What is True Freedom of Assembly?

Do you have the right to freedom of assembly and association? I don't like racists; but, does the Klu Klux Klan have the right to refuse to have black members? Recently, the congregation of a church in Kentucky voted to not allow interracial couples in their church. Aside from the fact that their decision violated their own by-laws and that it is stupid and unloving, shouldn't they have the right to decide for themselves who is and is not allowed in their church?

When I was a very young child we still had segregation in the United States. Restaurants and stores and other businesses used to prohibit blacks from going inside. Laws were changed and that type of segregation was outlawed. The theory used to stop businesses from discriminating was that it impinged on trade, on commerce. Lets look at a variation on this, should a Satanist store or church be allowed to keep Christians out? The flip side is should a Christian church be allowed to keep out Satanists.

It is Sunday and I am not teaching tonight. I am not teaching tonight because a group of young Christian wanted to hold a prayer vigil at the church where we rent some space. The churches response was to lock up the church doors and keep the kids out. I guess they didn't want to be "occupied" by believers.

The issue, as was explained to me, was that the kids wanted someone to preach with a more conservative voice. The church (and we are not a part of it, we just rent http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifspace) that owns the building has allowed Wiccans and Muslims an Jews to all participate in services; but, rejected conservative Christians.

We are entering a very dangerous time for Christianity and Christians. We are going to continue to see churches come under attack for taking a position on things such as abortion, homosexuality, per-marital sex and anything that is not popular. Small examples such as the one I mentioned will be used to condemn whole churches. If you read this story, you will see that the story was not as simple as it was portrayed.

Kentucky.com - Pastor of Pike Co. church calls for new vote on accepting interracial couples as members

Apparently, the denomination involved was a leader in championing the end to slavery in the 1800s. The issue itself was also apparently raised by a prior pastor at the church and not by the current pastor who sought to reverse the vote. Yet, none of that mattered to the people who reported the incident. I think I should put out a video called "Pastors Gone Wild", it would sell like hotcakes.

We are seeing the media highlight the dumbest preachers and ignore churches that are actually helping people. A small church in Kentucky did not deserve to make the international news, the issue wasn't what the church did, the issue was what rights do churches have to decide who can be a member.

I am going to link to two videos regarding the Occupy movement and explain a little more.

Youtube - Occupy Melbourne Tent Monsters

Occupy the Bronx - NYPD Wrongfully Arrested Participants of Occupy The Bronx Festivities

In the first video we see what appears to be a number of tents in Melbourne as part of the Occupy Melbourne movement. The intrepid police swoop down to remove and arrest; but, it turns out that people are wearing the tents and they just get up and start running around. The police are completely baffled and wander away.

The second video is a little more disturbing. It takes place in the bronx where some people were standing in solidarity with others who had lost a urban farm. The officer in charge told the other officers that the moment someone stopped walking they should be arrested for blocking the sidewalk.

Now there is a good chance that the members of the church in Kentucky that voted against interracial couples are probably not big supporters of the Occupy movement; but, their rights are intertwined. We either have the right to assemble and decide who we associate with or we do not.

What we are seeing across the whole world, including the "western democracies" is a clamp down on your freedom of assembly and association. It begins by making a big deal about small events that are clearly distasteful and hateful. Laws are enacted to deal with these anomalous events and then they are used against all protest.

The Occupy movement is worldwide and it is more disturbing to the people in power because when they gather it shows just how many people do feel the same way. It is disturbing to the status quo because it is leaderless and therefore cannot be easily manipulated. Many police have overreacted because they want peace and quiet, they want order. They have been brainwashed to believe that peace is more important that the constitution.

Freedom of assembly doesn't just exist for "official" organizations, it is an individual right that we all have. Not long ago a family in Orange County was fined and cited for holding church services in their home. Lets see, you cannot meet in public spaces and you cannot meet in your home, where can people meet? You have to buy or rent a space and incorporate to get any respect it seems.

When you read the newpaper or watch the news pay attention to how these assemblies are portrayed. No matter where in the western world these protests take place they are portrayed in the exact same way. The protesters are portrayed as selfish children who don't have a clear message and need to get a job. Ignore the fact that most are employed or students who are complaining that they are going to be the ones who have to pay for the corrupt system that rewards the wealthy and penalizes the average person.

Rather than worrying about whether or not people support the system, rather than worrying about whether or not you agree with any group, we better support each others right to assemble or it to will be gone.

UPDATE:

After I posted this I came across another news article. Apparently, in New York the schools are able to rent out space for meetings. They even allow you to rent space for religious groups; but, you cannot worship there. You can pray, you can sing, you can teach and you can discuss; but, you cannot worship. Well, some of the space was being used for their church services and the school and them are before the supreme court trying to get a decision.

What happens if the supreme court decides that any religious expression makes it a church? What happens then, how does that effect other laws and the right to assemble? This is no joke and has serious implications. The court might decide that the definitions were too vague and that you can only prohibit actions and not beliefs or intent. That would also be used against churches.

I do not believe that churches should have any business with government. I would not agree with a church that rents space from the government, take money from the government or attempt to effect elections. I have gotten off track.

It is our freedom of assembly and association that is under attack. It is under attack because your government fears you, it fears that you don't trust it and will not willingly do as you are told. I have said many times that I am a pacifist and I do not support mob violence; but, I support people's right to assemble, discuss and just enjoy each others presence.

Huffington Post - Bronx Household Of Faith Awaits Supreme Court Decision Over Worship Services In Public School