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You are here: Home / New York City / Please Pray for NYC Churches

Please Pray for NYC Churches

January 8, 2012 by Christina

This is one of the most flagrant displays of anti-Christian sentiment that I have ever had the misfortune of observing in my beloved city. Sadly, not many in Christendom are talking about.  Not surprisingly, the MSM is barely covering it.

On December 5th, 2011 the US Supreme Court refused to hear the case of an evangelical church’s plea to overturn NYC’s ban on public school’s renting to churches.  The immediate and long-term implications of this are sobering.  For now, it means that dozens of churches have been suddenly catapulted onto the streets and have no meeting place. Looking further down the road, we are headed towards something that runs contrary to the intentions of our founding father’s. People of faith, particularly Christians, are quickly and illegally being blotted out of the public square.

What is the logic behind this deeply contentious decision to keep people of faith from gathering to worship on Sunday’s where, by the way — they pay rent to often-time cash strapped schools?

You see, most Christian churches worship on Sunday.  The Second Circuit Judge Pierre Level breaks down for us why this is a problem.  Allowing churches to rent from schools, he explains, results in an “unintended bias in favor of Christian religions.”  “How is that?” you ask. Why, that’s because, “Jews and Muslims generally cannot use school facilities for their services because the facilities are often unavailable on the days that their religions principally prescribe for services,”  Here’s the proof:  “At least one request to hold Jewish services [in a school building used for Christian services on Sundays] was denied because the building was unavailable on Saturdays. This contributes to a perception of public schools as Christian churches, but not synagogues or mosques.” And this perception of course could do grave damage to “impressionable” children.

The judge also took issue with the evangelical church’s membership. “Bronx Household acknowledges that it excludes persons not baptized, as well as persons who have been excommunicated or who advocate the Islamic religion, from full participation in its services”.

This is a matter that ought to concern us all.  This mountain of contention against faith and freedom grows.  For the record, the notion that the words “wall of separation between church and state” are found in the Constitution is a falsehood.  The only mention concerning this topic is found in the First Amendment which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”  That’s it!

Please pray that : (1)  this is overturned (2) that God use this time of trial and persecution to strengthen and purify the church (3) that Christian ministers in the US repent and start preaching a crucified Christ from once compromised pulpits (4) that Christians in NYC and the US be bold in their witness for Christ.

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Filed Under: New York City, Persecution

Comments

  1. persis says

    January 8, 2012 at 4:29 pm

    Praying, Christina. Thanks for sharing this.

  2. Trisha says

    January 8, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    Praying,Christina. Thank you for listing the specifics, too. Love you!

  3. Diane says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:52 am

    So sorry to hear this Christina. Praying.

  4. Teresa says

    January 9, 2012 at 8:27 am

    Praying Christina xoxoxoxo

  5. Elba says

    January 9, 2012 at 8:40 pm

    I will add this to my prayer list.

    God Bless,

    Elba

  6. alcoramdeo says

    January 10, 2012 at 2:04 am

    Been praying about this since first learning of it weeks ago. Our congregation has prayed about it as well. Thank you so much for posting about it– may every reader FWD the request to others. Blessings.

  7. VirginiaNative1689 says

    January 11, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    Thank you for making this issue public. It’s a shame that Jefferson’s words (which I agree with) have been completely distorted and taken out of context. For one, the reference was made with respect to the Federal government (not state/local governments). For another, Jefferson was talking about keeping the government from interfering with the affairs of the church. History is completely lost on our modern legal establishment, but I digress.

    Concerning the legalities of this case, I do not advocate so-called “incorporation doctrine” and therefore I don’t think this ought to be a Federal issue at all. As such, I looked up New York’s state constitution and I see absolutely nothing in that document which would prohibit this activity by the churches. In the long run, I think this may be beneficial to the church as a whole to be less and less dependent upon government institutions, no matter how minimal.

    We will most definitely pray for these churches in NYC. The church in Virginia stands with the church in New York! Whatever the result, may God be glorified and His church strengthened.

    • Christina says

      January 11, 2012 at 7:53 pm

      Thank you for that analysis Josh! That one of the unintended blessings that God, in HIs sovereignty could be bringing about, is the church depending less upon government institutions is something I hadn’t thought about. But, a BIG “Amen” to that! 🙂

      Thanks for praying, and standing in support of the body in NYC.

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