Lock the Doors?

  • Thread starter Thread starter twopekinguys
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

twopekinguys

Guest
Has anyone ever heard of a protestant church locking the doors once their services have started?

Two of the churches in the town where my son lives close and lock the doors once services start, and don’t let anyone in or out until it is over.

Is this common? Has anyone else ever hear of it?
 
Long ago before I became catholic I attended a “church” in Rhode Island that would not let anyone in after the service had stated. As far as not letting them out, I never heard of that. Another thing this church demanded is that once the service began there would be no talking. Even wispering to a neighbor. Control much?
 
First time that I’ve heard of it! I pray that they do not have a emergence during any of their sevices.
 
I was really amazed.

One is an independent church, called Potter’s House, and the other is an independent Baptist.

I just can’t imagine the reasoning behind it.

I would hate to have to slap somebody to leave church…😃
 
twopekinguys said:
Has anyone ever heard of a protestant church locking the doors once their services have started?

Two of the churches in the town where my son lives close and lock the doors once services start, and don’t let anyone in or out until it is over.

Is this common? Has anyone else ever hear of it?
Click to expand...
Hmm . . . I wonder what the local fire marshal would have to say about that.

To address the question, no, I’ve never heard of that.
 
I can assure you that I’d call 911 if I was locked in a building and know that should there be an emergency I wouldn’t be able to get out. Unless the doors will allow people to push the door open from the inside that’s illegal. They need to be reported.
 
twopekinguys said:
Has anyone ever heard of a protestant church locking the doors once their services have started?

Two of the churches in the town where my son lives close and lock the doors once services start, and don’t let anyone in or out until it is over.

Is this common? Has anyone else ever hear of it?
Click to expand...
Maybe they were trying to imitate the upper room scenerio, with the locked doors.
Before i came back to the fold, my first and last non catholic sermon i attended they did the same. It gave me a rather uneasy feeling.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Not if you consent to it. I would guess those inside there consent to it
Click to expand...
It would be false imprisonment I believe. As for consent, with that sort of stuff you can remove consent at any time, so if someone wants out they aren’t bound by their former consent to be locked in.
 
Nine_Two said:
It would be false imprisonment I believe. As for consent, with that sort of stuff you can remove consent at any time, so if someone wants out they aren’t bound by their former consent to be locked in.
Click to expand...
Definitely. But it just says the doors are locked, it doesn’t say that the people are not allowed out. Although I understand that is the intent, I’m sure the locking is within reasonable means. I mean, if you come visit me at my home, I will lock the door when you get it. Am I guilty of false imprisonment? I hope not. I’d let you out whenever you want.
 
Only time I lock the doors is when I’m having unprotected sex! Peeeeeennnnnniiiiiiiiissss
 
twopekinguys said:
Has anyone ever heard of a protestant church locking the doors once their services have started?

Two of the churches in the town where my son lives close and lock the doors once services start, and don’t let anyone in or out until it is over.

Is this common? Has anyone else ever hear of it?
Click to expand...
Is it common? No. I’ve only heard it done among independent fundamentalist Baptist churches and other cult-like groups. I heard years ago about this being done in Jack Hyles fundy church Indiana. Of course locking the doors would be the only way anyone could sit through his sermons.
I asked the guy who told me this what his reaction would be if he were visiting Hyles church.
He said “I would truly LOVE for them to try to stop me from leaving”. :eek:
 
twopekinguys said:
Has anyone ever heard of a protestant church locking the doors once their services have started?

Two of the churches in the town where my son lives close and lock the doors once services start, and don’t let anyone in or out until it is over.

Is this common? Has anyone else ever hear of it?
Click to expand...
I don’t believe this story, so I will not render a legal opinion on finer points of false imprisonment, kidnapping, or what I might do if faced with either.

In my own parish church, the faithful normally enter the Narthex from the west, through one of five east-facing doors. Anyone may exit through any of those doors at any time. During the sermon though, four of the doors are locked to restrict entry. Even when locked, exit is always possible. Re-entry is not permitted until the sermon is over.

On Sunday, the doors are constantly monitored by our ushers, two of whom are full time police officers in the city where our parish is located. As such, they are as prepared to escort the elderly to their seats as they are to quickly, quietly and politely, bring visitors into compliance with the exit/re-entry policy.

A speaker system allows the sermon to be heard in real-time by those who (for whatever reason) prefer to be outside.
 
Mark_Cassian said:
I don’t believe this story, so I will not render a legal opinion on finer points of false imprisonment, kidnapping, or what I might do if faced with either.

In my own parish church, the faithful normally enter the Narthex from the west, through one of five east-facing doors. Anyone may exit through any of those doors at any time. During the sermon though, four of the doors are locked to restrict entry. Even when locked, exit is always possible. Re-entry is not permitted until the sermon is over.

On Sunday, the doors are constantly monitored by our ushers, two of whom are full time police officers in the city where our parish is located. As such, they are as prepared to escort the elderly to their seats as they are to quickly, quietly and politely, bring visitors into compliance with the exit/re-entry policy.

A speaker system allows the sermon to be heard in real-time by those who (for whatever reason) prefer to be outside.
Click to expand...
I have no reason to doubt my son and his family as to whether or not the doors are locked. However, you of course are free to do so.

It is a relatively small community of less than 10,000 people. We stayed at a motel next door to one of the churches, and I can tell you, once it was 901, we didn’t see any other people going in or out until they all came out at about 1015.

Rather coincidental don’t you think?
 
ConstantineTG said:
Definitely. But it just says the doors are locked, it doesn’t say that the people are not allowed out. Although I understand that is the intent, I’m sure the locking is within reasonable means. I mean, if you come visit me at my home, I will lock the door when you get it. Am I guilty of false imprisonment? I hope not. I’d let you out whenever you want.
Click to expand...
But my OP does say they won’t let anyone out during the services.
 
twopekinguys said:
But my OP does say they won’t let anyone out during the services.
Click to expand...
I can verify what you’re saying because it was (and apparently still is) being done in IFB churches. Particularily Jack Hyles church when he was alive. And I’m sure the practice hasn’t stopped since he went to meet his maker.
The whole “locking the doors” practice is directly based on their view of evangelism. Hyles taught “instant” “zap into the Kingdom” salvation. He believed there was a “window of opportunity” in which the sinner is “convicted” and will “accept Jesus” that must be taken advantage of. Similar to an “impulse buy” in sales. Locking the doors of the church, in his eyes, allowed the Holy Spirit to move freely and ‘convict’ the sinner.
In fact Hyles actually spoke to a secular sales conferance once because they wanted him to share his version of “evangelism”. None of this is made up and I can give proof of this practice.
One area Hyles and his minions fail to realize however when it comes to using this ‘sales’ technique in regard to evangelism:
The car dealership will not lock the doors of the display shop until you on the dotted line. :cool:
 
JustaServant said:
Is it common? No. I’ve only heard it done among independent fundamentalist Baptist churches and other cult-like groups. I heard years ago about this being done in Jack Hyles fundy church Indiana. Of course locking the doors would be the only way anyone could sit through his sermons.
I asked the guy who told me this what his reaction would be if he were visiting Hyles church.
He said “I would truly LOVE for them to try to stop me from leaving”. :eek:
Click to expand...
One of my brothers goes to an IFB church - (R.B. Thieme (deceased) and son) and he’s said they won’t let anyone in after service starts. And if you’ve never been there, they won’t let you in. People are allowed to leave though.

Though as others have said, I’d be worried about firecode violations. :eek:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top