To state the obvious; these are really sad times.
As many of you know Pastor John MacArthur has opened his Church and says all Churches must do the same thing in defiance to government.
Christians are now throwing each other under the bus.
For example some are saying that there is no such thing as a Christian who obeys the government concerning keeping their Churches closed.
Some comments are very mean spirited about this.
Christians who normally agree with each other on most points of doctrine, now look like they do not even think the other side are true Christians.
I find myself wanting to be a peace maker, but when I try I am thrown under the bus as well.

It might be time for me to take a break from social media for a while.

Tom

In the United States, as I have so often stated, we have The Constitution which protects all God-given rights/freedoms from government rule; both foreign and domestic. In that founding document it states in the First Amendment:

Thus it makes no matter if the President, governor, mayor or any other government office or agency makes an edict denying or restricting the rights and freedoms stated therein. The government does not grant such freedoms. The people need not petition for petition to exercising any of those rights and freedoms. They are granted, according to the founders, by God Himself, and therefore as it states in the Second Amendment regarding the owning of firearms:

Now, as is true for "Christian Liberty" it is thus true for secular guaranteed rights and freedoms... they are to be exercised with wisdom and prudence. One is free to exercise one's right but it may not be conducive to do so, e.g., for the benefit of others. In the current situation which has come upon the world by the perfect providence of God, the rights and freedoms of those who profess religion, Christian or otherwise, cannot be annulled nor diminished. However it may be prudent to not exercise their right to assemble in order to not further spread COV19. This would be a personal decision of individuals. At the same time, the government; federal, state, nor local has any authority to deny that right.

Soooooooo, John MacArthur has the RIGHT to open his church because that freedom is guaranteed by the Constitution. But John MacArthur has no authority to demand that all other churches MUST follow suit. To exercise the freedom of religion and assembly or to not do so is a private, individual decision. One has the right and freedom to assemble or to not assemble. One's conscious must determine what one does.

There is no cause in this matter for any professing Christian to "throw someone under the bus".

Pilgrim

I am well aware of 1st Amendment Rights and my view is very much like yours.
I also believe that MacArthur has the right to open his Church.
What I have a problem with is Christians who throw other Christians under the bus and claim that they are not true Christians for having a different understanding. I am finding this happening more and more and it is not like it is Arminians against Calvinists. It is Calvinists against Calvinist. Exactly what the enemy wants.

Tom

One would be hard pressed to find any justification to base the verity of one's profession of faith on the matter of whether one should open a church or to keep it closed. I could very easily see how a staunch Reconstructionist might do such a thing, but for the average professing Christian to make such an accusation would surprise me... and that's saying alot.

Pilgrim

Not sure if they were "Reconstructionists"; however I did notice one person being extremely patriotic in his profile and how he posts.

Tom