Religious women are generally stubborn and proud. I won't because of hurting some folks and will not tell the truth here..
In some cases, we obey God rather than men, but in this case of pandemic as long as the government has declared a compulsory holiday, we must obey the rules and stay at home for safety purpose. All these instructions are in the Bible.
Churches here in Nigeria are in lockdown. No church gathering (online fellowship only).

Well... I'm in Oregon.. and our church live streams.. I'm not sure about what your sister is doing, however if they really are staying safe... if over 10 against our state and could be cited... The prayer for you is her way and belief that she has faith her prayers will keep you from harm. Blessings to you all... stay safe!️

FREEDOM OF RELIGION

Despite Pandemic, Churches Persevere, Push Back Against Overreach

MATTHEW VADUM

As politicians and lawyers argue over emergency powers claimed by government officials, the faithful are finding ways to cope amid aggressive public health orders that make it difficult or impossible to come together in person for worship.

As religious people go about their daily lives, battles are raging in courts across the land about how far governments can go in their efforts to combat the CCP virus.

Some Americans have been appalled at what they say are examples of government overreach. Before Easter Sunday, a federal judge in Kentucky enjoined Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer from

enforcing a sweeping social-distancing order that banned drive-in church


JIM WATSON/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES


A woman on top of a car attends a Sunday church service held at Great Marsh Park in Cambridge, Md., on March 22, 2020.



services.

On April 18, a federal court in Kansas granted a temporary injunction against an executive order limiting church gatherings to 10 people, Fox News reported. The order came a week after the state’s supreme court ruled in favor of Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat whose order was reversed by a Republican-led panel of state lawmakers.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said he supported the federal court ruling, which he said was “a much-needed reminder that the Constitution is not under a stayhome order and the Bill of Rights cannot be quarantined.”

He added, “The Constitution protects our liberties especially during times of crisis, when history reveals governments too quick to sacrifice rights of the few to calm fears of the many.”

The Trump administration is siding with the churches, which argue First Amendment rights are being abridged by overreaching executive orders by governors and mayors.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr has been monitoring government regulation of religious services. On April 14, he weighed in by issuing a statement.

Even in times of emergency, “the First Amendment and federal statutory law prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers,” Barr wrote. “Thus, government may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar nonreligious activity. ... Religious institutions must not be singled out for special burdens.”

Cary Gordon, senior pastor at Cornerstone World Outreach in Sioux City, Iowa, said on April 18 that he planned to go forward with a Sunday church service the next day, as he has been doing in recent weeks.

“After this Sunday, I have a meeting with our attorneys to discuss moving back inside instead of

our parking lot services we have been doing,” Gordon told The Epoch Times.

“Our decision will be based upon the illness in our county. It will not be made by the government.”

Gordon, a prominent religious leader in Iowa, shared his thoughts online on March 20 after the various lockdowns began across the country, in a statement that some other religious leaders have echoed.

The pastor was responding to a March 17 edict by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, that declared a public health emergency and prohibited mass gatherings of more than 10 people, including those of a “community, spiritual, [or] religious” nature.

Gordon wrote, “We have altered our Sunday services in a way that gracefully accepts her proper desire to protect our citizenry, while simultaneously rejecting the unconstitutional portion of that same problematic proclamation.

“ We will demonstrate how a local church is quite capable of exercising wise self-government, free from civil government interference, and meeting together in a way that will protect everyone and keep them safe and healthy.


We have altered our Sunday services in a way that gracefully accepts [Gov. Reynolds’s] proper desire to protect our citizenry, while simultaneously rejecting the unconstitutional portion of that same problematic proclamation. Cary Gordon, senior pastor, Cornerstone World Outreach

“We are taking the Coronavirus very seriously and desire as much or more than anyone to ensure YOUR safety and health during this difficult time. Yet, to the consternation of some, we believe we MUST go to church together.”

Some churchgoers shared their views with The Epoch Times.

In Tennessee, Scott Ballinger said he had “two watch party/streaming options in the morning.” Churches have been shut down in

the state since Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, issued a stayat- home order last month, and “we’ve been consigned to the cyber-catacombs ever since.”

Californian Victoria Silva Howard said her church was “still live-streaming, but if we don’t resume soon, I say it’s time to initiate house groups. The early Christians didn’t tolerate restrictions on their worship, and neither should we.”

Katherine Schoonover, the Virginia-based founder of Political Speech, a social media platform for political discussions, said her local diocese has suspended services for the time being.

“Our individual churches are going online,” she said. “My family does morning prayer on a conference call together too.”

Marylander Stephen DeMauri said he was using technology to satisfy his spiritual needs during the pandemic.

“Given the suspension of public Masses, I will watch a livestream or recording of a Mass,” noting the Mass is essential to his religious belief.

Another Maryland resident, Hyoun Jung Cho, said it’s difficult not to have a church to visit every Sunday.


COURTESY OF CORNERSTONE WORLD OUTREACH


Cornerstone World Outreach in Sioux City, Iowa.

I talked to sis tonight.
They are healthy.
Their get together is small and on their sun deck.
She disinfects common surfaces both before and after.
They all wear masks but lift them from tome to time she said.
She told me that lately fewer people are showing up.
For the most part everyone that can is staying in their homes.
She has internet but many of the people who attend do not.
She also told me some of them are Amish.
The Amish are having a particularly stressful time with it all.

From a different perspective after reading the above post (thanx SpaceCodet) if the government (at any level) wants people to have services via internet or phone, they should provide internet and phone service to everyone.

When a government dictates to its nation it is the governments responsibility to provide to all citizens evenly.
So when a government prevents a right it must accommodate its citizens.
If not, each citizen is not being fairly treated.

Granted we are in a pandemic and citizen safety and prevention of virus spread is in the interests of the citizens. Granted there are alternatives possible.
However, those alternatives are restricted to those who have the means.
Unbiased, fair and equal treatment.
If you step on our rights it degrades our constitution.
We should each have the choice. Someone without phone service or access to the internet has no other choice except to violate the governments rules.
However, these same people who do not pay their taxes loses personally.
Unbiased, fair and equal treatment is not being observed.

The intent of this thread is alternatives which might benefit the needs of citizens. Since those without internet or phone can't see this discussion, it is up to us to relay alternatives to isolated worship.
In other words, we tell them the best way to do what they need to do and keeps safe while doing it.
I see a lot of assumptions but no solutions.
Nobody seems to acknowledge the issue or offer ideas.
To ignore the issue of people doing what they need to do we lessen ourselves.
To think it isn't happening somewhere is delusional.

Tom,

The rule of distance is a catch-all for prevention of virus and disease contracting/spreading. 6 feet is far enough away so bugs don't jump on you and sneeze/cough/touch which give room to avoid. wearing a face cover or mask allow people to be in close contact without getting or transferring through breathing. These we're figured out a hundred years ago to stop things that were killing thousands.

People fly there true colors under adverse situations. With these governors and others trying to destroy religion in America. Remove a person's faith and they lose hope. Agreed we must do what we can to defend other's Rights thereby, defending our own.

Thank you Thank you,,,Coldersky

Hi Tom.
Being part introvert and part extrovert, I can understand the reasons why some will continue to fellowship. At the end of the day, people 'need' the interaction, as I have noticed in my flatmates. I think it depends on personal maturity.
I think if they shall not stop meeting, then they seem to be doing it right.
I have read many testimonies of Christian's unable to fellowship, because they are in isolation in prisons, the size of a cupboard, in Communist or in Radical Islamic countries. They cling to God without fellowship. Our faith and growth really is a personal relationship with God, not so much with other Christians.
I do not believe the government should provide people with computers, computer training and the internet. That seems to be a personal choice for these people, they have had ample time to learn and get the equipment neccessary.
In New Zealand, the government has provided routers, computers and even internet connections for children to learn online so their education can continue.
IMO this pandemic should be a wake up call to those who need to move with the times and become computer literate.
Many of our elderly here are missing out too. They can not keep up with things as fast as the rest of us.
But, under our compassionate Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, we are soon allowed to visit the vulnerable elderly and 'keep them in the loop', so to speak, as well as provide services to them and companionship.
It has now become a strange world. I only hope your Christian sister and her friends spread the love....

Several post have been deleted due to attacking and off topic.

Please try to stay on topic with responses..

General Religion is about Questions and Answers that has to do with different Religion. It is not for Quoting the Bible unless you are responding and it deals with the Topic, we do have a Christian Forum for that..

We ask that all use the report system in place and not to attack another member due to their responses..


Forum Admin
Kristi

I read different reports on the pandemic from different sites.
One 'expert' is saying this pandemic is going to change our "way of life".
Its been my observation that people tend to change their way of life by choice but fight against compulsory change. Even when that compulsory change is beneficial to them.

The compulsory changes we are faced with are compulsory because people are uneducated about the conditions forcing the change.
The conditions of change are not just virus spread prevention.
"I never wore a face mask before, I'm not wearing one now."
"I never watched church on the internet before, I'm not going to start."
"I never had to order groceries for home delivery, I'm not going to start."
Yet if it is our own idea, we do it and brag about it.

Read today that next winter could be a bigger pandemic than the one we are currently in. That high temps may not slow the viral spread. That social distancing may become the world norm. All from reputable health sources (WHO,CDC).

People forced to 'watch' church miss their personal fellowship.
They miss it so much they try to subvert the medical guidelines.
This is happening with the idea this pandemic and the restrictions will pass soon.
The longer the restrictions on social distancing prevent personal fellowship the higher the chance of people breaking the restrictions.
This is already happening and will happen more as time progresses.
You also need to consider the other personal fellowship venues not related to church or religion.
Bars, nightclubs, gyms, barber shops, beauty parlors, nail salons.

Yesterday I went for smokes and the smoke shop is right beside a bar.
I saw people slipping in and out of the bar. Quite a few.
The 'Open' sign was not lit but people were going in and coming out.
I saw an article about how one state (forget which) was lifting restrictions on beauty salons, gyms and other social venues but not churches.
People see this stuff and it makes them mad.

Found it:

So, in that state, you can go get a tattoo but you can't go to church.

I also noticed the NEWS articles which are not there.
No mention of religion at all.
Its like a taboo subject to be avoided.
If I was still religious I'd be furious.

Still, all in all, I believe the solution is education.
Forcing something on someone usually backfires.
Teach them and they choose to take the right steps.
The problem exacerbates from the natural tendency that religion is based on instruction from the book or doctrine in which they willingly follow.
That instruction is open to the interpretation of the religious leaders.
One of the baseline tenants of many religions is to personally attend and participate in services, usually at the 'church'.
Closing the churches goes against the basic fellowship instruction.

The threat is religion is being forced to change from a social communion to a solitary isolationism.
The longer the social distancing measures are mandated, the more likely religion will violate them.


That "unimaginable strain" will affect other areas as well, especially religion.

just saying ️
My extended family and sister's call me
I love someone's reaching out that's how we do it, ️

"I never watched church on the internet before, I'm not going to start."

If your worried why dont you seek wisdom yourself, start reading the bible, instead of trying to go to a third party. If your dating, would you always seek a third party for advice, and trust that advice with everything. It always amazes me how people are lazy in this regard. Until a funeral comes up. Only a Christian that is born again can explain it, 70 percent of the priests have no clue. I would rather chat with someone that i know for a fact is, and ask questions, But it must be related to the bible.


1 Timothy 6
3. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4. He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6. But godliness with contentment is great gain.




And as a protection prayer, I never heard that before, and its not even in the bible. All we can do is hope and ask.

I would have to agree

They all think that God is going to protect them but I don't think He works like that, if you do something you already know you shouldn't. And He also said to follow authority.

again seek knowledge for yourself. Do not listen to the media or some stupid director that knows nothing but scares people. 2 wave stupid. he must be another dem that knows nothing.

https://www.pfizer.com/ got to the biggest drug maker in the states and read it right there on there website.

Saturday, September 12, 2020 - 10:45am
NEW YORK & MAINZ, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) announced today that they have submitted an amended protocol to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to expand the enrollment of their Phase 3 pivotal COVID-19 vaccine trial to up to approximately 44,000 participants which also allows for the enrollment of new populations.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200912005013/en/

Enrollment in the trial has been proceeding as planned and the company expects to reach its initial target of up to 30,000 participants next week. The proposed expansion would allow the companies to further increase trial population diversity, and include adolescents as young as 16 years of age and people with chronic, stable HIV (human immunodeficiency viruses), Hepatitis C, or Hepatitis B infection, as well as provide additional safety and efficacy data.

What is it you are saying that God said we shouldn't do, we are doing already?
WHERE did God say to not assemble to practice your faith, or to stay home and fearfully obey your government by forbidding you to exercise your God given rights, or NOT going out to preach the gospel to all creatures and "laying hands" on people so they will be healed?
Any idea?


Where did you get the idea that God doesn't work like that? or doesn't protect you? Did He tell you that personally?

[isaiah 45:7-8] That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west (where the sun sets), that there is NONE beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make PEACE, and CREATE EVIL: I the LORD do all these things.

Covid-19 is a great evil and who is causing evil? Right, not Satan but the LORD! As God is SHAKING the kingdoms, he multiplies evil in the earth. Can the clay say to him that mouldeth it, what makest thou? Can we tell the Creator what to do and what not to do?

Can the clay strive with the potter of the earth?

As Covid-19 is raging, the world is fighting back only to now realize, after many months of Covid terrorization, that the virus is mutating and bouncing back double. Will any preliminary vaccine save us or will it cause MORE harm to the nations?

Is covid-19 not the work of modern sorcerers commanded by the LORD, to proclaim evil to this generation, the previous and the next?

The world has trusted in wickedness and therefore evil has come upon us. It's a good thing for the LORD to payback those, that have troubled us and broken our hearts to the core.

Concerning the churches, they too are part of the wickedness brought to the earth and even now, they are looking for ways to lead God's sheeps, to the Covid slaughter house, just for the love of money.

They will not escape God's judgement. They were warned but the big money, lies and filth were too tempting to repent from their evil ways.

[Jeremiah 23:1] Woe (destruction) be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

Famine of the word and destruction are coming to this world!

REALLY?

You take this one scripture and jump to all kind of conclusions incl. putting words in GOD's mouth and then twist it?
You forgot one important part of Bible interpretation: Compare scripture with scripture for the whole picture!

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."John 10:10

Virus created by evil man driven by demonic power of greed, power hungry and selfish desire over everything else.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 John 3:8
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.


You got it mixed up, GOD is good , devil is bad!
GOD has to allow evil because of evil people that have free will, it was like that since the Garden of Eden! Since then evil has always been on this planet doing it's thing, nothing new.

God is not schizo, trying to destroy that what He himself would have built up.
Covid is made up by people and kept alive by the same through lies to instill fear in order to usher in their long awaited form of their ruling government. They now call it the "Great Reset".
This is not judgment yet, but serves as a wake up call. Yet many are still sleeping and swallowing all the lies the government controlled media dishes them out.


The church itself as in this state of condition is another discussion...

Your statements are only valid if you can proof to me that God is NOT the one who is doing the killing. He may not do the killing personally, but there is no force in His Heaven, opposing His will. Satan is a lesser power who obeys God and his EVIL deeds come from God.

About the Garden: Eve was the beginning of sin. Why didn't Satan tried Adam first?
Because it was Eve who was unhappy to be below Adam, and God sent Satan to deceive her, so she would fail the test and He could blame humanity for being in transgression through Eve. We all die because Eve sinned, right?

Why was Satan trying to temp Christ? Because the Father didn't give riches and wordly power to His son. He gave it to Satan! Satan has dominion over the earth and those who stive for wordly powers, become adversaries of God through Satan. Satan's reign will end with the fall of the Kingdoms and the destruction of the world.

God has setup Satan to deceive those with wicked thoughts and deeds, and those that disobey Him, meaning those that are under the law and have NO free will. FYI NOT EVERYBODY HAVE FREE WILL.

Those two scriptures alone are telling the story. But since you are looking for precepts; here is another precept for you, and let's see if I am twisting scriptures and putting words in Gods Mouth:

[Deut. 32:39] See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no God with me: I KILL and I make alive, I wound and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

Also, read about the killing and destruction that is coming to this world in the book of Revelation. Isn't it Christ and God who are going to do the killing?

Concerning the churches, I don't even want to go there. There is nothing positive you can say about the churches. Not of the past, nor of the present, whereas they are out of time and their future lies in the past. The churches were setup during the transatlantic slavery, to keep the slaves docile, so they would obey their masters and not escape the plantations. Their descendants are still being thought LIES, and no greater evil has been done under the heavens.

How can you justify the MASS raping, castration, the mutilation, the lynching and murdering of slaves, Moors and Jews, done buy the Catholic Church in the 15th century and even before that? In those days Church and Government were not separated. It was One BIG Evil institution. The churches have never told the truth and they NEVER will. Their is not ONE church in the whole wide world, that is teaching the true biblical Gospel. And if you disagree then show me Christianity and Theology in the Holy Bible. so, let's be quite about the churches.

Here is a question for you. Does God Hate?

God has NOT build up yet, because he doesn't love the world. He is tearing down the works of His enemies and will build His Kingdom under Christ and King David, after the Great destruction.

[1 John 2:15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him.
Hopefully, I am not twisting anything;).

I must agree with your thoughts on Covid, but I kept fairly silent about it, because my thoughts would be unbelievable and not for the common ears. I have been waiting unpatiently, for the last three years, for an agenda like Covid to unfold.

About the KILLING, we are not allowed to kill, but it's God who shows mercy and not Satan. Show me where Satan says that he KILLS!