John MacArthur, Grace Community Church Defy California To Hold Worship
John MacArthur preaching at Grace Community Church on Aug. 16. MacArthur’s church is holding services every Sunday without masks or social distancing. Photo from Grace Community Church’s Facebook livestream.
After initially complying with COVID-19 restrictions, Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church, an evangelical megachurch in California, resumed its regular in-person services this weekend.
Grace Community Church announced in a statement July 24 that it would return to unrestricted services.
On Aug. 15, the California Court of Appeal issued an emergency order that prohibits the church from meeting indoors without following state restrictions. This overruled the decision made by a trial judge earlier that day.
The church ignored this ruling and held its normal Sunday service on Aug. 16.
In the opening remarks of the Aug. 16 service, MacArthur addressed the congregation about the ruling: “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 you needed to be inside and unmasked.”
He was met several times with applause and laughter from the congregation.
The church filed a lawsuit against California officials on Aug. 13, saying the state-issued health restrictions aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19 “violate the California Constitution.”
The complaint claims California has applied the protections of the U.S. and state constitutions unequally. “When many went to the streets to engage in ‘political protests’ against ‘racism’ and ‘police brutality,’ these protestors refused to comply with the pandemic restrictions. Instead of enforcing the public health orders, public officials were all too eager to grant a de facto exception for these favored protestors,” the complaint states.
The suit names as defendants Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and other public health and law enforcement officials in the state.
Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif., began holding regular services again July 26, despite a new round of closures instituted by the state as COVID-19 cases surged during the summer. Video stream of the services showing people singing and sitting near each other, many without masks.
The city of Los Angeles last week issued MacArthur and Grace Community Church a cease-and-desist letter, threatening a $1,000 fine or arrest for defying state orders.
MacArthur remains undeterred. The church secured attorneys Jenna Ellis and Charles LiMandri of the Thomas More Society as legal counsel, and on Aug. 9, MacArthur welcomed congregants to “the Grace Community Church peaceful protest.”
Speaking about the lawsuit, he said, “We are simply continuing to do today what we have done for the past 63 years, that Grace Community Church has been open to welcome the Los Angeles community and serve their spiritual needs. We will remain open and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who decide they want to come worship with us.”
MacArthur said that no members of his church have been infected with COVID-19. Los Angeles County is currently reporting 1,500 to 2,000 new infections daily.
“I can’t imagine a time when this particular society all of a sudden loves and tolerates the church,” MacArthur said on WORLD’s podcast The World and Everything in It. “We just decided to engage at the point the society began to control the church.”
This article was originally published at Ministry Watch. Jillian Cheney contributed reporting to the update of this article.