Lexington, K.Y. – Today as Christians around the world celebrate our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and his defeat of death, some within our country attempt to interfere with services. On Saturday, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Kentucky Democratic Governor, Andy Beshear announced that state police would record church attendees’ license plates and notify them it is a misdemeanor violation of orders issued by state health officials, the governor said.
According to the Beshear, “Local health officials then will contact the people associated with those vehicles and require them to self-quarantine for 14 days. This is the only way we can ensure that your decision doesn’t kill someone else,” said the governor.
There are at least 1,693 coronaviruses confirmed cases and 90 deaths in Kentucky as of Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who is recovering from coronavirus, criticized the governor on Twitter Saturday issuing the following statement:
Taking license plates at church? Quarantining someone for being Christian on Easter Sunday? Someone needs to take a step back here.
Kentucky Governor Announces Plan to Record License Plates of Easter Church Goers and Force Them to Quarantine for 14 Days https://t.co/z7U42liQRh
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 11, 2020
President Trump stated weeks ago that he wanted the country “reopened by Easter,” despite warnings from health officials. Since the end of March, POTUS has encouraged further social distancing efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Church is More Than a Building
As Christians around the world celebrate the life, betrayal, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, should the state and the federal government have the power to interfere with such celebratory and reverent services?
Jesus says where two or three gather tougher, He is present. Two or three—not 10, 40, or 150 or 6,000. Not an auditorium with a speaker, a band, and dozens of rows of chairs. In his teachings, Jesus also instructs us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. In this, and during this pandemic, we all must be mindful that a church is beyond a brick and mortar exterior.
The love of Christ, the faith, hope, and passion displayed on a rugged cross, is more than a building. In this solace given to us by our Savior, we must obey his teachings, protect and preserve life, and allow our nation to overcome this deadly disease.
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