Governors Closed Their Churches, So Christians Are Getting Creative

As lawmakers across the country slowly rollback their COVID-19 lockdown mandates, governors in several states have refused to lift restrictions on houses of worship. Christians have finally had enough.

Earlier this week, a tweet showing Christians gathered for a time of prayer and worship at a Las Vegas casino went viral. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has allowed casinos to reopen with precautions while keeping churches shuttered. The event was hosted by Evangelicals for Trump, said Faith and Freedom Coalition Chairman Ralph Reed.

Packed house at #EvangelicalsForTrump prayer & praise event in Las Vegas. NV Governor banned church services but casinos can operate at 50% capacity. So we are praying in a casino. pic.twitter.com/fP4xE3lPAb
— Ralph Reed (@ralphreed) August 7, 2020

The gathering was held just over a month after one Nevada church, Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, sued the governor for his strict cap on service attendance. The church lost its Supreme Court battle after Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal majority. The decision elicited scathing repudiations from the conservative members of the court, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh asserting that Nevada was “discriminating against religion” and Justice Neil Gorsuch noting “there is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel.”

In Pennsylvania, Christians gathered for worship in the grocery aisles of a Walmart near Pittsburgh. Gov. Tom Wolf has restricted church gatherings since April when he issued guidance urging religious leaders to “find alternatives” to in-person gatherings and directing individuals to “not gather in religious buildings or homes for services or celebrations until the stay at home order is lifted.”

This church decided to worship at their local Walmart since they weren't allowed to gather anywhere else pic.twitter.com/Su6ojO4gVA
— Stephanie Smith Parler @stephsmith84 (@use4a_no) August 6, 2020

Ironically, Gov. Wolf found himself in hot water after he tweeted a picture of himself at a Black Lives Matter rally in June, a violation of his own executive order prohibiting gatherings of more than 25 people. Although the governor acknowledged that his actions were “inconsistent,” he justified them by arguing that the eradication of racism was “very, very important.”

I’m at today’s March Against Injustice and Gun Violence 2020 in Harrisburg in solidarity with our community.

Black lives matter. Racism must end. I am here to listen. pic.twitter.com/MoTYi7AtuW
— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) June 3, 2020

The videos from Las Vegas and Pennsylvania are just the latest examples of believers pushing back on dictatorial governors. Last month, Grace Community Church in Los Angeles defied California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order indefinitely restricting mass gatherings, including those in houses of worship. Pastor John MacArthur appeared on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson to defend his church’s decision, reminding viewers that Christians have always been the “original protestors.”

“We go back 500 years to the protestant reformation,” MacArthur said. “We’re still protesting lies and deception for the sake of the truth.”