During this COVID-19 outbreak period, the Internet sometimes feels like Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons.
Some people are claiming that the coronavirus is merely a devil’s work, and that when it’s over, we should thank God for it.
The legendary Hulk Hogan has done it.
The founder of Shincheonji Church has done it, too.
But what they did have no direct repercussion on society; their words might be powerful but the laws, made by mere mortals, are there to keep everyone in check.
Not this pastor, though.
Pastor in US Defied Rules & Told People to Gather in His Church During Easter Sunday
Over in the US, the situation is so bad that individual states are bidding for ventilators…and the federal government is joining in the game, too.
With over half a million infections and over 22K deaths, it’s now the new epicentre of the virus.
Most people are staying at home just like Singaporeans, and gathering is of course banned, though they’ve a number to define a gathering: 10.
Yesterday was Easter Sunday, a day that Christians come together to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. But with the COVID-19 outbreak, Christians all over the world are staying at home instead.
Over in Singapore, churches conducted services through livestreams or pre-recorded sermons.
It’s the same everywhere except for one church in Baltimore, Maryland, a city in the US.
Here’s some context: about 6 million people live in the state of Maryland, so it’s like Singapore. However, the state has 8,225 confirmed cases and 235 deaths so far.
And zooming in into Baltimore, the city has the most number of cases in the state.
But one pastor isn’t going to let the coronavirus affect his income dampen his spirits.
Meet Alvin Gwynna, a pastor who has been preaching in his neighborhood for more than 30 years.
Instead of livestreaming the service like what many other churches have done, the pastor thought otherwise.
He told his followers to gather together for Easter Sunday instead.
He said, “This is the Christian way of worshiping. We are told to gather.”
Over in the state, penalties for violations are just as severe as the ones in Singapore: if convicted, he could be jailed up to a year or fined up to USD$5,000.
But Pastor Gwynna thinks he’s like those cats sitting in taped-up areas.
He said, “I have a First Amendment right (a right about freedom of speech and religious freedom). They can’t impede our service… They can’t come to the church and arrest me. We are not in a police state.”
“It would be like sending Martin Luther King back to jail.”
To bring in the great name of Martin Luther—
Cat: And to bring me into the picture is okay?
Okay, sorry, let’s move on.
No Arrest Made Because No Violation Made
With so many COVID-19 clusters related to religious gatherings, you’d have thought that Trump’s hair would turn from orange to red after this incident, because he himself has to compromise and attended service online as well, and we all know he doesn’t like compromises.
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But no, nothing happen.
That morning, less than 10 people turned up.
And of course, those who turned up are those who DGAF, with one saying, “If I am going to die, I am going to die. So what? It’s up to God.”
Over here in Singapore, that would have been an offence because a gathering of even 2 people from different household would be considered an offence.
Now you know why the authorities here are so strict with the implementation of the policy.
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