May 28, 2009 by Arron Chambers
In my opinion, home Bible studies are one of the most effective tools for making disciples for Christ and for shepherding the flock. I also believe that home Bible studies create an environment that is more like the first century Church than anything else we do currently in Western Christianity.
I’ve personally witnessed lives changed, people saved, marriages healed, the lonely embraced, the needy restored, and the spiritually weak strengthened in home Bible studies and small groups.
Over the years we’ve lead home Bible studies in our home and are currently involved in a home Bible study every Monday night.
So, I read the following story with great interest:
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SAN DIEGO — A local pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a San Diego County official, who then threatened them with escalating fines if they continued to hold bible studies in their home, 10News reported.
Attorney Dean Broyles of The Western Center For Law & Policy was shocked with what happened to the pastor and his wife.
Broyles said, “The county asked, ‘Do you have a regular meeting in your home?’ She said, ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you say amen?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you pray?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you say praise the Lord?’ ‘Yes.’”
The county employee notified the couple that the small bible study, with an average of 15 people attending, was in violation of county regulations, according to Broyles.
Broyles said a few days later the couple received a written warning that listed “unlawful use of land” and told them to “stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit” — a process that could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
“For churches and religious assemblies there’s big parking concerns, there’s environmental impact concerns when you have hundreds or thousands of people gathering. But this is a different situation, and we believe that the application of the religious assembly principles to this bible study is certainly misplaced,” said Broyles.
Stay tuned and I’ll keep you posted on how this story unfolds.