Churches were closed for months in Alachua County. I tried to find a pastor who'd let me sue the County under the First Amendment but nobody bit. DeSantis fixed it in a later executive order designating all churches as essential or whatever they were calling it.
Churches were closed for months in Alachua County. I tried to find a pastor who'd let me sue the County under the First Amendment but nobody bit. DeSantis fixed it in a later executive order designating all churches as essential or whatever they were calling it.
Exactly. I’m so tired of the “they weren’t forced” BS. Total gaslight now. My pastor here in Palm Beach County vowed to never close his church again. God bless him.
That must have been a county thing then because it wasn't in effect in Brevard County. But now that you say that, I remember Tampa imposing church closures and Rodney Howard Brown defied it. So I apologize for the blanket statement, although I was intending it as an overall state mandate.
Agreed, although it’s hard if not impossible to imagine anyone with national or even state-wide power, much less global power, who hasn’t made questionable compromises, been compromised, and has to play industrial-grade CYA forever. “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3). No one is able and willing to throw the first stone, and the list of sketchy deeds almost certainly accumulates over time. Term limits may not be the best solution, but odds suggest fresh faces might be less corrupt, with exceptions of course. The most reliable measure of integrity and humility—though perhaps not the only one—is a consistent acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Good examples of power leading to questionable compromises and the likelihood of getting compromised, but I’ll come your way and amend to “generally more reliable.” Point being that corruption follows power rather than sincere professions of Christ.
I have been foolish/ignorant enough to think that a professed "Christian" is a plus for a relatively worthy leader. No longer. If I do not err, Jimmy Carter was the first recent politician to make his religious values public. After him, they all did?
I’m not sure Clinton, Obama, Trump, and Brandon ever made convincing professions of faith. I agree it’s naive to think simply being a “good Christian” is the definitive litmus test for a good presidency. Carter seemed to be simply in over his head. But it seems clear that political power is excellent fertilizer for ego and greed and has derailed many good people, and Christians aren’t immune. W might be a good example. I like the way James Madison boiled it down: "The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted." That doesn’t exclude Christians, but I believe “so help me God” is where good government starts and the best way to stay on course.
It was in 2020 I believe. That’s when I found him. Not even sure how because I’d never heard of substack. I wish I could remember. I saw the title about the churches, read it and have read every single post since that day.
I’m not speaking for Jeff but the government has no authority over the church. They could have and should have known that and kept their doors open. Read “Letter to the American Church” by Eric Metaxas. It ties into what happened in Germany in WWII as an example of pastors going along with the church instead of standing firm on God’s Word.
However, the government DOES provide that tax-exempt 501C3 category.....Just use the Mafioso formula, filling in the blanks with appropriate wording: nice xyz you've got there, pity if it were to ...... The early Church knew just what was actually owed to Caesar, and what to God... House churches?
It's why Rodney Howard Brown was made an example of (Tampa?) for the whole nation, as well as the churches that experienced widespread infections due to staying open being in spotlight. Colorado had 3 courageous fellowships sue the Governor over it and only then he backed down so no judgement was needed--they knew they'd lose so ended the "mandatory" closures only making guidelines for churches and recommendations to follow (opening them up to potential liability by doing so).
Churches were closed for months in Alachua County. I tried to find a pastor who'd let me sue the County under the First Amendment but nobody bit. DeSantis fixed it in a later executive order designating all churches as essential or whatever they were calling it.
Exactly. I’m so tired of the “they weren’t forced” BS. Total gaslight now. My pastor here in Palm Beach County vowed to never close his church again. God bless him.
That must have been a county thing then because it wasn't in effect in Brevard County. But now that you say that, I remember Tampa imposing church closures and Rodney Howard Brown defied it. So I apologize for the blanket statement, although I was intending it as an overall state mandate.
It's time for all American leaders to learn how to "defy"!
May I posit that not defying wrong is prima facie evidence that one is not a leader?
Agreed, although it’s hard if not impossible to imagine anyone with national or even state-wide power, much less global power, who hasn’t made questionable compromises, been compromised, and has to play industrial-grade CYA forever. “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3). No one is able and willing to throw the first stone, and the list of sketchy deeds almost certainly accumulates over time. Term limits may not be the best solution, but odds suggest fresh faces might be less corrupt, with exceptions of course. The most reliable measure of integrity and humility—though perhaps not the only one—is a consistent acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is Lord.
What then, of Mike Pence and Geo W Bush?
Good examples of power leading to questionable compromises and the likelihood of getting compromised, but I’ll come your way and amend to “generally more reliable.” Point being that corruption follows power rather than sincere professions of Christ.
I have been foolish/ignorant enough to think that a professed "Christian" is a plus for a relatively worthy leader. No longer. If I do not err, Jimmy Carter was the first recent politician to make his religious values public. After him, they all did?
I’m not sure Clinton, Obama, Trump, and Brandon ever made convincing professions of faith. I agree it’s naive to think simply being a “good Christian” is the definitive litmus test for a good presidency. Carter seemed to be simply in over his head. But it seems clear that political power is excellent fertilizer for ego and greed and has derailed many good people, and Christians aren’t immune. W might be a good example. I like the way James Madison boiled it down: "The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted." That doesn’t exclude Christians, but I believe “so help me God” is where good government starts and the best way to stay on course.
Jeff-do I read this as the pastors were cowards not even wanting to contest that government abridgement of freedom of religion? Cowards?
Well, you can read Eric Metasas book for insight on that. Letter to the American Church.
And Jeff himself wrote a letter to the church--last summer?
I think it was well before last year? But I could be wrong.
That’s how I found Jeff!
It was in 2020 I believe. That’s when I found him. Not even sure how because I’d never heard of substack. I wish I could remember. I saw the title about the churches, read it and have read every single post since that day.
I do like Eric Metaxas
I’m not speaking for Jeff but the government has no authority over the church. They could have and should have known that and kept their doors open. Read “Letter to the American Church” by Eric Metaxas. It ties into what happened in Germany in WWII as an example of pastors going along with the church instead of standing firm on God’s Word.
To prove your point, many lawsuits were won by churches post-covid.
However, the government DOES provide that tax-exempt 501C3 category.....Just use the Mafioso formula, filling in the blanks with appropriate wording: nice xyz you've got there, pity if it were to ...... The early Church knew just what was actually owed to Caesar, and what to God... House churches?
If it walks like a duck.....
Hey Jeff, in which C&C issue did you cover the trans surgeries with all the pics?
It's why Rodney Howard Brown was made an example of (Tampa?) for the whole nation, as well as the churches that experienced widespread infections due to staying open being in spotlight. Colorado had 3 courageous fellowships sue the Governor over it and only then he backed down so no judgement was needed--they knew they'd lose so ended the "mandatory" closures only making guidelines for churches and recommendations to follow (opening them up to potential liability by doing so).