – se você se tornar de tudo isso (Atos 17:30-31), e você confiar em Cristo sozinho para retidão (Filip 3:7-8; cf. Rom 3:28; 10:4), Deus promete que Ele vai te perdoar.
Ele terá tratado Cristo na cruz como se Cristo tivesse vivido sua vida.
E Ele então tratará você, justamente e legalmente e em retidão, como se você tivesse vivido a vida reta e perfeita de Cristo (2 Cor 5:21).
E você pode ser salvo para conhecer o Deus que o criou para amar e apreciar.
Você pode ter a totalidade da alegria, o eterno desfrutar que há à mão direita do Pai no Céu(Salmo 16:11), e começar mesmo agora, porquê vida eterna é conhecer Deus (João 17:3).

Amigo, você se arrepende? Você se torna do seu pecado e passa a confiar neste perfeito Salvador para te redimir frente a Deus, para pagar por seus pecados e te prover retidão?

Este é o Evangelho!

The English text translated from is used by the permission of Mike Riccardi and translated into Portuguese by T. C.
The original video and text in English are HERE.

You can also find the Portuguese translation HERE.

Church History, Kidnapped Amish Woman, & Encouraging Music

Lessons to Understand and Appreciate the Basics of Church History I have listened to lectures (online) by Nathan Busenitz on historical Theology, and this book on church history looks like it would be good for groups or classes!
There seems to be a teacher's guide.

Missing Woman
I've been following the story of a young Amish woman who disappeared in Pennsylvania on June 21, 2020.
I do not endorse the Amish as far as their beliefs go.
They seem to not have the true Gospel (they believe in being kept by works and generally not saved by faith alone..but by staying Amish & keeping manmade rules).
That being said, the latest update looks to be very sad.  They have some evidence of kidnapping, and they are charging someone.  They have not found her.  It's not looking good.
Please check out the photos of Linda, the car and man (suspect), and share, if you would like to help.

Man Charged with Kidnapping Linda Stoltzfoos

Go to this link to find a picture of Linda Stoltzfoos.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Many of us are going through difficult times of various kinds.
Darren Wiebe and a friend of his did an online hymn sing awhile back, and I've gone back and been encouraged by this song.