For the past couple months I’ve been attending one of the most uncompromising churches (maybe THE most uncompromising) in California.
I’m attending to worship God and show my support.
The church is Calvary Chapel in San Jose. It’s been holding indoor services in violation of pandemic health restrictions for months. Specifically, the church has ignored a court’s November restraining order enforcing the health restrictions.
Right now the fines are totaling over $1 million.
By the way, this is not a megachurch. When the “pandemic” began in March they were seeing about 300 people attend each Sunday. Now it’s more like 600-700 for each of their two Sunday meetings. If you want to wear a mask you can (most, including me don’t), and if you want to avoid sitting close to someone there’s is room to spread out.
The court is scheduled for a closing argument court hearing this week.
Calvary Chapel Attorney Robert Tyler, who is representing Calvary Chapel San Jose and its pastor, Mike McClure, said after a court hearing that the judge said Santa Clara County is “only looking for monetary sanctions” and does not want to place McClure or any other pastors in jail.
Again, Calvary Chapel faces more than $1 million in fines, although Tyler and other supporters of the church hope the court will side with the congregation and rule the fines don’t have to be paid.
This weekend McClure told those in attendance that he serves a higher authority than the County of Santa Clara. He turned us to the New Testament book of Hebrew 10:25, which says,
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another,and so much the more as you see the Day approaching
Note to the ruling authorities of Santa Clara County: God’s Word is the ultimate essential service.
Also, my comments, not the Pastor’s: what we’re witnessing across the globe with these insane shutdowns is a test of the transnational elites (communists) to see how easily it will be to shutdown one of their greatest hurdles–the authentic followers of the Messiah Jesus.
“In addition to this coronavirus pandemic, there is a greater pandemic,” Tyler said. “And that’s a pandemic affecting mental health and affecting employment, affecting businesses.”
Lives “are literally saved from suicide” because of the church, Tyler said.
McClure, in comments after the court hearing, said the church is trying to “just help people … like the church has always done.”
“It’s sad to see the state which our country is – where you have the state fighting against the church or the church against the state,” McClure said. “But we need to remember what made America great. It was our trusting God.
“… It’s said you could go 30 days without food. You can go three days without water. But you can’t go three seconds without hope. America needs to know the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
By the way, note to the local media: Pastor McClure NEVER said that by attending his church, or any other, that one could become protected from the coronavirus.
The closing arguments will be held at the County Courthouse Thursday. There will be hundreds of people outside the court praying.
Let’s join them in prayer!