My Melbourne church is now a home church. I haven't been for a while because of my move to Bendigo. But I went last week and there were literally no seats left. It was great!
Still I keep in touch regularly. Recently, However, I was given some news that left me rather gobsmacked to say the least.
Apparently, one of the neighbours of this home church complained to the council that church services were being held in his home on sundays. (I guess the sign on the footpath must have given it away.)
The council then contacted the person holding Sunday services, via a letter. That is when we all learned of this bombshell...
The City of Caulfiield ordinances have deemed it illegal if "two or more are gathered" in a home Church...if your home is over 14 squares.
Should that be the case, (that your home is over 14 squares) you are required to obtain a licence that is granted to you from the council.
Apparently the guy on the phone even used the words "where two or more are gathered" when describing the activity in question.
Imagine that...a local council granting you the permit to worship God. My understanding is that this is not only true to the City of Caulfield council but Victoria wide.
Well that blew my mind.
It is now illegal to gather in prayer in any home over 14 squares if "two or more are gathered" in Victoria without a permit.
So it seems you have to get a licence from a coucil to come together to praise God in prayer and worship. I couldn't help wondering if a permit counts as a "mark of the beast" as in Revelations?
What happens if a family decides to say grace on Sundays, is that construde as worship too and they now need to get a permit for that too? What about circumcisions and Christenings?
I have never heard of anything so challenging to what is at present a Christian way of life in a Christian country. (The Queen being both head of state for England and its territories, still includes Australia last time I looked, and also the head of the Church of England.)
Why there is no outcry? I am appauled at this curbing of religious freedom.