A Public Relations Nightmare

Is this a case of persecution, or simply a misunderstanding?  When a pastor and his Bible Study were told that they couldn’t meet in his house until they applied for a proper “major-use” permit, many believed that it was the state infringing on the free exercise of religion.

Elizabeth Esther comments in her post on Persecution or Misunderstanding? on this topic from someone that lives in the area, and for the most part I agree with her take on the situation.  Mainly, there were mistakes on both parts:

• Pastor Jones should know what the rules are and should try to be a good neighbor.  Claiming “I didn’t know” and jumping on the persecution label is not a good testimony.  It’s a great way to get people to feel that the government is out to get them, but not a good response from someone that’s supposed be “as harmless as a dove.”
• The County should have been a little bit better in the way that they handled it.  With the strange question “Do you say Amen?” they invited the charge of being against freedom of religion.

What say you?