The Bible commands Christian churches to remain open regardless of the dictates of secular leaders, church leadership argued in an open letter posted to Grace's website: "Scripture does mandate careful, conscientious obedience to all governing authority, including kings, governors, employers, and their agents" as long as "government authorities do not attempt to assert ecclesiastical authority or issue orders that forbid our obedience to God's law." 

But "God has not granted civic rulers authority over the doctrine, practice, or polity of the church," declared Pastor John MacArthur and the rest of the church elders. And "when any government official issues orders regulating worship (such as bans on singing, caps on attendance, or prohibitions against gatherings and services), he steps outside the legitimate bounds of his God-ordained authority as a civic official and arrogates to himself authority that God expressly grants only to the Lord Jesus Christ as sovereign over His Kingdom.

"Therefore, in response to the recent state order requiring churches in California to limit or suspend all meetings indefinitely, we, the pastors and elders of Grace Community Church, respectfully inform our civic leaders that they have exceeded their legitimate jurisdiction, and faithfulness to Christ prohibits us from observing the restrictions they want to impose on our corporate worship services," the letter declared... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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