Lock the Doors?

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Cairisti said:
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:
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Actually it is a firecode violation. Locking the doors of your house is one thing. Locking the doors of a meeting place with a large group of people is quite another. They can, and should, be reported. If anything to protect the obviously ignorant congregation who cannot possibly understand how quickly a fire can spread.
Let me give this disclaimer however. This is not a practice of most IFB churches, just the cultic ones.
 
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.
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You’re not because you would let the person out. You are also talking about your home, not a public meeting place.

I am reactive hypoglycemic. My blood sugar can start to crash when I least expect it. If I need to step outside to eat some peanuts, I need to be able to do so without having to cause a scene trying to quietly leave and come back.

I’m also thinking about screaming children. I’d much rather someone have the option to take a screaming child outside for a few mins to calm them down.

Locking the doors so that someone who is late can’t come in is one thing. Locking the doors so that no one can leave is a whole new ballgame.
 
I have to say, I would “assume” that if there were an emergency, such as a fire, or medical emergency, they would let people leave.

Although, if it is really cultish, they make take it as some sort of “sign”.

I just find the whole practice very very odd.
 
twopekinguys said:
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?
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Yes, I agree with YOU, rather coincidental. Had you put it that way in the first place, I would feel no need to respond.

Thanks for the clarification.
 
JustaServant said:
Actually it is a firecode violation. Locking the doors of your house is one thing. Locking the doors of a meeting place with a large group of people is quite another. They can, and should, be reported. If anything to protect the obviously ignorant congregation who cannot possibly understand how quickly a fire can spread.
Let me give this disclaimer however. This is not a practice of most IFB churches, just the cultic ones.
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Right, I can imagine that. Fire and brimstone from the mouth of the preacher could cause the entire congregation to spontaneously ignite. Things could really get out of hand.
 
Yes. The church that I was raised in did the same thing.

The doors were locked when service started. You could get out but not go in.
 
twopekinguys said:
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…😃
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Twopekinguys–

Do you feel okay with giving the name of the town where the Potter’s House is? I see on Google there are a group of churches by that name that appear to be cultish and very controlling.

It would be a fire hazard to lock people in, if that’s what’s really going on.
 
AbideWithMe said:
Twopekinguys–

Do you feel okay with giving the name of the town where the Potter’s House is? I see on Google there are a group of churches by that name that appear to be cultish and very controlling.

It would be a fire hazard to lock people in, if that’s what’s really going on.
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Both of the churches were in Chester Illinois

I looked for a potter’s house location there, and couldn’t find one. But I didn’t spend alot of time on it either.

The other one is Grace Bible Church in Chester
 
twopekinguys said:
Both of the churches were in Chester Illinois

I looked for a potter’s house location there, and couldn’t find one. But I didn’t spend alot of time on it either.

The other one is Grace Bible Church in Chester
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Twopekinguys—

I did find a little about Grace Church in Chester, and it does look pretty bad. The pastor’s son was convicted about a year ago for murdering his wife and two children. Other people from the area say the church is cultish and greedy , requiring members to show their W2 tax forms, locking the church doors during services, and sometimes insisting that a member wash their car before coming onto the church parking lot. Crazy stuff.
 
AbideWithMe said:
Twopekinguys—

I did find a little about Grace Church in Chester, and it does look pretty bad. The pastor’s son was convicted about a year ago for murdering his wife and two children. Other people from the area say the church is cultish and greedy , requiring members to show their W2 tax forms, locking the church doors during services, and sometimes insisting that a member wash their car before coming onto the church parking lot. Crazy stuff.
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Sounds worse than I thought.

Do you have a link to any of this?
 
AbideWithMe said:
Twopekinguys—

I did find a little about Grace Church in Chester, and it does look pretty bad. The pastor’s son was convicted about a year ago for murdering his wife and two children. Other people from the area say the church is cultish and greedy , requiring members to show their W2 tax forms, locking the church doors during services, and sometimes insisting that a member wash their car before coming onto the church parking lot. Crazy stuff.
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Looked them up.
Oh yeah.
They’re nuts.
:bigyikes::hypno::frighten::whackadoo::
 
twopekinguys said:
Sounds worse than I thought.

Do you have a link to any of this?
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Try this—websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84367&page=5 If that link works, scroll down to post #120.

I think it’s called Grace Christian Ministries in Chester, Illinois, but they seem to go by “Grace Church”. I googled “Grace Bible Church Chester Illinois lock doors” which brought up the link I gave here. There’s a Grace Bible Church in Carterville, IL, but they don’t seem to be fundamentalist Baptist, and I wouldn’t think there’s another Grace Church in Chester so I’m assuming they’re the same one as in the link.
 
AbideWithMe said:
Try this—websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84367&page=5 If that link works, scroll down to post #120.

I think it’s called Grace Christian Ministries in Chester, Illinois, but they seem to go by “Grace Church”. I googled “Grace Bible Church Chester Illinois lock doors” which brought up the link I gave here. There’s a Grace Bible Church in Carterville, IL, but they don’t seem to be fundamentalist Baptist, and I wouldn’t think there’s another Grace Church in Chester so I’m assuming they’re the same one as in the link.
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That’s the one.

Thanks.
 
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?
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That is crazy.

I have never heard of that. My church doesn’t do that nor do any of the many churches that I have ever visited.
 
In a way I think this thread my be silly in a way.

Perhaps some churches are locking their doors because once in a while you hear of gunmen stepping into a church or synagog and shooting the assmbeled worshipers.

Perhaps some of the churches lock people out, and not in for the safety of the worshippers?
 
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?
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Yes. It’s to keep all the visitors from bolting when the preacher gets out that bag of rattlesnakes.
 
Don’t pick up the rattler unless you have the failth not to get bitten. 🤷
 
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