<<<My question is, why do we need to be recognized by the state as a church? We have similar regulations here for church buildings. Already we are having a parking problem in our neighborhood.

Will we have to widen the road and pave our yard into a parking lot? Or we could just say that we are having friends over? Isn't that legal?>>>

Dan, you raise some very intriguing questions. In particular, "Is there ever a justification for bearing a false report or just lying?" If not, then what about the midwives in Genesis or Rahab, the harlot?

I am not looking to change the rules and it must be added that the Biblical record encourages truth-telling as the normative behavior model even if persecution is the result. Still, I wonder if there are certain people that we ought to give total disclosure to, especially, as in this case, those who define 'church' in spurious terms, i.e. real estate, etc.

The powers that be are ordained of God to be his ministers, but what if they attempt to take your children away? On the other hand, I believe my right to assemble and worship as I please are sacred gifts that no man should take away. Why should I just turn these in when they were so costly to begin with?

Some of the brethren have different views about this, but all can pray and seek the guidance of the Spirit.

Oh well, I wouldn't worry about it, bro. When those cops drop by, if they ever do and they become exposed to all that sweet gospel music around there, they probably won't want to leave anyway. What a great group of musicians! Hey, is that Jeff Plissner a one man band or what? (With the right agent, I could see him going straight to the top. <grin>

So, if the music doesn't satisfy them, try donuts.

Isn't having a house church meeting at your home having your friends over? I don't see this as lying. It's true. It's just not sharing all the information there is to share. Someone who peeped in the window who saw the meeting might think it was a gathering of friends or family, anyway.

Quakers used to call fellow Christians 'Friends' because of verses like the one where Jesus told His disciples they were his friends if they did what He commanded them to do.