What To Make of the Bible Study Shut Down in San Diego

iMonk has a good reflection on all the hype surrounding the Christians in San Diego who were having a home Bible study and told to shut it down. (Haven't heard about this yet? Click here)

Read the whole thing, but these are his conclusions:

1) I think the county official who visited this pastor was likely the sort of jerk zoning gestapo that delights in power and self-importance. If he asked “Do you say amen?” then he’s clearly being provocative. I’ll wager he (or she) is going to be in trouble.

2) A home Bible study ought to be protected by every law on the books. It’s inexcusable that anyone having a Bible study should worry about government harassment in America. If that’s the issue, then I hope Pastor Jones wins $10 million in damages.

3) Parking is another issue. Like it or not. It’s an issue no matter what the meeting is in the home. Regular use of large amounts of neighborhood parking- especially without prior arrangement and permission from neighbors- will create resentment and complaint.

4) Police and fire access are issues. Remember when they used to give tickets for parking in front of a fire hydrant? It didn’t matter if you were a pastor on call.

5) This is quite likely about how Christians are perceived and how Christians have treated their neighbors. In many areas in America, people don’t want churches or gatherings of Christians in their neighborhoods. Yes, they have the right to gather, but where a community has recourse through zoning or other laws, there are people who will use those. More and more churches are finding out they are not welcome in the suburbs.

6) Christians: ask yourself if you are capable of complaining to the zoning commission if a large group of atheists or Muslims are parking in front of your house because of a regular neighborhood meeting. Be honest.

7) Somewhere between the stories and versions of stories told by the lawyers and the offended is the truth. It’s not the propaganda Christian and conservative media are pumping out. And it’s not the insanity of the zoning officer wanting $10,000 in fees. It’s something more complex; something about how Christians are perceived and how we relate to unbelievers.

8] Stop the whining. Stop the insisting on rights. Stop going to legal foundations. GO TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS. Work this out. Show something practical and constructive. Would Jesus be shouting about Obama is shutting down Bible studies? Get a grip.