05/04/2020
Without being upset with any particular church, and granting the "good intentions" of all involved, I still must disagree with the ease with which the vast majority of Churches in America shut down at the eye brow raise of the government.
It is a misconception that they were shut "by law". Truth is, there can't be any law that supercedes the First Amendment, which itself starts, "Congress shall make no law..."
It doesn't say, "except in cases of pandemic".
Also, as our government is full well aware of that, they are claiming to not have closed the churches, "just" that they want no more than ten people in there. Hardware stores can have sixty. Ponder how the virus knows the difference between a large building of shelves versus a large building of pews.
Yet in spite of this, and as said, the vast majority of churches - most all - promptly closed.
I hear the ways of glossing this over as no big deal. "We didn't close, the church is the people not the building!" or "We were sent out to preach the word!"
Hmm.
It is true the "church" is not the building, but that building was where Christians met. And e-worship or online for facewhatever is NOT the same. No communion or sacrament, for one. And no "two or three gathered in His name" for two,
I have noted - and am glad to note - that as we go into May, some Catholic leaders and Protestant leaders, admittedly on the fringes, have started to cautiously express doubt about the wisdom of their various churches choice in going this route. I hope that continues and grows
The Church - no matter which one - is supposed to be the Bride of Christ. And it is a sorry bride indeed that leaves her husband at the request of another, no matter how good the reason gave. Short of Jesus commanding it, then while it pains me to say it, the bride left precipitously.
And needs to return at once.
I also take task with these arrogant ones who seemingly quite content with the lockdown act like they're on the side of Science and Truth. And for I or others to call for an end to this farce makes us Luddite Double Digit IQ fools.
I knew a literal rocket scientist once, and in college he referred to me as "the smartest man in the room". I am that saddest of all things, the "child prodigy" who at 51 clearly is never going to "fulfill my potential" in spite of the best efforts of parents, teachers and more guidance counselors that you could shake a stick at.
I've forgot more science than most of the fools on line are ever going to know. And I particularly find annoying those who with some minor title of "nurse" or "EMT" or even just "works at a hospital" to think that they are some how paragons of scientific insight, when any casual conversation with any of them smoking out back would disabuse the most gullible of us of that in a hurry.
The virus is little worse than the new flus that come out each year.
The virus is going to spread no matter what we do now.
Any quarantine between "total" and "none" is worthless.
Most "covid related deaths" involve the above eighty with various other conditions, including of course, the "Oh, yeah, they're over eighty."
Those are facts, and no bed pan changer, orderly or ambulance driver is qualified to change the nature of that reality.
But why, Dean? Why would so many say it's real? Oh, heavens. A famous Russian philosopher, author and all around cynic once said, "Never bother to examine a folly, only ask yourself what it accomplishes."
True enough. And this has accomplished the biggest wealth transfer since the last made up "crisis" of the housing bubble burst of '08.
Attend carefully - you are losing your jobs, seeing the economy wrecked, seeing your kids further sold into debt slavery and denying Jesus on Earth so that the rich can get richer. It's as simple and cynical as that.
The churches need to open. And I thank the good Lord that some rare few have stayed open, for some of us sinners - me - really, really need to go to church. It's why before this I went to so many. And why I've really been jonesing since every door has been locked.
Every weekend before this, was my busiest time. From Seventh-day to LDS to Methodist to Disciples of Christ, to Catholic masses, I'd be in a pew, listening to the word, and communing with other believers. And I assure you that every church on Earth has what I think of as "true Christians".
And even the worst most bigoted ones had open doors. Literally any could attend. None, and I mean NONE, were turned away.
Do you even know how terrible this is, for church doors to be locked? Well, few online know science, and fewer still know history.
This is a shameful moment in collective church history, and the sooner it's over, the sooner we can all try and forget how cheaply and easily we collectively rolled over.
Meanwhile, I will continue to worship in the places brave enough to stay open, and I'll be with roughly the same number of people you might find in the unclosed liquor stores. Not as a thumb to the nose against my government, but because it is my right, and my need, to attend.
And some of you who have spent a life loudly proclaiming, "I'd have stopped the Romans, I'd have carried His cross!" Really? I supsect the Romans would have simply said, "He's a terrorist" and you'd have found reason enough to have gone home.
If any out there care to attend next week, you may meet me at my house next Sunday and I'll take you. But regrettably we're "that nation" now, so I will not publicly say which Brides are staying with their Husband, as those toll free snitch lines get enough business already.