John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church Subject to Further Pushback for Defying State Lockdown Orders

As Christians, we are called to be subject to those in authority over us. In a republic, we are responsible for assigning authority to law enforcement and elected officials to uphold and enforce our Constitutional rights.

As both members of a republic and of Christ’s own church, it is imperative that we adhere to the laws of the land and the call of our Lord.

But the laws of the land, particularly when unjust by both biblical and legislative standards, do not supersede our call to gather together in fellowship with one another.

Obey the law — as long as the law doesn’t bid you disobey God.

This is something that has been quite admirably executed by John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, where members have openly defied Governor Gavin Newsom’s coronavirus orders and opted to meet in person.

Now, the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works has terminated a 45-year parking lot lease with the megachurch.

The congregation received a 30-day notice that the lease agreement held by the church since 1975 will end, the Thomas More Society revealed in a press release this week.

“Los Angeles County is retaliating against Grace Community Church for simply exercising their constitutionally protected right to hold church and challenging an unreasonable, unlawful health order,” wrote Jenna Ellis, special counsel to the Thomas More Society. “In America, we have a judicial system to ensure that the executive branch does not abuse its power, and Grace Community Church has every right to be heard without fear of reprisal.

She continued, “The message to Americans is clear — if you don’t bow to every whim of tyranny, the government will come after you. The Church has peacefully held this lease for 45 years and the only reason the County is attempting eviction is because John MacArthur stood up to their unconstitutional power grab. This is harassment, abusive, and unconscionable.”

The message that American Christians need to send back to tyrannical state governments is that we will not be intimidated or coerced into defying our consciences or giving up our constitutional rights.

The secular left has made it clear for decades that they have no interest in preserving our sacred First Amendment rights, and the coronavirus has only served to highlight just how skewed our nation’s attitude towards the importance of religious practice has gotten.

There is a time and a place to take a stand for those who are called to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.

Right now is the time to take that stand.

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