Thursday, May 28, 2009

In the future: The American Underground Church?

I honestly can't see this governmental intrusion on religious liberty ultimately succeeding, but its a window into the "what if"

San Diego County has apparently issued a zoning violation to a pastor who was holding a home group Bible study without a special zoning or use permit. What is interesting is that upholding this violation would mean that groups could only meet at church buildings or other approved designated locations. Our church and many others have been moving away from meeting AT the church building into homes, connecting with the community around us. Christians in San Diego County would have to meet in much smaller groups or not at all outside of church.

The attorney in the article raises good questions about non-approved meetings in homes for any number of events, and I think that reasonable people will prevail on this issue.

But if they don't? What if Christians had to start meeting in secret outside of church? Would we respond like the Chinese underground church and take joy in this new suffering for the sake of the gospel?

What would you do if Stafford told us that we could no longer meet in homes for Bible studies?

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