Not Forsaking

Have prayer meetings been held in your home? David and Mary Jones in San Diego hold them, and may not be able to in the future, according to Fox News (but not to be found on CBS, CNN or MSNBC)

"On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News.

"We told them this is not really a religious assembly — this is just a bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.

"The implications are great because it’s not only us that’s involved," Mary Jones said. "There are thousands and thousands of bible studies that are held all across the country. What we’re interested in is setting a precedent here — before it goes any further — and that we have it settled for the future."

That’s San Diego – California. In the good old US of A. Remember a rather short document that includes as its first amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Can you imagine living in an American city where religious meeting in one’s home is taxed as well as regulated? You see, a city official told the Jones’ that if they pay several thousand dollars for a permit, such meetings could be held. Perhaps there is a good lawsuit pending here. How about re-reading that paragraph just above – the one with the word “free.”

That amendment gives us the right to comply with the New Testament exhortation:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)

We are given examples of opening our homes to the church:

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Acts 2:46 KJV)

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42 KJV)

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. (Acts 12:12 KJV)

The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (1 Corinthians 16:19 KJV)

Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. (Colossians 4:15 KJV)

Need we a reminder?