Wise Words From Bro David Bernard UPCI

[Ron]

While this isn't the words I was looking for, he gives wise words during this Covid 19 outbreak. He has trained in Constitutional Law.

Wise words by the UPCI General Superintendent, David K. Bernard, on the current pandemic and how it relates to the church and religious liberty issues.

David K Bernard:
Constitutional Law.

As a matter of US constitutional law (which I studied in law school), the government does have the right to enact measures for health and safety. Thus, churches must follow building, fire, and health codes. Governments routinely shut down meetings, including church services, that violate these safety regulations. It can't discriminate against churches, and it must use the least restrictive means possible. If it passes ordinances of general applicability based on professional medical advice for the safety of the community, it is presumptively constitutional. Some states have gone the second mile to treat churches with extra respect, but they are still asking churches to cooperate voluntarily. They have both the law and public opinion on their side when they do.

We shouldn't question anyone's motives if they try to have church, and we shouldn't attack them. However, that doesn't mean their actions are constitutional, legal, wise, advisable, or divinely ordained. We shouldn't rejoice if they suffer consequences, but the burden of civil disobedience is to accept consequences. The burden of not following medical advice is either to have superior medical knowledge or ask God to intervene. However, it is one thing to trust God for yourself, but it is another thing to take the responsibility for the entire community, including vulnerable people.

For those who believe they must have large gatherings in order to please God, I would suggest that they think more creatively. While I endorse large crowds & buildings (having built a congregation of up to 1,000 and a building of 100,000 SF); we cannot say this method is biblically required. I agree that this method is highly effective, and over the long term I want to find ways to resume this method. But in times of crisis (war, pandemic, persecution, natural disaster), we can use other methods, even as the apostolic church did in times of persecution. In doing so, we aren't violating God's Word, becoming cowards, or acting in unbelief. We are operating outside our modern, traditional, Western box.

Finally, we are right to be concerned about religious liberty. Some might want to use this situation for a future precedent, but we will fight against that idea if it surfaces, and we will have the Constitution on our side. Right now, we aren't facing religious persecution in this situation, and we shouldn't characterize it as such. If we do, and then we lose, that could become a negative precedent. We must be vigilant to protect our freedom, but we must choose our battles wisely.

[Nicodemus1968]

Originally Posted by Ron

While this isn't the words I was looking for, he gives wise words during this Covid 19 outbreak. He has trained in Constitutional Law.

Wise words by the UPCI General Superintendent, David K. Bernard, on the current pandemic and how it relates to the church and religious liberty issues.

David K Bernard:
Constitutional Law.

As a matter of US constitutional law (which I studied in law school), the government does have the right to enact measures for health and safety. Thus, churches must follow building, fire, and health codes. Governments routinely shut down meetings, including church services, that violate these safety regulations. It can't discriminate against churches, and it must use the least restrictive means possible. If it passes ordinances of general applicability based on professional medical advice for the safety of the community, it is presumptively constitutional. Some states have gone the second mile to treat churches with extra respect, but they are still asking churches to cooperate voluntarily. They have both the law and public opinion on their side when they do.

We shouldn't question anyone's motives if they try to have church, and we shouldn't attack them. However, that doesn't mean their actions are constitutional, legal, wise, advisable, or divinely ordained. We shouldn't rejoice if they suffer consequences, but the burden of civil disobedience is to accept consequences. The burden of not following medical advice is either to have superior medical knowledge or ask God to intervene. However, it is one thing to trust God for yourself, but it is another thing to take the responsibility for the entire community, including vulnerable people.

For those who believe they must have large gatherings in order to please God, I would suggest that they think more creatively. While I endorse large crowds & buildings (having built a congregation of up to 1,000 and a building of 100,000 SF); we cannot say this method is biblically required. I agree that this method is highly effective, and over the long term I want to find ways to resume this method. But in times of crisis (war, pandemic, persecution, natural disaster), we can use other methods, even as the apostolic church did in times of persecution. In doing so, we aren't violating God's Word, becoming cowards, or acting in unbelief. We are operating outside our modern, traditional, Western box.

Finally, we are right to be concerned about religious liberty. Some might want to use this situation for a future precedent, but we will fight against that idea if it surfaces, and we will have the Constitution on our side. Right now, we aren't facing religious persecution in this situation, and we shouldn't characterize it as such. If we do, and then we lose, that could become a negative precedent. We must be vigilant to protect our freedom, but we must choose our battles wisely.

I agree. We need to get out of our western mindset of what church is. We (members) are the church. We can have the moving of the spirit wherever we are. We had a small bible study tonight, our Sunday service will be at my house, and we will feel the Holy Ghost, we will feel the anointing. Remember the early church had service in the catacombs, they had service wherever they were.

[james34]

But we are already under religious persecution from the government.
1)bakeries who refuse to make cakes or other baked goods for homosexual ceremonies
2)crosses forcibly removed from water towers in many small American towns, this done through the courts of law
3)legislation recognizing same gender marriage, forces businesses to accept this standard or close their doors
4)abortion
5)illegal in many states to offer counseling for homosexuals
6)transgender, if your child goes to public school and speaks about any (transgender desires)the government can administer puberty blockers, and offer gender affirming or reassignment therapy, even against the wishes of the parent

Yes the government has a disdain for Godliness.

[Nicodemus1968]

Originally Posted by james34

But we are already under religious persecution from the government.
1)bakeries who refuse to make cakes or other baked goods for homosexual ceremonies
2)crosses forcibly removed from water towers in many small American towns, this done through the courts of law
3)legislation recognizing same gender marriage, forces businesses to accept this standard or close their doors
4)abortion
5)illegal in many states to offer counseling for homosexuals
6)transgender, if your child goes to public school and speaks about any (transgender desires)the government can administer puberty blockers, and offer gender affirming or reassignment therapy, even against the wishes of the parent

Yes the government has a disdain for Godliness.

That’s called a worldly government. The church is not under persecution from this government, the church is under attack from a spiritual government. America is not a God fearing nation, America is as worldly as Mexico.

[james34]

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

That’s called a worldly government. The church is not under persecution from this government, the church is under attack from a spiritual government. America is not a God fearing nation, America is as worldly as Mexico.

The worldly government is under satanic influence.

[coksiw]

Brother, where did you get that from?

[Ron]

Originally Posted by coksiw

Brother, where did you get that from?

Facebook, there was a request from another Brother for permission to use it and it was granted. I understand and use to be over Home cell ministry that God is not limited to a building. I have had services in home, had people healed in a home, gotten water baptized in a home. In fact, Bro Hernandez was recently with us teaching us how to get in touch with the Lord to see God move. I get all that, my concern was the Government overreaching their authority in these situations.
Bro Bernard brought forth a simplified explanation.

[Sister Alvear]

I read that on Facebook also.

[Pressing-On]

Glad that Brother Bernard leads the UPCI.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Glad that Brother Bernard leads the UPCI.

Amen!