In 1789, James Madison, who later became the fourth president of the United States, introduced 12 amendments to the First Congress, 10 of which would become the “Bill of Rights.” These amendments, defined in the Magna Carta, contain rights considered fundamental to America’s peace, liberties, and prosperity.

The First Amendment provides that Congress cannot make laws respecting any religious establishments or prohibiting its free exercise. Likewise, it protects freedom of speech, the press, the “right of the people peaceably to assemble,” and the right to make a complaint to or seek the assistance of the government without fear of punishment or reprisals.

In July 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, California Gov. Gavin Newsom made worldwide headlines when he banned singing and chanting in houses of worship. The ban launched a controversial battle over the fundamental constitutional rights of worshipers of all faiths. The battle ended when, on Feb. 5, 2021, the Supreme Court issued an injunction to stop Newsom’s extreme COVID-19 ban on indoor worship in churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship.

The court ruled in two cases: South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom and Harvest Rock Church v. Newsom. Both churches sued Newsom for targeting places of worship while allowing retail stores to open, along with hair and nail salons, among other non-essential establishments.

A new documentary, “Superspreader – the Rise of #LetUsWorship,” is released in theaters on Sept. 29 and features worship leader Sean Feucht’s journey that propelled a nationwide revival movement during the pandemic.

#Superspreaderfilm features worship leader Sean Feucht’s journey that propelled a nationwide revival movement during the pandemic. @AJC @seanfeucht #LetUsWorship #SeanFeucht
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The movement originated at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge when, in July 2020, Feucht invited friends through text and social media to meet by the landmark for an outdoor worship service after the prohibition was issued.

Feucht’s extensive travels as a missionary to several countries have given him first-hand experiences with religious oppression. Newsom’s attempt to prohibit expressions of worship reminded him of these experiences and what he has consistently heard from friends who fled from dictatorship and communist governments. “My friends say that the church is the first thing they vow to silence,” he said during our interview.

Indeed, it is a known fact that one of the main agendas in dictatorships, communist and socialistic governments is to replace God in the lives of the people, thus rendering government the only “entity” where one can find help and guidance.

One of the main agendas in dictatorships, communist and socialistic governments is to replace God in the lives of the people, thus rendering government the only “entity” where one can find help and guidance. @AJC @seanfeucht…
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The documentary is as eye-opening as it is controversial. Feucht’s opposition came from every angle: from radical social groups to leaders in the faith community, from close friends and family to government officials.

The leader never imagined that what began with his firm spiritual conviction and desire to stand by his constitutional right to worship would start a widespread movement, leading him to 150 cities, where thousands of worshippers gathered for revival.

Whether or not you agree with the timing of Feucht’s movement, there is no question, as one watches the documentary, that a fire ignited in the hearts of those who came to worship in each city.

As for me, I side with Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch’s opinion: “(…) if Hollywood may host a studio audience or film a singing competition while not a single soul may enter California’s churches, synagogues, and mosques, something has gone seriously awry.”

Indeed, when it comes to our civil liberties in America, it does not matter what religion one affiliates with — we must protect our right to worship at all costs. For if we ever silence the church, we forfeit one of freedom’s most fundamental rights — one which was carefully, deliberately, and, I firmly believe, providentially crafted in our Constitution.

Let us stand. Let us worship.

This article was initially published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, September 24, 2022. Click HERE To find it on the AJC’s website.

Find out more about the documentary on www.superspreaderfilm.com. Listen to the interview with Sean Feucht on the podcast God-Sized Stories with Patricia Holbrook or on Patricia’s YouTube channel – links below,

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Click on the graphic below to listen to Patricia’s interview with SEAN FEUCHT on the God-Sized stories podcast.

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The post Standing for the Right to Worship {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

The debate has earned national attention as multi-billion dollar companies rallied against the bill. Walt Disney Co. and Marvel Studios warned they would take their business elsewhere if Deal signed HB 757 into law. NFL’s spokesman Brian McCarthy said that Atlanta, scheduled to open the new Falcons stadium in 2017, would not be allowed to host the Super Bowl should the bill be signed into law. LGBT group Human Rights Campaign called on all studios and production companies to boycott Georgia if the bill passed. A number of Hollywood industry leaders signed their names in a letter sent to the governor.

The list of companies promising to harm Georgia’s economy if the bill passed is long: AMC Networks, Intel, Dow Chemical, Salesforce, Time Warner, 21st Century Fox, Sony, to name a few. Twitter buzzed with criticism of the bill. And as Georgia coffers trembled with the prospective financial impact in a state which has been attracting huge interest from studios, car manufacturers and other industries, our governor stood by his earlier comments and told us to “recognize that the world is changing around us.”

I smile at the comment, because it doesn’t take much intelligence for one to recognize the changes in our society. His comment reminds me of the “coexist” stickers that I see in cars everywhere. They always make me chuckle. To me, it’s belaboring the obvious. Can we help but coexist? Likewise, can we help but recognize that the world is changing? Indeed, we must acknowledge the changes in society and we must coexist. In a democratic, free society, there must be a place for every faith and every lifestyle. But I don’t believe that the changes in a free society should ever force people of any faith to go against their core beliefs in their religious practices. Isn’t that inflicting discrimination against the free exercise of our faith? Does that sound like America at all?

Our religious liberties have been protected by the First Amendment for centuries, and I believe that bills such as these have been written with the mere objective to protect people of faith, not because of discrimination against individual’s choices, but because, although the world is indeed changing, some of us still believe that God does not, and that his statutes remain the same.

As a person involved in ministry, I try to stay away from political debates as much as I can. In this case, however, I must use my voice to stand up, not only for Christians, but other people of faith. As a Christian, I believe I am to love everyone. I do. I believe Jesus indeed called all people to himself, regardless of their lifestyle. However, it’s also true that he preached righteousness as much as he preached grace.

I have read the bill, and vetoing it will definitely help Georgia’s economy, but I am afraid it has also opened Pandora’s box, giving everyone but people of faith the opportunity to stand by what they believe. People should have the right to live as they wish in America, just as religious institutions should have the right to object to doing anything that stands against their core beliefs. My prayer is that this liberty is never taken away from our pastors, rabbis and other religious leaders, and that we are not the only ones left without liberties in America’s future.

Patricia Holbrook is a Christian author, blogger and national speaker. Her Book Twelve Inches is on sale at Barnes & Nobles, Amazon and retailers worldwide. Visit her website www.soaringwithHim.com. Email
pholbrook@soaringwithHim.com. 

The post Will Our Faith Liberties Be Preserved in America? {Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.