You would think from reading the freethought blog down there in Tucson that Arizona's legislators, and Governor were so Christian right that they practically insist on "home", as well as "public" Bible study, guess not.

If neighbors object to having roudy Bible study members disturb the peace, arrest them for that. But for courts to usurp the authority to determine the definition of church is especially alarming.

The godless secular society is striking at the core of Christian assembly. The proper New Testament pattern IS home-based assembly. The Church must vigorously resist any attempt to illegalise Christian home meetings. As Julie said, any misbehaviour by the convener or attendees should be handled the normal way, but the idea of home gathering must remain sacrosanct.

Secular schmecular (in regards to prior comment - not the article). This is about all-too common (and increasingly so) government interference, plain and simple. This needs to be made a government overreach issue, not a "religious" versus "non-religious people" false dichotomy war.

Plenty of non-religious people take exception to government constantly sticking their nose into damn near everything under the thin pretextual rubric of public safety.

I want to first state that I am in fact a Christian, and I do believe we will come under more and more persecution, as the Bible so clearly warns. With that said, I do need to add that we are admonished over and over in the scriptures to "submit to those in authority over us" and to "obey" those laws that are clearly set forth by our government(s). If certain regulations and ordinances were (by law) required, then these should have been respected and followed, as is fitting for Believers
(1 Peter 2:13-17).

This is so ironic because if the people were hosting a party in their backyard their would be no problem or complains from any neighbors and their certainly would not be any government meddling. Now as far as laws for church assembly is concerned this is quite contradictory becaus e we have a constitutional right to assemble and do what we please in our homes. Whenever anyone hosts a party should they obtain a permit so they could comply with fire and other laws?

Certainly we must be law abiding - but that comes AFTER hearing the voice of our Good Shepherd as well as resisting the voice of Satan being presented as the law of the land. Any law that strives to curtail our obedience to our Lord cannot be a valid law and must be resisted (Daniel 3 and 5). Yet in our resistance, we must not forget we are not fighting flesh and blood - but spirits). The peaceful legal and spiritual resistance of the Fromms is already succeeding in opening the eyes of those concerned to the fact that not everything that happens in the privacy of our homes should need permits in the first instance. This is much more evident when we observe that these laws are skewed against Christian practice. (for instance, I don't know how many atheists have yet been arrested for teaching evolution in their homes. I don't know if they too need permits for this, even though their doctrines are essentially to contradict our doctrines).

So, we have to follow the laws of the land but the word of our Lord must never be compromised. This is the clear submission of Scripture in Acts 4:19.

There is a thing or two that Christians can learn from Muslimes.

How long do you think those judges would remain alive if they did the same to them?

Time to take our country back! If you do not have a sword, sell your coat and buy one.

It's time the church starts using the "separation of church and state" argument like the state has been doing to the church for so many years. Keep the government out of the church's business.

It's not just the government, if we let this happen and don't stand up we too are in effect part and partial to the offence. Look for it, we all will be caught up in this curtailing of our spiritual rights soon enough. Those arguing for and against this infringement of free speech and religious rights will one day rue the government that implements these kinds of regulatory restrictions. Not only is Jesus coming soon but the anti-christ as well.

Ya'll still want to fight with other Christians about dogma or are the Catholics, Baptists, Non-denominationalists, Evangelicals, and others ready to stand up to the federalist agenda?

Time to give new meaning to, "I disagree with you, but I will defend your right to disagree with me to the death."

It seems people are being misinformed and ill advised. Being a christian and firm believer of freedom of speech, especially religion I was misled by this post, until I read the actual complaint of Salman vs City of Phoenix. This started in 2007 and didn't conclude until June of this year as the complaint inferred the problem is not with religion but against Mr. Salman's flat out refusal to compy with the code laws. Parts of this are as follows: he did not have the proper permits to " Build a Church on the Property" and was advisied that bible studies are not allowed to be conducted in your " Residence or Barn" on your property as these are structures and do not comply with the construction codes for this use. I saw nothing pertaining to outdoors or open air meetings. The impression of the complaint inferred that Mr. Salman was indeed trying to build a church which was concurred by the courts.

Rob, don't you see something wrong with a government that so much infringes on our freedoms like they are doing? Why does someone need "special construction" to have Bible studies at their homes? That's a ridiculous law that was put into effect to stop the freedom all of us should have to study the Bible together. With that law, they can stop 2, 3, or 4 couples from meeting together every Friday night or whatever. We have a government that has gone out of control, and yes, we are starting to see the freedoms and rights of Christians being taken away.
The government is not supposed to intrude into the rights of people to worship.

When I was told about this incident, I had (and sill have) trouble visualizing the whole thing and could not believe it was true! I visualize persons in a gazebo reading and discussing the Bible, maybe singing some glorious hymns and praying. Who in their right mind would find this offensive? Even if you were an Atheist, I can't see how someone could complain! God Bless America

In ****** city, we had a similar kind of thing. The brother of the home said that the ones coming were his friends coming to visit. Something along the lines of rights to visit one another, wanna go to court over it? They backed down. But eventually, a neighbor was filing complaints, they got us on parking violations on a dirt field, oil dripping in dirt to go into aquafier, etc. Eventually we just had to move on. However, meetings were getting to be around 50, plus tons of noisy kids, cars coming and going, it really was an abuse of the neighbors, and we realized we really did need to get a regular place to meet. We realized we were really bothering the neighbors quite a bit, and we knew it was time to rent a bigger facility.

Home meetings of 5 to 10 or even 12 will not draw such concerns, normally. It is indeed like people coming over to visit. But I personally think that if it begins to affect and bother neighbors, like 50 people with all the cars, traffic, kids, noise, etc., it really is a kind of abuse of the neighbors rights to have a peaceful quiet neighborhood. Rights of individuals have to be respected. The brother with the big Bible Study in his home should have had consideration of his neighbors, and also he should have respected the law and obeyed. His going to jail is a real shame, not a persecution of a Christian, but a Christian who was inconsiderate of his neighbors rights. You might find this odd, not to be in support of the brother now in jail, but, we Christians need to maintain a good testimony before all.

The other case in San Juan Capistrano, well, being forced to have a permit, that is a bit much, IMHO. In ****** city, we just said we are coming together, it's none of your business what we are doing, and challenged them legally on the matter. Would have been very interesting if the city did not back down, huh? People come together to watch football, play yahtzee, bridge, chess, whatever, but, come together to read and study the Bible? Oh, you have to have a permit to do that! Yeah, a good lawyer should have fun with that one, right? Well, we also need permits to have people over to read the newspaper too, and also need a permit to have a bar-b-que, etc. etc. :0