I posted week or so ago about a Canadian pastor who was arrested for the crime of…opening his church. During a seemingly unending arbitrary lockdown mandated by the government, Pastor James Coates stood for truth over fear and opened his church so his congregation could worship together as Scripture commands (Hebrews 10:25). For this, he was arrested and jailed, with over a month to remain apart from his wife, his children, and his church before his trial, which is scheduled for early May.
The Daily Wire reports,
“Coates’ case has been a source of controversy in the Edmonton area, and demonstrators have gathered outside his jail to protest his treatment. A statement on GraceLife Church’s website explains his reasoning in part:
Having engaged in an immense amount of research, interacting with both doctors and frontline healthcare workers, it is apparent that the negative effects of the government lockdown measures on society far surpass the effects of COVID-19. The science being used to justify lockdown measures is both suspect and selective. In fact, there is no empirical evidence that lockdowns are effective in mitigating the spread of the virus. We are gravely concerned that COVID-19 is being used to fundamentally alter society and strip us all of our civil liberties. By the time the so-called “pandemic” is over, if it is ever permitted to be over, Albertans will be utterly reliant on government, instead of free, prosperous, and independent.“ [1]
It is interesting to note that Pastor Coates only crime is opening his church, which is an action that does not even fall into the government’s jurisdiction (Romans 13:1-14, Acts 4:13-20).
The pastor’s wife, Mrs. Erin Coates, has said that the only thing she wants people to do to help is open our churches. And my opinion on that is YES, let’s do it! If we believe in a sovereign God, what are we so afraid of? Christians who read their Bible should understand the sovereignty of God in a way that makes them realize that most of this COVID craziness is due to irrational fear, not any true science.
“In an affidavit, Coates said the health orders “directly contravene the authority of the local church, and the supreme authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (quote from The Daily Wire.) Well said, sir. And when the government tries to usurp the authority of Christ over His Church, it’s time to do as Pastor Coates has done, and “die a political death.”
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28
Let’s open the doors, and #FreeJamesCoates!
SDG<><
[2] The first video was taken off of YouTube, so I relinked to the one Wrath and Grace reloaded, if anyone was wondering why it wasn’t showing up for a while.
Annsley
semperscripto.com 
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