Last week a pastor named James Coates was arrested for holding services inside GraceLife Church, located in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada.
Imagine my surprise when I recognized the photo of pastor James! He was a fellow student from when I was enrolled at the Masterâs seminary.
I was deeply moved as I read the article. What a joy to know that this brother in Christ is faithfully preaching the word of God âas a dying man, to dying men.âÂ
If you listen to his last sermon you can tell he understood the weight of the situation. The sermon was titled âDirecting Government to its Dutyâ and was taken from Romans 13:1-4. In it he argues that civil disobedience is necessary for Christians in three areas. 1) When the government forbids what God commands. 2) When the government commands what God forbids and 3) When the Government commands what isnât theirs to command (i.e. giving orders outside of their jurisdiction).Â
Canada
Spruce-grove
Alberta
Canadian
Tim-dinkins
James-coates
Gracelife-church
Alberta-health-services
Grace-baptist-church-lemoore
Health-services
Life-church
Canadian-charter