The Church is Essential

Governor Murphy has signed an executive order that will reopen state parks and allow counties and cities to open local parks.  This would include golf courses, as well.  I can imagine that everyone is super excited about the prospect of returning to some form of normalcy.  Meanwhile, the Church has been adamantly mandated to close and not reopen until further notice, as though the Body of Christ has been put on punishment.  What's wrong with this picture? Has government, ignorantly, forgotten the importance of the Local Church and Discipleship within every community.  The Church has the power to heal because it's filled with believers.  What about, Mark 16:17-18, which states:  "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."(KJV)?

 Do you believe closing the Church's door is an infringement on the Church and the citizen's constitutional right to peacefully assemble?

Since the Church, has the power to heal, and is also a "no-fly zone" for diseases and viruses, wouldn't you think being open will benefit our communities, cities, and states?

We have respected the government's "Stay At Home" mandate for an appointed amount of time, in part because of the internet's capabilities to stream services.  While using Periscope, we've been able to air services live with an "essential" team. Also using Zoom we host our Men and Women's Fellowships, Soul Sessions, Table Time, School of the Prophets, and Friday Night School of the Holy Spirit.  Thankfully, the internet has been a temporary solution.

What makes no sense is what has been considered as "essential". By whose standards have they made a liquor store "essential" while the church is considered non-essential? What kind of society are we producing? Also, regarding social distancing. I'm happy to say that Jesus is not practicing social distancing right now. In fact, "Where two or three are gathered together in His name, He is right in their midst."Mt.(18:20).  Guess what?  He's not wearing a mask either.  The Church has a Kingdom Culture.  We are here to help those who are sick.  We are not afraid of sicknesses.  Every sickness has been defeated (past tense), by Jesus on the cross.  This is what we know and believe.  Meanwhile, Gov. Murphy urged people to wear face masks and to remain six feet apart.  Let's consider the book of James 5:14 (KJV), "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:". How can we send the elders to pray for the sick if they must social distance themselves? If they go to pray for someone, are they expected to wear a mask and gloves as they heal someone of sickness? Why would they? Obviously if you are going to get someone healed, you do not need to protect yourself as though you are afraid. To anoint someone with oil, as the above scripture suggests one must touch the sick individual. This calls for a realignment of our thinking. We obey the scripture first and foremost. Throughout history, God's people have obeyed Him, despite a ruler, captain or Sadducee, strongly urging another way of doing things; even mandating God's people to stop what they were doing for the Lord. Some examples are: Jesus, Peter, Daniel, Esther and the list continues.

We are the Church, the Body of Christ. We heal sicknesses, diseases, and viruses. We have faith in the Power of God to miraculously heal. That is exactly what we will do. No matter what!  Bishop Hamon says, "The Saints who are willing to suffer whatever it takes to fulfill God's purpose for their lives to be conformed to His likeness will receive a greater reward and position in God's eternal kingdom."