Alan

The article is excellent and the testimony by Miss Daisy breaks my heart.
 

Not surprised one bit at all.
The local and State governments, almost all Democratic controlled, have discovered that they can use a health scare to bypass the Constitution of the United States, take away our freedoms, shut down our businesses, and close down the churches. When this health issue first arose folks have been trying to warn the  churches that the true issue is to control the churches or shut them down.

Quote: “We are Great Commission Baptists.”
Right; anything but Independent Baptist!
There simply is no biblical justification for The Southern Baptist Convention, or any other form of association. The biblical example for a New testament Church is, Independent, Local, Visible, Autonomous.

The apostle was speaking under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit TO - the believers at Thessalonica.
The apostle was speaking under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit ABOUT - "ANY" who "would not work."
2 Thessalonians 3:10 -- "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if ANY would not work, neither should he eat."

This also is a misrepresentation of my position, for my position presents the need to balance ALL of God's teaching on the matter.  Consider the following:
Also consider:
Now, the "entire body of principles in God's Word" on this matter would include the following studies:
1.  The responsibility to give in support of church leadership and the Lord's work.
2.  The responsibility to help fellow believers in material need.
3.  The responsibility to help the Lord's Jewish brethren in material need.
4.  The responsibility to help the general poor and needy.
5.  The restriction from helping the unworthy lazy.
6.  The requirement for Spirit-filled administrators of collected funds.
7.  The reward promised for those who are generous in giving.

Matthew 25:31-46 -- "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye [personally] have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren [note that the specific recipients here are not just any poor and needy, but are specifically the Lord's own BRETHREN], ye have done it unto me.  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these [the word "these" is a demonstrative pronoun grammatically indicated the same ones mentioned earlier], ye did it not to me.  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."  
Helping any poor and needy is NOT the relevant factor in this judgment.  Rather, helping the poor and needy OF THE LORD'S BRETHREN is the relevant factor in this judgment.  (Now, the question does remain whether in this context the Lord was speaking concerning His Jewish brethren, or His Christian brethren.  In either case, whether one does or does not help unsaved, non-Jewish poor and needy, it has NO bearing on THIS particular judgment.)  

The government was specifically designated by God "for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of them that do well." We could also extrapolate a responsibility for national security in that. Anything beyond that is out of scope.
1. Christians are told to support the poor and needy. (This is an individual responsibility, and not given to the government.)
2. "If a man does not work, neither shall he eat." (this implies that programs that give money to those who WON'T work, rather than CAN'T work, are in violation of God's principles).

I feel like conservative government aid programs, that focus on private charity and demanding responsibility on the part of the recipients, are a better representation of Biblical principles than socialist ones. 
 

You are correct.  Nothing in God's Word directly prohibits a government program from engaging in charitable giving unto the poor and needy, neither does anything in God's Word command the employment of such a government program.  As such, it would indeed be wrong for me to oppose a government program of charity (depending on how it was administered); just as it would be wrong for you to condemn me if I did not give through that government program of charity.  Thus IF governmental liberalism was simply a government program of charity, I would not express direct opposition against it (depending on how and to whom it was administered), any more than I express direct opposition against other charitable organizations.  Indeed, IF governmental liberalism was a government program to which we might WILLINGLY give of our material wealth, such that the government agency, having a larger distribution scope, would then distribute that freely given help unto those in genuine need, I would not oppose it so firmly and fiercely.  In fact, such a government program of charity would be structured upon the two foundational points of Biblical Liberality:
1.  The individual gives willingly out of a personal heart of compassion for the poor and needy.
2.  The individual gives liberally out of their own material possession to help the poor and needy.
HOWEVER, governmental liberalism is NOT structured simply as a government program of charity.  Governmental liberalism is structured as a FORCED system wherein the government FORCIBLY TAKES an individual's material wealth away through taxes, and then gives unto the "poor" that FORCIBLY TAKEN wealth, which is not actually the government's own material wealth, but was actually someone else's material wealth.  Even so, governmental liberalism does NOT fulfill either of the two foundational points of Biblical Liberality.  First, it is NOT structured for the individual to give willingly out of his or her personal heart of compassion, since it FORCIBLY TAKES through governmental mandate.  Furthermore, it is NOT structured for the individual to give out of his or her OWN wealth, since the government (the individual persons that make up the government) is not giving out of its own wealth, but is giving wealth that it has taken from others.
Thus I repeat yet again:
 _____________________________________________
Actually, I am aware that in the King James translation specifically, whenever the 2nd person pronouns "you" and "ye" are found, they are ALWAYS plural.  Even so, our Lord Jesus Christ was indeed speaking to a plural group of people in the judgment of Matthew 25:31-46.  However, as you yourself have recognized above, when our Lord Jesus Christ judges at the last judgment, He judges them personally according to their individual and personal behavior.  Thus the commendation and condemnation of Matthew 25:31-46 contextually retains its PERSONAL emphasis.  Furthermore, within this context in Matthew 25:40 our Lord Jesus Christ specifically defined the recipients of this giving as HIS OWN BRETHREN (which would either mean His Jewish brethren or His Christian brethren).  (Note: I myself believe that in this context we should view this as His Jewish brethren.)
________________________________________________
Indeed, individual people DO make up governments and institutions; and they most certainly should NOT "divorce God" from ANY part of their lives (although the great majority have done just that, for "there is no fear of God before their eyes").  (Note: Actually, in many ways the governmental liberalism of America is trying to governmentally compel and force genuine believers to "divorce God" from much of their public lives.)  However, when the people that make up the government give away wealth that is not their own, but is that which they have forcibly taken from others, they are NOT actually following God's Word, will, or way.  IF they were following God's Word, will, and way, they would be taking of their OWN wealth to give unto the poor; and they would be distributing the wealth of others that those others had willingly and freely entrusted to their administration.
(Note: Throughout the historical record the pursuits of governmental socialism in its various forms has been ANTI-GOD, ANTI-CHRIST, and ANTI-Biblical morality.)

Christian Charity given willingly and directly to noble causes is not the same as compulsory giving to the government who then chooses for you where and how money is spent. Jesus asks you to do it directly and willingly. The politician seeks forced payment, forces you to give them your money while promising to only give some of it to the poor and even then to things which are appalling and poorly managed, then many squander what you give them to the point there is never enough for the original cause, so then demands more money which they then take by force from you. NOT. THE. SAME.

Governmental Liberalism - The government putting its hand in your pocket to forcibly take your wealth for distribution to those whom they deem the worthy "poor" (after pocketing some themselves).
Biblical Liberality - You putting your own hand in your pocket to willingly and lovingly take your wealth for distribution to those whom the Holy Spirit directs you as the "poor and needy" (not the lazy and immoral).
Our Lord Jesus Christ and God's Holy Word command Biblical Liberality, but do NOT support governmental liberalism.  Those who use the commands of Biblical Liberality as a defense for governmental liberalism demonstrate their Biblical and spiritual ignorance.
(By the way, I am pretty sure that Bouncing Bill is still not using the King James translation for his Bible quotations.)

Not surprised one bit at all.
The local and State governments, almost all Democratic controlled, have discovered that they can use a health scare to bypass the Constitution of the United States, take away our freedoms, shut down our businesses, and close down the churches. When this health issue first arose folks have been trying to warn the  churches that the true issue is to control the churches or shut them down.

Not surprised one bit at all.
The local and State governments, almost all Democratic controlled, have discovered that they can use a health scare to bypass the Constitution of the United States, take away our freedoms, shut down our businesses, and close down the churches. When this health issue first arose folks have been trying to warn the  churches that the true issue is to control the churches or shut them down.

Not surprised one bit at all.
The local and State governments, almost all Democratic controlled, have discovered that they can use a health scare to bypass the Constitution of the United States, take away our freedoms, shut down our businesses, and close down the churches. When this health issue first arose folks have been trying to warn the  churches that the true issue is to control the churches or shut them down.

You can be sure that the "concerned community members" would not have attended under any circumstances.
Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Bill, I am not sure what you are getting at in response to my post. My text was simply a personal observation regarding community people who probably were not members of that church. My quoted Scripture was my own agreement with Scripture concerning church services.
I was not pointing to "anti-social distancing" or any of that other stuff. My church observes social distancing and makes provision for it, it also provides masks for those who want them.
Personally, I only have a problem with government trying to close, or even demolish a church building because its members want to continue meeting during this Covid 19 mess, as Scripture directs.

Keep us posted.
 

Sad article and testimonies.
But it does go to show how each generation in a church - each family and individual - needs to be faithful and walk with the Lord today, not just rest where they or their church once stood.
There is no coasting in the Christian life - not for an individual, and not for the church they are part of.
Coasting is like sitting on the fence when temptation to compromise comes your way. I think it was my webpartner, Angela Trenholm, who once said, “The Devil owns the fence,” and I know the fence is greased! It is a slippery slope, for sure.

Our Sunday services are live on YouTube. We have a facebook page and a screen behind pastor with messages and reminders. I think it needs to be shut off during the sermon. I don't think it's needed either. All the news, etc. is in the paper bulletin. Thankfully, people viewing online can't see the screen from the lights hanging above. 
I'm also one who would prefer everyone use a paper Bible. No one is going to learn the order of books on an e-book. We have one lady who specifically uses an e-bible because she has very bad vision, which is fine. But teens and new believers need to learn the basic placings of the Books of the Bible. Which is not possible if all you have to do is enter the verse and it just pops up.
But my pastor puts his sermons on a pad and if the pad's not working, he's lost.  And we have to wait for it to load, etc. This is the first church where the preacher doesn't go from an actual book. He should print out his highlights and reference so he's not totally dependent on technology.
Nothing better to hear when pastor says "please go to such and such" and you hear the ruffling of pages.:)

The article is excellent and the testimony by Miss Daisy breaks my heart.
 

The article is excellent and the testimony by Miss Daisy breaks my heart.
 

That’s exactly what happened to my old church. I’d left the area for about 15 years when I returned my old church was replaced by black curtains so it was dark as night in there. Rock concert music, fog machines and singers in mini skirts rocking out with a pastor with punk hair and ripped jeans. I still attended because they had a great youth pastor, who was in his forties and my daughter loved going to all the activities. Then the pastor decided the youth pastor  wasnt as hip and cool as he wanted the new image of the church to be and fired him. That caused a split from the older core members from the young crowd. We and a lot of the older crowd left. Discouraged by church politics I didn’t go for a few years until I went to my church now. The church I left has been plagued with infidelity rumors about new pastors and singing directors and the young girls singing on stage. But it remains the same rock concert appealing to the flesh and lust of lost sheep.

As for my church, every way you mentioned.  Sermons are posted to Vimeo and linked to our website and they also live stream on Facebook.  This is done to accommodate our infirm members, those too sick to attend.  We started with one screen and then later added two more above the choir loft.  No rock and roll stage, a piano on one side and an organ on the other.
I think it a great mistake for believers to trade the bible in a book format for one in electronic format.  It's hard to grow intimate with the pages when you have none, with the leather when all you have is glass and plastic dependent on electricity.
Don't remove the ancient landmarks!