![]() ![]() None of us have the right in a crisis to do something that further endangers others! This is NOT government banning your religions freedom. This is a TEMPORARY situation and will be even more temporary if the virus spread can be stopped. There have to be consequences for not following orders. It happened in England at pubs! The government has to draw a firm line. You start with churches and next will come people who claim their group is worshiping something too. There can’t be exceptions for gatherings that aren’t necessary (church services can be broadcast). As a leader, he should be particularly careful to follow government orders. This pastor thinks his interests are more important than those of others. They are watching out for all their citizens. I have to side with the government on this issue. There have been cases reported among people who met outside too, in close proximity (outdoor dining). ![]() This is an airborne virus and there is air everywhere, even in the most “careful” of churches and other indoor spaces. Same with supermarkets that reduced number of shoppers allowed. Schools that reduced attendance and moved desks apart STILL had cases that were traced to teachers and pupils. No matter how “careful” any of us thought we were anywhere, cases still happened, numbers still went up, and more people died. How can that pastor prove that there hasn’t been any transmission in his church when a lot of cases go undetected and are asymptomatic, yet still act as a vector for spread? How can he prove his “mitigation” efforts worked 100%? He can’t. We also want to pray for those who authorized this imprisonment, that they would be able to see Pastor Coates’ heart for the city of Edmonton.Ī positive result of this situation is that Christians and non-Christians across the world now have a front-row seat to witness Pastor Coates’ love for and devotion to God. Let’s join in prayer for James and Erin and their children, as well as for the people of GraceLife Church. To see a man who has a clear love for the people in his church and his city be thrown in jail should be troubling to our society. We realize that this is a complex situation and that the government officials are working hard to mitigate the spread of the virus, but imprisonment is simply not the answer. They are committed to serving their congregation and serving their God, whatever the cost. This church is not trying to defy the government, but simply serve God.Īs I read through the posts that Erin Coates has made on social media since her husband’s arrest, I am incredibly encouraged by the complete trust that this couple has in God and His providence. So instead of cheering, congregants stood and clapped. In a recent sermon, Pastor Coates took a moment to thank law enforcement officers, but before he did, he asked his parishioners not to cheer, in order to comply with guidelines set by Alberta Health Services. Since that time, GraceLife says that it has not seen any transmission of the virus as the result of any of its gatherings. The church closed its doors last spring and did not reopen until June, when the first public health emergency had officially ended. GraceLife states on its website that it is taking measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. But Pastor Coates has stated in recent sermons that he and his church members are simply trying to lead tranquil and quiet lives in service of God. If one simply reads the news articles being released, it would be easy to assume that GraceLife Church is purposefully going against the Alberta lockdown guidelines to gain attention and make a public statement. James’ wife, Erin, has an Instagram page and the church (GraceLife Church of Edmonton) released a detailed statement on its website. The story has received international exposure via social media and news outlets, but in order to fully understand Pastor Coates’ perspective, I believe that it’s important to go to direct sources. ![]() This really hits home for me because I was born in Western Canada. James Coates is a young pastor in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, who was imprisoned this week for continuing to hold services at his church. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |