Praise His Name!!! (Just not too loud)

I'm going to jump into this fray here and state that the church was in the wrong. I don't care if they were a church, school or a person's home. If the noise emanating from there is enough to disturb the neighbors there is a problem. This wasn't even a one time disturbance, if it was the neighbors might have ignored it, but had been an on going problem for over a year. It stated right in the article: "For a year, members and neighbors have clashed over the sound emitting from the church's effusive services, resulting in some residents circulating a petition and police being dispatched numerous times." The church obviously cares little about it's neighborhood and cares more about posturing. Reading this article I was reminded of Matthew 7:21-23. "Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as 'Lord', but still won't get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heave. At the Judgement many will tell me, 'Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles.' But I will reply, 'You have never been mine Go away, fr your deeds are evil.'" They project their religion and yet don't seem to be following it because they don't treat others as they themselves would want to be treated. They don't respect anyone but themselves and that is a shame. They deserved the citation and they should pay it. They broke the law. First amendment your freedom only goes so far. If my religion is to commit human sacrifice you don't think I'd be arrested for murder if I did it? Should my right to religion out weigh that persons right to life? If my religion included having rituals that caused noxious fumes to emanate through the neighborhood they would have the right to complain and for me to receive a citation for it. This was no different.

Oh what an incident! They must be too loud enough that truly disturbs or annoys the community. In our church, we say Amen, Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, but that loud enough to disturb too many people. We can praise the Lord even in the quietness of our spirit. Or it might be that the person who reported the noise have something against the Pastor or the Church and he just wanted to persecute the church. That will be another story, and the Pastor will be right to fight this citation. Or if the Pastor is godly, then he can go in prayer and tell God about it! God will do the rest.

I'm sorry but a citation for disturbing the peace is the right thing as far as I'm concerned...praise all you want BUT have respect for the ppl of the neighbourhood who have little ones sleeping etc etc....If they can be heard throughout downtown and at that time of night (10:15pm) then I'm sorry but thats too damn loud! And as much as I'm all for ppl exercising their First Amendment rights..this comment isnt very Christianly IMO "We will consider our neighbors, but we're not going to compromise." Obviously a compromise IS NEEDED..

Righty-O there missy, I totally agree with you, 100%! Even when I'm in my car driving around, praising "GOD", I'm not embarresed, nor should I be. I say fight the stinkin ticket. We have a right to praise our "GOD", and if it's a lil'-loud, then so what, it's not like it goes on for day's. Best of luck to all of them that attend there. I'll say a prayer for them, cause I know that prayer helps! ~Peace~ Marilyn

Our youth group at our church has a praise and worship band. They have received disturbing the peace warnings before, always from a complaint from just one property owner. Recently they were practicing and got really caught up in the spirit, so to speak, going over the timeframe they have been allowed. The associate pastor took responsibilty and received the citation personally instead of it being against the church. He and our pastor are praying about this with the belief that God will use this situation for his good. I think our assoc. pastor is a real stand up guy for the way he has handled all of this.

The Bible say to "Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord", Well, the Bible forgot to state how many decibals the noise level was supposed to be, or it didin't take into consideration the ignorance of some people.. Some churches have congregations that are as quiet as church mice, while other do say, Amen, Praise the Lord and Hallelujah.. But there are some, (and I have been to and enjoyed some of these), that are very loud, singing, preaching and praising the Lord.. There is nothing wrong with that, it is supposed to be that way.. When I am worshipping, I will worship the way that I feel, whether it be low, medium or loud.. I don't believe there will be enough laws to tell me how to feel when it comes to my relationship with God.. People need to remember that God will be there when there is no more, no more of them, their lives, nothing, when they are just a tiny memory or completely forgotten, God will still be here.. Amen

I used to live in Ohio and I have heard similar stories such as this. Once a woman got ticketed for honking the horn to let her sister know she was in her driveway and waiting for her. But they have a noise ordinance and they make people stick to it whomever and wherever and whenever. I myself think it is silly to give a church a ticket for noise when as you say they were just praising the lord. Maybe it will get thrown out of court if the Judge they get is a good christian Judge.

How can they give a church a citation? It is a place of worship! You are suppose to be loud in worshipping the Lord. What's next? Are they going to try to close down the churches? Don't these people know they can't make us stop wordhipping God?

Well I kind of doubt they were really bothering anybody. Its great to see so much enthusiasm in a church. Some people will complain about anything especially if its church related.

Well I really hope that that pastor wins his case. How ridiculous! People cuss loudly, play music from their cars at full blast....do they get citations? Not necessarily! People should have just as much freedom to praise our Lord as loudly as they want without fear of action taken against them. Sheesh! I would love to see those complainers' reactions if they heard my church congregation. I think they would be putting in ear plugs because we are so enthusiastic! LOL! Thanks for sharing this hon.

Hi drknlvly, This is a form of persecution the Bible speaks of. Some people do not like hearing about Jesus Christ and will do anything to try and stop it. We are to stay strong in the Lord no matter what. We are to never tire of doing what is right in the eyes of God. God will work everything out according to His plan. God bless!

You are right ,this is outrageous, i have never heard of this before..I think i would fight that too..They will win the battle because God is on their side...When you start messing with Gods people,you better be very careful...They are blessed to have someone praising God and worshiping.....

well, i think our relationship with God of Jesus is personal, very personal. He will hear our even our unspoken word. He will now whatever we think. We don't need to speak loud to Him (who know He will be disturbed also ). I think Jesus won't be very happy if our action in praising Him disturbed the peace. we should remember that we live in the community with plural belief. we shouldn't disturb them in praising Jesus. that's just my humble opinion...

That sounds like a ridiculous citation. But then and again, people get them all the time. For wanting to hear a song they like, but they live in an apartment. Not blaring, just thin walls can get you in trouble. I don't understand going after a church congregation, that's craziness...

Gee, I wonder what they would think if they had a United Pentecostal church in that area? We are very far from quiet when we worship god in Prayer and Praise. Personally though things like this probably are going to continue to happen in places because some people just feel that everyone needs to be quiet when in Church, and keep to themselves, and anything else would be making a nuisance of themselves. I don't blame this Church for fighting it, and personally I think somewhere this is going also against the First ammendment as well when you start going against and saying how and when, what, etc. the ways a church should worship.

This is horrible. If they are inside their church building there should be no reason why they can't make the noise they want. I wonder who would even have the nerve to call the police on them. How stupid can you be. The US is supposed to have freedom of religion, but this sounds like a little bit of strong arm tactic that borders on persecution.

thats so crazy! but i imangine that if they city has rules, they are strictly enforced, so even if it is a church, they need to abide by these rules. (i do go to church weekly) but also, it could be someone that was complaining about it that doesnt like the church that much!!

you can't ticket the praising of the lord no matter what state they are in. NOw i know if they that that to court the judge would look real silly if he fined the church. that would be big news if that happen. But the officer was wrong for that. I wonder what was on his mind for him or her to do something like that to a church??

Isn't it really sad how people have made it a point to persecute Chrsitians nowadays? I mean, were this a group of rowdy bikers getting too loud in a bar or something, it would never have happened. It is sad to say, but I think "freedom of religion" in most peoples' minds today means "freedom from Christianity".......terrible

You are right, this is OUTRAGEOUS! I didn't read the link, but doesn't someone have to complain in order for a peace disturbance to be cited? If so, then there are people in that neighborhood that need to get saved! My husband and I were just discussing this evening about how there are Southern churches who raise their hands in worship and are loud in serving the Lord and he asked me why our church wasn't this way, didn't GOD save us all the same? We should be just as free to worship the Lord as those in the South or anywhere else. And don't think for a second that those sinners won't be loud for satan, so, why shouldn't we be even louder than that for our Saviour? I say, "be loud for the Lord and He'll be loud for you!"