n Diego Biblestudy Was Told They Had to Have a Permit to Meet

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San Diego Biblestudy Was Told They Had to Have a Permit to Meet

8 June 2009 No Comment

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I recently read a news story in Truth’s in the Word, about a pastor and his wife, David and Mary Jones, who were told that they could not hold a bible study in their home, unless they were ready to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County. I was shocked to say the least; especially since I live in California and have family in San Diego who regularly attend bible studies. I decided to read more.

Apparently on Good Friday a San Diego County employee went to the pastor’s home and asked questions such as “Do you have a regular weekly meeting in your home? Do you sing? Do you say ‘amen’?” “Do you say, ‘Praise the Lord’?” Pictures were taken of the home and the couple was told that they had to get a permit, costing tens of thousands of dollars to have the bible study meet in their home. If they did not get the permit they would receive fines up to $1000.

The couple had about 10-20 people in their home every week for a bible study, and it appears that some neighbors were unhappy with the extra traffic from those who attended the bible study. The pastor had a lot next to his home that most of the bible study attenders parked in, but a few still needed to park on the street. The couple sought legal help and the county backed off and gave a written apology, realizing it would be a violation of free speech.

Other Sources:
Fox News

World Net Daily

My thoughts on this situation:

1) It made me thankful for the freedom we have in this country to worship God. Christians all over the world have to meet in hiding because they don’t have the same freedoms. I’m glad that enough people value freedom of speech to the degree that there would be an outcry, such as there was in this situation.

2) I’m reminded of Ephesians 6:12, which says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. “ That means that even though it appeared that the battle was between the couple and the County of San Diego, the real battle was spiritual. Satan does not want God’s word taught and he does not want Christians to succeed. But thankfully, greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

3) I also see the importance of home bible studies reaching out to the local neighbors. No bible study would want to have a poor testimony or alienate people in the neighborhood that need the Lord. I was a part of a bible study that reached out to the neighbors by offering to serve them with yard work and anything else that they needed. I’m not saying that the bible study in San Diego was a poor testimony; I’m just reminded of how important it is to show love and work with the neighborhood, who might be inconvenienced by the extra traffic.

Although many countries enjoy freedom to worship Christ, some countries don’t allow Christians the same freedoms. Read about women who gave up everything for Christ in They Risked Everything For Jesus.