Church while there's Pandemic.

[Aldrin25]

Sadly, some pastors encouraging their members to go to their worship service, instead of live streaming.

They are reasoning people lack of faith, and some pastors told me they don't have a live streaming in africa.

 

[Paidiske]

I don't have live streaming here either, but the government has required all places of worship to close.

I'm working on at least doing some prayer by FB live or the like.

 

[dogs4thewin]

My church is doing Face Book ( not live tried that and it did not work, so they are just pre-recording it ( pastor alone at the church and putting it up at service time for us to watch whenever we please.

 

[Religiot]

Sadly, some pastors encouraging their members to go to their worship service, instead of live streaming.

They are reasoning people lack of faith, and some pastors told me they don't have a live streaming in africa.

I think it is absurd for Churches to close.

A Church is supposed to be a place where the sick can go to get healed.

And since when does the government have authority over the Church?

It's backward, folks, the Church of today is looking more and more like the false Church of Revelation.

Maybe the true Church is really in the wilderness, that is, maybe the true Church isn't found in any commercial building, run by bureaucrats, pretending to be priests.

 

[Paidiske]

Suspending services is not closing the church, much less ceasing to be the church. We are the church, and we will continue to be the church even when we don’t gather in quite this way.

Being the church doesn’t depend on having a building, regular service times, liturgy and hymns and all the rest. Being the church means being a people who worship God, who love and care for one another, and who reach out to the community around us to share the good news and serve them in their time of need.

Being the church means being a people of faith and joy and peace, no matter what the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

Being the church, above all, means being a people who show others the possibility of a God who loves them, often done best through the way that we love them.

And what we’re doing now – choosing, for a time, not to gather in this particular way – is an act of exactly that kind of love. It is an act which says to the elderly folks around us (and amongst us), the immunocompromised, the asthmatics, and everyone whose life would be at risk if they get this virus, that we are putting their welfare above our own preferences. That we will sacrifice our favoured form of worship to lower their risk of dying.

It’s a gift to our community; a costly, sacrificial gift; and it points to the character of the God we worship, who gave his life for ours in costly, sacrificial gift.

It is, then, authentic to who we are as the church, a people of love, of care, and of service, that we forego gathering together for a time.

 

[mnorian]

If this goes on more then a couple of weeks (the shelter in place) I would think it would be hard on the churches to keep their congregations together.

 

[Paidiske]

Easter is going to be very strange.

 

[topher694]

I think it is absurd for Churches to close.

A Church is supposed to be a place where the sick can go to get healed.

And since when does the government have authority over the Church?

It's backward, folks, the Church of today is looking more and more like the false Church of Revelation.

Maybe the true Church is really in the wilderness, that is, maybe the true Church isn't found in any commercial building, run by bureaucrats, pretending to be priests.

This post is what is backwards.

Fear is not what is temporarily closing doors, it is respect for governing authorities operating OUT OF CONCERN FOR OTHERS. Not everyone is in the same place of faith, and there are plenty out there that still need give their lives to the Lord. They are the one's that are in danger. The church is supposed to care for others and lead by example. If the hospitals are full and staff overloaded and someone has a heart attack which they might normally survive but can't get the care they need from the people they need that puts them at unnecessary risk. If the church decides we don't need to follow the guidelines what message does that send to the rest of the world, why should anyone follow them then?

No one is shutting down churches. They are just being wise until things settle down. Which is very biblical. Criticizing churches for trying to be wise & caring and calling them false is the pinnacle of pride and rebellion, which is far more "false" than caution and caring.

 

[Aldrin25]

Tell me, is anyone of you still going to Church or continuing worship service in your church? That's very crazy twisting scripture for selfish motives.

 

[Paidiske]

By all means cite, exegete, and lay out your hermeneutic of those Scriptures so that the rest of us may follow your argument.

 

[Religiot]

You are extremely misrepresenting many. The thousands of experienced ministers out there still make up a very small proportion of the overall population however they are "many" compared to "one" - you - making absurd claims... but whatever

Ok, just so we're clear. According to you the narrow/straight gate is:
Accusing the brethren
Ignoring authority
Ignoring measures that could save lives
Calling anyone who disagrees with that a Pharisee

And to back that up you have provided:
zero scripture
zero ministry credentials or experience

But the good news is what you are doing is similar to what John the Baptist and Jesus did. I mean we all know that John & Jesus never used scripture to back what they said or had ministry fruit to back up their claims. Alas, poor humble Religiot is just misunderstood.

Hey, I deserve how you're treating me: you're doing exactly what the Spirit said you would do.

"He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee." --Proverbs 9:7-8

 

[MyLifeForChrist]

Tell me, is anyone of you still going to Church or continuing worship service in your church? That's very crazy twisting scripture for selfish motives.

There are hundred if not thousands of churches worldwide responsibly practicing social distancing OUTSIDE using sound systems, drive-in services and outside-the-box thininkg designed to shame other churches in to doing the same.
The problem?
Too many church leaders and members hoping that 'livestream' becomes the new normal while praying that nobody contrasts the plight of the disciples after Christ died under much more difficult/dangerous circumstances.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke

 

[topher694]

Hey, I deserve how you're treating me: you're doing exactly what the Spirit said you would do.

"He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee." --Proverbs 9:7-8

Me thinks you do not understand the proper application of this scripture.

 

[Paidiske]

Each of us has to do the best we can for the people we have, with the resources we have. Some of us have more resources than others, and some of us have people with different needs. Also, some of us are dealing with different government restrictions; I am now not allowed to gather people, even outside, to worship together.

For myself, I'm preparing a mixture of online resources and printed resources (for those folks not online), and following that up with as much pastoral care over the phone as I can manage. It's not perfect, but I certainly don't feel shamed by other churches (especially bigger and better resourced and staffed churches) doing things differently.

 

[Religiot]

Me thinks you do not understand the proper application of this scripture.

Read it in whatever translation you prefer, they all same the same thing, scoffers like you will only keep on scoffing, no matter what they're told.

Your mockery of me only serves to further show who you really are.

 

[topher694]

Each of us has to do the best we can for the people we have, with the resources we have. Some of us have more resources than others, and some of us have people with different needs. Also, some of us are dealing with different government restrictions; I am now not allowed to gather people, even outside, to worship together.

For myself, I'm preparing a mixture of online resources and printed resources (for those folks not online), and following that up with as much pastoral care over the phone as I can manage. It's not perfect, but I certainly don't feel shamed by other churches (especially bigger and better resourced and staffed churches) doing things differently.

How are things looking for you for Easter? You have plans yet?

 

[Paidiske]

How are things looking for you for Easter? You have plans yet?

I know we won't be gathering.

At this point I'm thinking about doing some sort of "snippets" through Holy Week; not whole liturgies but particular things which might work online. I haven't got my head around it all yet.

 

[topher694]

I know we won't be gathering.

At this point I'm
thinking about doing some sort of "snippets" through Holy Week; not whole liturgies but particular things which might work online. I haven't got my head around it all yet.

There's still a chance we can, but it's difficult not knowing for sure or what it would look like. Best of luck to you!

 

[Paidiske]

And to you!

 

[topher694]

Read it in whatever translation you prefer, they all same the same thing, scoffers like you will only keep on scoffing, no matter what they're told.

Your mockery of me only serves to further show who you really are.

You are making a mockery of yourself. You seem to fancy yourself an expert, yet have provided nothing to back that up other than "people are mean to me, so I must be right".

You realize you are posting this nonsense on a ministry forum? You know, for actual ministers. Which, judging from your prior deflections you are not.

"scoffers like you will only keep on scoffing, no matter what they're told"
So, you realize that this exact thing applies to you? You're the one who originated the "scoffing" at countless churches and ministers, and no matter what you are told, you persist in accusing the brethren.