I see that some churches are resisting the governor's order barring indoor worship services

[totodeinhere]

in California.

Well I have a question for those members of the clergy.

If God wanted us to be holding indoor worship services wouldn't he eradicate the coronavirus so it would be safe to attend indoor services? But since he obviously has not done that, doesn't that mean that he doesn't want us to attend indoor services? Surely a just and merciful god would not want good churchgoers to die a hideous death would he?

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article244219407.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Butts in the pews means bucks in the collection plate.

Most "mainstream" churches are still doing services online. It's the fundies and the prosperity-gospel preachers who want live services because it's easier to get access to their wallets that way.

[totodeinhere]

2. Good points. Yes these are almost all right wingers. n/t

[SoCalNative]

17. They are still welcome to hold services outdoors

they should do it the old fashioned way - under a tent

[mr_lebowski]

3. So ... maybe let all the people who believe in imaginary sky daddies and are foolish enough

to congregate in this manner, given the situation ... wipe each other out?

The notion does have its benefits ...

[RKP5637]

5. I think their god needs them in their heaven. Alert air space traffic control, they might be

floating up to their heaven anytime ...

[totodeinhere]

8. Yes, I would be fine with that except that they would probably take

some of us with them.

[RKP5637]

4. ... but when was the last time their pastor or god had any intelligence and logic. Oh, I forgot ...

god works in mysterious way. What a load!

[MLAA]

6. Dots and Dares to these future ICU patients. 😬

[muntrv]

7. Those collection plates are not going to fill themselves.

Priorities, priorities.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. God has already spoken, or so it seems...

Matthew 5:

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Luke 18

10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

[NightWatcher]

10. Why hasn't god cured this yet? He seems pretty ineffective.

I sure as shit wouldn't be throwing him 10% of my check until I see some results.

[misanthrope]

11. When they say "come to Jesus meeting"

who knew they meant "as soon as possible?"

[Fullduplexxx]

12. Youre looking at the world through your perspective

I find it amusing when people make assumptions about god's motives

[totodeinhere]

13. So what do you think his motives are?

To kill us all? If so he’s doing a pretty good job. Oh I know. We all deserve it because Eve took a bite out of that apple.

[triron]

14. What god?

[LanternWaste]

19. Much as you're making presumptions in regards to the OP.

Presumption... not assumption. There's a relevant and precise difference between the two.

[gratuitous]

15. Selfish silliness

Yeah, I'd love to see everyone from my congregation in person, but it's just not feasible. A lot of us are in vulnerable populations (age, medical condition, etc.), and getting together is going to get someone killed. We're making due with Zoom conference services on Sunday morning, and oddly enough our offerings have increased. The irresponsible press for in-person worship is nothing more than selfish silliness, the stick-out-your-lower-lip defiance of a spoiled child. Some of these people are going to get infected. Some of those will die. They will die gasping for breath surrounded by machines and strangers. How many more are going to be conceding on their death bed, "I think I made a mistake"?

[totodeinhere]

20. At least one pastor of a church in Northern California

who
defied the previous shut down got it and did die from it.

[Mariana]

16. Churches are pestholes. nt.

[BannonsLiver]

18. Time to get out the pad locks and the fire hoses

[Blue_true]

21. That would go against a fundamental part of our society.

Though seldom practiced by the right and Christian fundamentalists, the separation of church and State is a cornerstone that a sane public official would not want to breach. Public leaders can ask that churches stay closed and even mandate it for public safety reasons, but forcibly preventing people from gathering likely won’t happen, even in blue states, counties, cities.

[BannonsLiver]

22. Fuck 'em if they don't realize what the stakes are.

They can worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster on their own. No middleman necessary.

[Blue_true]

23. Don't get me wrong. If I was 100% sure that every asshole that went to church under

current circumstances would get COVID19 and not harm anyone else, I would tell them to knock themselves out. But as it is, there is only so much public officials can do to stop them from being stupid.

[WyattKansas]

24. For some reason church goers just don't like the thought that everyone should stay away...

Perhaps they fear that a lot of people will rethink their decision to be a part of their flock and not return. Along with giving others the evil eye like they have some sort of super power to know all their secrets, which also makes them want to blab everything to anyone... After all, if they start fires elsewhere, people won't notice the whiffs of smoke coming from themselves.