UPDATED: Signs of the times: San Juan Capistrano, California demands that Bible Study group get permit to gather – UPDATED WITH CONTACT INFO

My dear readers…

Please know this…

As it says on my page titled “Christian???” — This blog was never originally intended to be a “Christian” blog, at all. This Blog was originally intended to be a Political Blog, with a slightly right of center stance. However, on some issues, I have drifted much more to the right, than when I first began blogging.

Also know, that I just do not consider myself a good enough Christian to be a spokesman for Christianity, the Church and all related matters. This is why I very rarely blog about Bible doctrine, or even quote scriptures on here. As it might offend someone somewhere.

However, there are times, when the actions of a Government intersect with Christianity and I must report on it; and when I do, I will usually quote the Bible.

Having said all that; here is a story, that really burns my boots. It comes via WorldNetDaily.com, whom I very rarely link to, but this one stuck out:

Chuck and Stephanie Fromm already have been fined $300 for holding Bible studies for their friends at their home, and they face the potential for additional fines of $500 for each study held, according to a legal team taking their case to court.

The newest conflict over Bible studies in homes in America arose in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., where city officials say city code section 9-3.301 prohibits religious organizations in residential neighborhoods without a conditional-use permit, a sometimes very expensive procedure.

The code cites “churches, temples, synagogues, monasteries, religious retreats, and other places of religious worship and other fraternal and community service organizations.”

But a Bible study in a home?

“Imposing a heavy-handed permit requirement on a home Bible study is outrageous,” said Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, which is working on the case on behalf of the Fromms.

“In a city so rich with religious history and tradition, this is particularly egregious. An informal gathering in a home cannot be treated with suspicion by the government, or worse than any other gathering of friends, just because it is religious. We cannot allow this to happen in America, and we will fight as long and as hard as it takes to restore this group’s religious freedom.”

WND has reported on similar issues in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and in Gilbert, Ariz.

In this case, the city is demanding that the home Bible study is banned because it is a “church,” unless it purchases a ‘Conditional Use Permit” from the city.

Pacific Justice said it has represented larger churches that have been required to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of the permit process on such items as engineering and traffic studies, architectural designs. The process includes public hearings and ultimately can result in a rejection by the city.

Pacific Justice says the Fromms already have been fined $300, and an appeal to the city was denied.

The organization points out that the city was founded as a Christian mission in the 1700s and is home to California’s oldest building still in use, a chapel where Father Junipero Serra celebrated mass.

Pacific Justice said it is appealing the city’s demands to California Superior Court in Orange County.

A message WND left with the city did not produce a return call.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:12-17 KJV)

And…:

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12 KJV)

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. — (John 15:18-20 KJV)

There are a whole bunch more; but I think you get the point. We are, everyday, getting closer to when that trumpet sounds and we the true believers will be taken from this place and transformed from these fleshly bodies to our new bodies. I for one, cannot wait.

UPDATE: Here is the contact information for the city:

If you want to contact the Peoples Republic of San Juan Capistarano:

Contact: lkramer@sanjuancapistrano.org
Phone: 949-240-2235

Contact: lfreese@sanjuancapistrano.org
Phone: (949) 680-9540

Hon. Sam Allevato, Mayor
sallevato@sanjuancapistrano.org
Hon. Larry Kramer, Mayor Pro Tem lkramer@sanjuancapistrano.org
Hon. Laura Freese  lfreese@sanjuancapistrano.org
Hon. Derek Reeve dreeve@sanjuancapistrano.org
Hon. John Taylor
jtaylor@sanjuancapistrano.org