Comments on: And a Little Tweet Shall Lead Them – Response to John MacArthur’s Worship Service

By: Uncle Sporkums

Uncle Sporkums — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 00:48:27 +0000

He’s also referred to the virus as “the flu” for the duration of this pandemic in his sermons. Pretty irresponsible.

By: CM

CM — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 11:01:32 +0000

In reply to Warren Throckmorton. Also, a number of SCOTUS cases and opinions give local and state health authorities wide latitude in powers: In the landmark 1824 case Gibbons v. Ogden, striking down a New York law regulating steamboats, Chief Justice John Marshall described laws “most advantageously exercised by the States themselves “ include “inspection laws, quarantine laws, health laws of every description.” Compagnie Francaise de Navigation a Vapeur v. Louisiana Board of Health, 186 U.S. 380 (1902) Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11 (1905)

By: thatotherjean

thatotherjean — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 04:00:56 +0000

So, John MacArthur can’t live without the adulation of his congregation, and is willing to risk the lives of the people he “serves” to get it? His ego is right up there with Donald Trump’s, though he might be smarter. Not smart enough to want to keep his congregation from getting sick, though.

By: otrotierra

otrotierra — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 17:56:08 +0000

In reply to DoctorDJ. Self-serving self-worship in action.

By: DoctorDJ

DoctorDJ — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 17:47:46 +0000

From the YouTube video of yesterday’s service. Next month’s victims packed shoulder to shoulder. Nary a mask in sight. Covid smacking it’s lips. “Fresh meat!” https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/39ad92b58086dc591f156c713589242d7bd02b6ae8dcb45ace0d5ff5fd734f18.jpg MacArthur’s arrogance and selfishness (as well as the foolishness of his congregation) is astounding.

By: Warren Throckmorton

Warren Throckmorton — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 16:45:44 +0000

In reply to Cameron Shaffer. Cameron - Thanks for the first clarification. I altered my wording accordingly. On the second, I do think the govt has the right to temporarily alter or suspend public church services when the reason is not to stifle the teaching. It is clear as can be that there is no effort to stop anyone from preaching the gospel.

By: ken

ken — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 14:11:51 +0000

In reply to Warren Throckmorton. In that case I agree with HunterCrowder that MacArthur just wants people to worship him rather than just trying to keep the donations coming.

By: Linn

Linn — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 12:06:56 +0000

MacArthur always seems to need attention. When he doesn’t get what he wants (like accreditation for his school, his son out of trouble fro questionable financial dealings, etc). he tries a diversion. This is quite a diversion, but it definitely feeds the “govmint is agin us” crowd.
My current church, in California, has a pastor who trained at Master’s, and I get nervous every time MacArthur does a tweet that he is going to “open.” But, I need to give our pastor a lot of credit. We’ll have our first congregational meetings since March outside in our parking lot beginning in August. They will still live stream, and it’s being done following all the county guidelines.

By: Cameron Shaffer

Cameron Shaffer — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 12:05:10 +0000

It's worth clarifying two things. First, SCOTUS has not ruled against churches in regards to COVID-19 restrictions. In both May's South Bay v. Newsom case and last week's Calvary Chapel v Sisolak, SCOTUS declined to grant injunctive relief, i.e. declined to intervene in lower court rulings. The Supreme Court has not weighed in, and each restriction and case is going to have to be taken on an individual basis anyways. Second, whether or not MacArthur gets it right on the dangers of COVID-19 and the responsibility of the church's leadership is somewhat beside the point here. The question theologically is whether the government has the right to suspend worship. That's a separate question from whether the church's leadership should suspend worship or organize it differently. Obviously the congregation at Grace Community thinks that government's restrictions are ill-advised and the threat overblown, and if that's what you think, and you also believe that the government does not have the authority to suspend worship, of course you're going to respond positively (no pun intended) to your church leadership deciding to continue worship.

By: Warren Throckmorton

Warren Throckmorton — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 11:52:40 +0000

In reply to ken. He claimed to be at the Lorraine Motel a few hours after it happened