John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church has been cleared of having a Covid-19 outbreak after it has been pursued by LA county authorities.
The church has been caught up in a battle with LA officials after its high profile senior pastor refused to stop live gatherings.
“We are glad to announce that we received a notice from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Thursday, November 12, saying that we have been cleared of COVID-19 outbreak,” the church said in a statement. “After a thorough investigation, Public Health officials have decided to rescind all outbreak related requirements and restrictions on Grace Community Church.”
Pastor MacArthur was risking personal prison time in defying authorities, but vowed that he would not only continue church services, but urged other pastors to also take a stand. He was also putting the First Amendment to the test in the modern era by keeping his church doors open.
He believes the church is an essential part of the community and does not fall into the non-essential category, which authorities believe it is. For example, in Nevada, churches have been forced to stay closed while casinos are open.
In an op-ed with Daily Wire in September, the high profile pastor stated, “One nation under God.
“That phrase, recently and conspicuously omitted from the flag salute at some events during the Democratic National Convention, reflects the intentions of America’s founding fathers. They understood the necessity of acknowledging and submitting to divine authority — and not just any god, but the God revealed in the Bible. That same understanding informs our Constitution, which itself does not grant us rights, but rather recognizes, identifies, and defends those rights granted to us by God alone.
“Truth be told, the notion of a secular state is a lie; all government is ordained by God. The Bible makes that very point when it commands Christians to submit to governing authorities: “There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1). And even when the government opposes, abuses, and persecutes the church, Christians can take comfort in the fact that such cruelty is not outside of God’s sovereign control or His divine plan.
“But what happens when those governing authorities refuse to acknowledge God and ignore His law?”
Christians have been divided on their opinion of churches defying government orders. On one side is the argument that the First Amendment protects churches and authorities have no right to close them down. On the side is the argument that churches should obey authorities and that meeting together in confined spaces risks further spread of Covid.
Danielle Jarvis
Soul Purpose
Matthias Browning
