A California pastor defied a state appeals court order prohibiting in-person church services after weeks of legal battles with the state.
John MacArthur, the pastor of Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, held an indoor service on Sunday with thousands in attendance after a state appeals court “set aside a lower court order that would have allowed indoor services” a day earlier, according to Los Angeles County.
“So the good news is you’re here. You’re not distancing, and you’re not wearing masks. And it’s also good news that you’re not outside because it’s very hot out there. So the Lord knew that we needed to be inside and unmasked. So he did us that gracious favor,” MacArthur said during the service. “They don’t want us to meet. That’s obvious. They’re not willing to work with us. They just want to shut us down. But we’re here to bring honor to the Lord. They’re not our enemy. We understand that. The Bible tells us to pray for our leaders — for their salvation. We need to be faithful to do that.”
Earlier this month, the megachurch pastor sued California Gov. Gavin Newsom for the state’s coronavirus restrictions on worship. Last week, MacArthur greeted the congregation by welcoming them to the “Grace Community Church peaceful protest,” which was met with loud applause and a standing ovation.
On Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant sided with the church after it filed a lawsuit that claimed the state was targeting “the wrong groups.” The church agreed to wearing masks and social distancing protocols until a full hearing on the matter concluded in September, but the state appellate court’s decision determined the state properly exercised its authority for public health purposes.
“As between the harm that flows from the heightened risk of transmitting COVID-19 (namely, “serious illness and death”) and the harm that flows from having to conduct religious services outdoors instead of indoors, the balance at this early stage favors issuance of a stay,” the ruling said.
MacArthur and the church’s elders have repeatedly defended their decision to allow indoor services.
“It has never been the prerogative of civil government to order, modify, forbid, or mandate worship. When, how, and how often the church worships is not subject to Caesar. Caesar himself is subject to God. Jesus affirmed that principle when He told Pilate, ‘You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above’ (John 19:11). And because Christ is head of the church, ecclesiastical matters pertain to His Kingdom, not Caesar’s,” the church wrote in a statement.
“Our Lord Himself always rendered to Caesar what was Caesar’s, but He never offered to Caesar what belongs solely to God,” the church added.
