A Florida family is facing fines for hosting a weekly Bible study in their home – an act that city officials argue violates zoning codes.
Shane and Marlen Roessiger, of Venice, Fla. are facing a $250 per day fine for hosting Friday night prayer and Bible study gatherings that are attended by as many as 10 people.
“It is difficult to understand how it is illegal to have a prayer meeting on Friday night with a half dozen people but it is alright if I invited the same group on Monday evening to watch Monday night Football,” Roessiger said....
register those meetings folks and run your theology through SA to get permission for freedom of religion. society needs order and order we are going to get!
True followers of Christ care not about coorporate status.
Russ, to answer your question about what their beliefs are, I should have read the article a little more closely.
Todd Starnes wrote: The Roessigers run a small ministry called “In Him Healing Touch Ministries.” Dacus said like many small ministries, they received mail at their home instead of renting out a post office box. He believed the city used that to build a case against the family
Rufus wrote: Only incorporated 501c3 "churches" are seen as businesses requiring business licenses. True churches in a free republic are not required to file for tax exemption for they are not taxable as the constitution provides for the freedom of religion. The ability to tax something is the ability to destroy something and the gates of hell nor the IRS will prevail against the Lord's church, though it may prevail against corporations.
Justin Pierce wrote: I support the right of people to assemble in their homes as a normative right. However, as I have preached about this particular issue directly. I feel that I must address several problems here. 1. Every church is seen as a business and must have a business license, then they either file for tax exemption or not. 2. A certificate of occupancy is necessary in order to comply with safety codes and standards. 3. If a Chirch building is being built, it has different standards than a garage. These people had the right to assemble I their home but they chose to build a building in their back yard for the purpose of church services, yet they got a permit for a garage only. They decirved the officials and the pouted about the consequences. My next issue is that they are being heralded as Christian martyrs, yet they are Modoliat and deny the God of the Bible.
I agree with you for the most part in that statement. My only concern here is that if they were watching something like a football game that this wouldnt be an issue. In other words religious discrimination.
Justin Pierce wrote: ... However, as I have preached about this particular issue directly. I feel that I must address several problems here. 1. Every church is seen as a business and must have a business license, then they either file for tax exemption or not. ...
Only incorporated 501c3 "churches" are seen as businesses requiring business licenses. True churches in a free republic are not required to file for tax exemption for they are not taxable as the constitution provides for the freedom of religion. The ability to tax something is the ability to destroy something and the gates of hell nor the IRS will prevail against the Lord's church, though it may prevail against corporations.
Justin this is a different group than the one you are thinking of. This is a home bible study group not a 40 to 50 person church like the other guy built in a garage on his property.
I support the right of people to assemble in their homes as a normative right. However, as I have preached about this particular issue directly. I feel that I must address several problems here. 1. Every church is seen as a business and must have a business license, then they either file for tax exemption or not. 2. A certificate of occupancy is necessary in order to comply with safety codes and standards. 3. If a Chirch building is being built, it has different standards than a garage. These people had the right to assemble I their home but they chose to build a building in their back yard for the purpose of church services, yet they got a permit for a garage only. They decirved the officials and the pouted about the consequences. My next issue is that they are being heralded as Christian martyrs, yet they are Modoliat and deny the God of the Bible. If they want to hold services that is fine, but they were told many times that they were in violation of the law and how to avoid any further problems, now they have Christians that are supporting them in the name of freedom of Speach and Religion, but what about Biblical Truth!
The easy thing to do them is to have a Monday night Bible class during the football game.
Russ, it would be interesting to know if they are Christians or something like Jehovah Witnesses--Christian or Cult? But, religious freedom is just that, so if they aren't causing a disturbance, creating a fire hazard, or something that is a danger to life and limb the government should leave them alone.
I would like to find out what kind of people they are and whether or not they hold to orthodoxy. If they are indeed preaching the gospel and hold fast to the word, then we should offer to pay the fine just so they can continue to meet while they are fighting this in court.
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Dr. Steven J. Lawson | 10/11/2009
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