Pastor not jailed for holding Bible studies in his home

August 8, 2012 | Filed under: Judicial,News,Persecuted Christian Majority | Posted by: Mike Daniels

We’ve heard it again and again; maybe a relative has forwarded an outraged email to you. Poor Michael Salman of Phoenix, who was put in jail for holding little Bible study meetings in his own home . . . Worse, he was sent to the suddenly terrible “Tent City” operated by Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio!

But it seems Salman and his supporters are, well, sinning. How? Lying.

According to a fact sheet published by the City of Phoenix, the Michael Salman court case is about building safety — not about the right to hold Bible study meetings in one’s own home.

Salman’s church, Harvest Christian Fellowship (also referred to as Harvest Christian Fellowship Community Church), holds meetings twice a week with up to 80 people attending.

At one time he wanted to construct a 4,200-square-foot building in his backyard, to be used as a church. In the end, he received permission from the City of Phoenix for what he told the city was to be a ‘game room.’ He then started using this structure for his Bible study meetings — even though the permit explicitly states, “Any other occupancy or use (business, commercial, assembly, church, etc.) is expressly prohibited pursuant to the City of Phoenix Building Code and Zoning Ordinances.”

The church, registered as such for tax exemption purposes, was found responsible for 96 civil code violations. The Court specifically noted, “[T]he State is not saying the Salmans can’t run a church or have worship services at the location, but the State is saying that if they do so, they must do it properly and in accord with the building, fire, and zoning codes.”

You’d think Salman would learn his lesson . . . that his right to hold religious services does not trump existing laws. Or, for example, a prison lockdown. But no!

Once [in prison] he promptly started a Bible Study, and — after once study was cancelled due to a lock-down situation — falsely claimed his right to hold Bible Studies in jail was violated.

Salman has cried wolf a few too many times. Do you think the Religious Right will tire of his perpetual false victimhood?

Me neither.

But they might change their minds if they notice that Harvest Christian Fellowship’s stated beliefs regarding the Trinity are heretical.

6 Responses to Pastor not jailed for holding Bible studies in his home

Adina Hoshour August 9, 2012 - 4:50 am

Salmon broke the law because he recognized a Higher Authority than that of man. He met with like-minded individuals inside the privacy of his own home. By the use of your argument, Martin Luther King and other courageous black men and women should be locked up for trying to change the laws that discriminated against blacks. We probably,too, should arrest all those brave souls who fought for equal rights of women,even though the laws at that time did not recognize them as equal to men so that they couldn’t even vote. Sometimes an injustice is staring us in the face. Sometimes we risk all that we have, even ourselves, for what we know is right, true, and just. Since when did a homeowner have to overcome egregious rules and regulations to meet with friends in his own home? I’ll tell you when….when people want to use those same rules and regulations to shut down Christians and silence them in every arena, including the one inside their own front door.

- Mike Daniels August 9, 2012 - 8:57 am
  
  He didn’t try to change the law, he ignored it. He tried to operate a church on residential property, in a building not designed for it, with 80 people attending at a time. Under RLUIPA, he could have applied for permits to operate a church on his property. He chose instead to LIE about the use of the addition he built, and then use it in a manner which he had agreed not to use it. There was a lawful way to operate a church, even on that property. If you’d read the article, you’d see that. He chose to ignore the lawful way, and just do what he wanted after being told he could not. A homeowner has to abide by the same rules and regulations as his neighbors. Would you like it if your next-door neighbor decided to have 80 Muslims over each week?
  
- JamesK August 9, 2012 - 5:31 pm
  
  So, Adina, you don’t mind if I buy the property next to yours and, deciding that I’m above the law, build a casino on it right? Or a brothel? Sorry, you might want to bother to remember that Jesus said “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto the Lord what is the Lord’s.” Or are you another one of those Christians who claims to obey Jesus except you really don’t?
  
JamesK August 9, 2012 - 5:35 pm

Actually Adina, I’m going to buy the properties next to your house and, in rough order, build a mosque, a Sikh temple, a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple and whatever type building Satanists use to worship in and wait to see how long it takes you to object. And I’m sure when the town tells me I’m violating city ordinances you’re going to defend me right? Sorry, the ordinance in question is not somehow “anti Christian” so you can get off that bulldrek “We Christians are being made into victims” crap. That so called Christian disobeyed the law..laws that are to be enforced. He decided he was above the law not because of some higher power..but because he’s an egomaniac looking to pick a fight so he, like you, can stupidly protray himself as a victim when he’s not. Sorry, child, we Christians do not get to ignore the laws of the country we live in. If you and he don’t like the laws..then get the hell out of the country. But that is really your only choice.

- Mike Daniels August 9, 2012 - 8:43 pm
  
  Why not build a Spaghetti Warehouse and bring in the Pastafarians?
  
  - JamesK August 10, 2012 - 2:51 pm
    
    Oh quite true, I shouldn’t discriminate against the Pastafarians. And then there are the people who worship The Force as their religious beliefs. And I’m sure Adina wouldn’t mind some building right next to their property line for the athesists to use for..well whatever they want. Oh hell maybe I’ll just buy most of the town that Adina lives in…. Sorry, Adina, you just can’t build a church wherever you want. You do actually have to obey zoning laws. And lets do bother to remember the laws of the United States don’t answer to anyone’s deity.