Another trial balloon

If, as the "get government out of the bedroom" crowd says, the law has no business telling consenting adults what they can and can't do in the privacy of their home, then it certainly has no business telling a pastor he can't lead a small Bible study in his.

But that doesn't mean they won't try:

A local pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a San Diego County official, who then threatened them with escalating fines if they continued to hold bible studies in their home, 10News reported. Attorney Dean Broyles of The Western Center For Law & Policy was shocked with what happened to the pastor and his wife. Broyles said, "The county asked, 'Do you have a regular meeting in your home?' She said, 'Yes.' 'Do you say amen?' 'Yes.' 'Do you pray?' 'Yes.' 'Do you say praise the Lord?' 'Yes.'"The county employee notified the couple that the small bible study, with an average of 15 people attending, was in violation of county regulations, according to Broyles.

What regulation would that be, exactly? The one forbidding "amen," or the one banning praise to the Lord?

Broyles also said this case has broader implications."If the county thinks they can shut down groups of 10 or 15 Christians meeting in a home, what about people who meet regularly at home for poker night? What about people who meet for Tupperware parties? What about people who are meeting to watch baseball games on a regular basis and support the Chargers?" said Broyles.

Ah, but see, those activities stimulate the economy, whereas a Bible study might spread the subversive notion there's a power even higher than the State. And we can't have that in the new Amerika of Hopenchange.

I suspect there's rapidly coming a moment when we will have to decide if we're willing to look at Leviathan's minions, and like the protagonist in Labyrinth, declare: "you have no power over me." Those who still insist "that could never happen here" need to read the book I'm currently finishing... very illuminating stuff.