KNOX COUNTY, TENNESSEE -> RESTRICTS COMMUNION, BIBLES & SINGING AT CHURCHES
“Singing is discouraged as it is thought to be an activity that expels significantly more virus than talking,” says guidelines
Officials in Knox County, Tennessee, are telling local churches to stop conducting communion, to remove Bibles from the pews and to even discourage singing during service.
The county released a “phased reopening” plan which, ironically enough, references several New York City guidelines for its models on how churches should conduct worship even though Knox Co. has no where near as many cases as NYC, nor does it even have the most cases in Tennessee, according to a case map by Tennessean.com.
According to Knox Co.’s own data, the county has had 232 positive cases of Covid-19, with 199 reported recoveries as of the time of this writing.
Now, according to the reopening plan:
– The physical taking of communion/sacrament should not be performed due to the serial breaking of physical distancing across a congregation. Consider guiding parishioners in how to connect with the spiritual aspects of these practices during this phase.
– Singing is discouraged as it is thought to be an activity that expels significantly more virus than talking.
– Deep cleaning should occur between services. Remove all communal items (for example, tithe plates, hymnals, bibles, etc.). If applicable, use a donation box instead of tithe plate.
We’ve reached out to the county to see why New York City guidelines were used instead of guidelines by the State of Tennessee.
The county could potentially put itself at risk for litigation given that government officials are basically telling churches how to conduct worship, especially with the claim about singing.
At some point it might be more prudent for churches to remain closed instead of allowing the government influence over their theology.
This story does bring to mind an incident in China in which Christian churches were forced to replace the Ten Commandments with quotes from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“Some congregations have been threatened to be blacklisted by the government, meaning that their travels will be restricted and schooling and future employment of their offspring will be impeded if they refused to overhaul their churches according to the current national policies,” according to a journalist who covered the story. “Disobeying the orders means opposition to the Communist Party, officials claimed.”
Now while that incident didn’t take place amid a pandemic, it does underscore the dangers of allowing government inside the church, regardless of the reason.
Replies
Court is not a solution. Get right with God. Its in His hands. The courts are rigged anyway. So don't waste your breath.
Exactly, and it is very expensive...too pursue a law suit. Save your money and aggravation... ignore the law where you can and where you can't attempt to work around it.
We haven't seen the thick of this yet! Persecution will ramp up if this nation does not repent, turn to Jesus Christ, that He might bless us with Life and Salvation. All who defend Life and Liberty should be crying repentance to the People of this Nation!
I agree with you Jeffery. While I like all the things we enjoy here, like liberty and prosperity, we need to repent. God's future with America is uncertain, to say the least. I hope and pray he can bless us again.
I believe America is the Promised Land that was given to the tribe of Joseph by Covenant spoken by many ancient prophets. But, as a People, we are not beyond reproach. We can be destroyed if we do not repent. But the Righteous will be spared as part of that covenant to Joseph. And it will be the Righteous who stand for Liberty in these last days. Our duty is to cry repentance unto the godless. If we are doing our part, crying repentance to the ungodly will either encourage them to turn, or embroil them toward a point of no return from sin. Then, God will politely burn them all. And they won't even see it coming.
Hey Jeff. We The People demand freedom and it's coming to the point the word freedom is not politically correct.
Well, I got a few other words which make that political rat bastard fur standup, like: Gun, liberty, G*d, ammo, privacy, home schooling, Founders, constitution, Bill of Rights and my all-time favorite: TRUMP
Questions? ....didn't think so.
God, Guns, and Guts Brother. God, Guns, and Guts...and Trump!
And Mosques are allowed to stay open? My, I'm surprised Christians aren't raising hell or bring down the powers of heaven.
no problem ... make sure you have video recordings of your services... and when they make a false arrest then file a lawsuit for millions... make it a class action suit and find a firm that will take the case on a contingency... no fees. If you sue demand that all the arresting officers be dismissed and barred from all state, country, and city employment as part of the settlement.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 5 Next