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Last week, a Calvary Chapel congregation in Nevada sued the state for its 50-person limit for churches,

arguing that its First Amendment rights were being violated and that it was being treated

unfairly compared to casinos, restaurants, and amusement parks.

The government allows these entities to meet at 50% of the fire code capacity. On Friday, majority of Supreme Court

justices voted not to intervene in the case, echoing a similar denial in May. In his dissent,

conservative justice Sam Alito asked white churches that followed social distancing policies and admitted fewer people than casinos could not convene, or the latter could, with more people, many of whom would not be following these procedures.

The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. It says nothing about the freedom to play craps, he wrote.

Chief Justice, John Roberts, who voted with the liberal justices, made his case.

The precise question of when restrictions on particular social activities should be lifted

during the pandemic is a dynamic and fact-intensive matter subject to reasonable disagreement.

He also added that the Constitution principally entrust the safety and health

of the people to the politically accountable officials of the states to guard and protect. The same day

that SCOTUS issued its decision, Pastor John McArthur announced that his megachurch would hold in-person

indoor services despite California's recent COVID-19 restrictions banning in-person meetings, and despite an overall spike in cases in the state at large.

He wrote, Christ is Lord of All. He is the one true head of the church. He is also king of kings, sovereign over every earthly authority.

Grace Community Church has always stood unmovably on these biblical principles. As his people, we are subject to his will

and commands is revealed in Scripture. Therefore, we cannot and will not acquiesce to a government-imposed

moratorium on our weekly congregational worship or other regular corporate gatherings. Compliance would be

disobedient to our Lord's clear commands. We wanted to discuss civil disobedience in the time of coronavirus.

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