re: Central church hosts more than 1,800 people amid covid-19 outbreak

So, according to this pastor, all the Bible's teachings about Christian citizenship and obligations to obey the civil authorities are for other people and Christians and not for this pastor and his group. This is a big problem with a "just me and Jesus" theology. This pastor is probably not submitted to any kind of Church authority. No Bishop or equivalent authority would allow that to fly and probably no local Vestry or board of elders or such like would either.

I'm not seeing a big difference between him asking his flock to engage in dangerous risky behavior by disobeying the duly constituted civil authorities and the devil asking Jesus to jump off the high pinnacle of the Temple. "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God." The devil told Jesus, God's Angels will catch you. Pastor Spell offers anointed prayer cloths. "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God."

This seems like modern day heretical Gnosticism. A group or leadership believing they've some kind of special insight into God and his Word which, in this particular instance, allows them to disregard the portions of Scripture which clearly advocates obedience to lawful government. This group and their neighbors may very well suffer for it.

And it legitimizes in some measure unbelievers' hostility towards Christianity, Christians, and Christ which is unfortunate and aggravating.