California Couple Fined for Holding Bible Study in Home
By Samantha Keller |
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Posted 4:45 am on September 23, 2011
Rarely do I pontificate End Times prophecy, mainly because I feel called to make a difference untill the day Jesus returns, but this story of persecution in my own backyard raised the hair on my neck.
An Orange County, CA couple has been ordered to cease hosting a Bible study in their home on the grounds that the meeting violates a city ordinance as a “church” and not as a private gathering.
The homeowners, Chuck and Stephanie Fromm, from San Juan Capistrano, CA were fined $300 earlier this month for holding what one city official determined “a regular gathering of more than three people” which requires a conditional use permit, states Pacific Justice Institute, the couple’s legal representation.
The Fromms also face further fines of $500 per meeting for any continued “religious gatherings” in their home, according to the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI). “We don’t like lawsuits, but we have to stand up for what’s right. It’s not just a personal issue,” Stephanie Fromm told The Capistrano Dispatch. “Can you imagine anybody in any neighborhood, that one person can call and make it a living hell for someone else? That’s wrong … and it’s just sad.”
City officials from San Juan capistrano have rejected the Fromms’ appeal, PJI, which represents both the Fromms and other Bible study participants, will appeal the decision to the California Superior Court in Orange County.
Officials with San Juan Capistrano did not respond to requests for comment. (as reported by CBS-2)
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This blows my mind. A small gathering of people gathered in a home to study and worship God is breaking the law?
What about monthly poker nights, mothers’ play dates, bunko gatherings, holiday celebrations, wine groups, book clubs and my personal favorite, Monday night football groups?
Don't all these count as a regular gathering of more than three people? And it's not even a question as to what people worship these days? Football, TV, wine, relationships; and most of these gatherings illicit a far greater response,as in loud cheering and drunkeness than a Bible study ever would.
So why the hooplah?
Is it simply the name of Jesus that get’s people up in arms?
Bit by bit, our freedom to worship God, is crumbling before our very eyes.
I am generally not prone to getting involved in politics, but I will be writing a letter to the City of San Juan Capistrano, CA in support of the Fromms’ appeal because I certainly don’t want some yahoo calling the cops on me for my crazy Christian shin-digs; like ministry meetings, New Believers picnics and so forth. (wild…I know).
Very soon, Bible Studies may have a cover charge if we don’t stand up to this absurd ordinance. Next thing you know we will be meeting in underground house churches like the Chinese.
(Then again, maybe we need a little persecution to light the church on fire and help us remember exactly who we worship) A Very Big GOD!
Tags: Bible study, faith, persecution
Mother of 3 munchkins, church-planter, pastor's wife, marketing director at a tech company, women's ministry leader at Mariners Mission Viejo Church. Lover of Jesus, books, coffee and long walks. Generally exhausted yet deeply fufilled from the chaos of church, sports and finding time to blog. I am peacemaker, a thinker and generally "chillaxed" as my son likes to say. I believe God has given me a unique gift in the ability to recognize and tell His stories.
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