The 3 - July 26, 2020

This week in The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, the state of Nevada will not have to change its restrictions on churches that were initiated as the result of the coronavirus, thanks to the highest court in the land.  Also, a large social media platform has announced its intention to censor therapy that results in people struggling with same-sex attraction changing.  Plus, a faith-based adoption agency in New York has received a favorable ruling from a Federal appeals court after a governmental entity tried to shut it down because of its beliefs about Biblical marriage.

U.S. Supreme Court upholds state restrictions during COVID-19 - again; this time for Nevada

For a second time, the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to lift restrictions placed on churches during the coronavirus crisis.  Just days ago, as CBN.com reports:

In a 5 to 4 ruling Friday against the request filed by Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, the high court upheld the limit of 50 people in houses of worship due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The church, which is located east of Reno, argues that the state is treating churches unfairly compared to casinos, restaurants, and entertainment parks.

The dining and entertainment venues are allowed to open at 50% capacity, which, as the article points out, could be significantly larger than the 50 people or less allowed in churches.

Three justices wrote dissents, including the court's newest justice, Brett Kavanaugh, who wrote that he is in agreement that “courts should be very deferential to the States' line-drawing in opening businesses and allowing certain activities during the pandemic." He added, "But COVID-19 is not a blank check for a state to discriminate against religious people, religious organizations, and religious services...Nevada is discriminating against religion."

In late May, the high court had denied an emergency appeal, again by a 5-4 margin, by a California church that had challenged an order by the governor that loosened some of the restrictions on houses of worship, but still only allowed up to 25 percent of capacity, with a maximum of 100 people, according to Liberty Counsel.

Meanwhile, in California, in light of recent orders by California Governor Gavin Newsom that banned indoor worship in much of the state, The Christian Post reports that Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, pastored by John MacArthur, announced it would be meeting this past weekend.  The article quotes MacArthur as saying, "Government officials have no right to interfere in ecclesiastical matters in a way that undermines or disregards the God-given authority of pastors and elders..." The article also states:

The pastors and elders of Grace Community Church, therefore, “respectfully inform our civic leaders that they have exceeded their legitimate jurisdiction, and faithfulness to Christ prohibits us from observing the restrictions they want to impose on our corporate worship services,” he added.

The welcome to Dr. MacArthur was described as "raucous" over at Capstone Report, where these words from the sermon can be found:

“This is not a problem to be feared. This is a triumphant hour for the church to be the church,” MacArthur said. “Standing for the glory of our Lord is more important in this hour than I’ve ever known it in my life. For His glory, we will stand and meet and worship and preach the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The report says:

MacArthur read from the Book of Daniel, chapter 6 and explored the purpose of the church and the eternal condition of the lost world citing Scripture that shows the lost world does not understand the spiritual things—in fact the things of God are foolishness to the world.

MacArthur pointed out the double standard during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic.

Facebook announces ban on posts supporting sexual orientation change therapy 

It's called "gay conversion therapy," and there are many who try to make that seem like a bad thing. But, it's essentially helping a person who has experienced unwanted same-sex attraction to break free through the power of Christ.  But, Facebook apparently wants to quell any talk of it on its platform, according to an article at the CBN.com website.

A spokesperson for Facebook says, "We don't allow attacks against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity and are updating our policies to ban the promotion of conversion therapy services. We are always reviewing our policies and will continue to consult with experts and people with personal experiences to inform our approach..."  As the article points out, Facebook-owned Instagram has already banned ads for this type of therapy.

Well, perhaps Facebook would consider the testimonies of people who have been set free in Christ. CBN quoted April Lockhart from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who wrote: "I had fully believed in this lie that gets perpetuated that people don't change, they can't change, and if you try to change them, it's detrimental to their health. And I just want to say that's a lie." She added, "Nobody has the right to tell you can't be what you want to be. And I did want change. And through the power of God, the Creator of heaven and earth, this was able to happen. These days we're able to happen. These moments. And I'm a happy woman. I don't suffer depression. I don't suffer with anxiety. I don't drink myself into stupors like I used to have to."

Luis Ruiz of Orlando testified to Jesus "looking for me." He said, "I was able to find a church where they loved me. And they taught me that my identity is not my behavior. My identity was not who I thought it was. But it was a child of God. So, I stand here to say that I was a homosexual,...And now I am a child of God."

New York faith-based adoption agency receives positive ruling from Federal appeals court

New Hope Family Services is a faith-based adoption agency based in the state of New York. According to the Alliance Defending Freedom, "The New York State Office of Children and Family Services singled out the religious nonprofit for its policy prioritizing the placement of children it serves in homes with a married mother and father."  So, the office set out to close New Hope down.

A Federal district court dismissed New Hope's lawsuit against the agency, but recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit said the suit should not have been stopped.  ADF's website says that the 2nd Circuit...

...reversed a district court’s dismissal of New Hope’s lawsuit against New York officials seeking to shut down the provider simply for its religious beliefs about marriage. In November, at the request of Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing New Hope, the 2nd Circuit temporarily halted state officials from interrupting current adoption placements or mandating the closure of New Hope’s adoption program until the court had a chance to consider whether to reverse the federal district court’s decision. The case now goes back to district court for further proceedings.

It seems that the court actually went back to Justice Kennedy's majority opinion in Obergefell, stating, regarding so-called "same-sex marriage": "Indeed, the Court has suggested that differing secular and religious views in this area should be allowed to coexist. This is evident from the fact that, at the same time that the Court ruled that the Constitution does not permit government to prohibit same-sex marriage, it ‘emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned.’”