Pastor James Coates in Edmonton

[Luvey]

Governments in free countries DO NOT have the right to dictate to any church how they should assemble or conduct their services.

Respectfully, that is not a true statement. If you say the government has no right to dictate who should be worshipped then I would agree, but we have fire regulations and if the government believes the assembly is in danger then they will intervene. If they believe the assembly will hurt someone either themselves, children, or mass suicide....then the government will intervene. In this case, if they are working on the erroneous belief that large assembly of individuals endangers the lives then they feel justified to intervene in regards to COVID19. If you disagree than civil disobedience is your right to express but then there are consequences and unfortunately that is what the pastor is living with along with other violators of the sanctions. This is not persecution of Christians since every organization is subjected to the same sanctions.

 

[Nehemiah6]

This is not persecution of Christians since every organization is subjected to the same sanctions.

When a BOGUS PANDEMIC is used as an excuse to shut down churches, that is indeed persecution.

But it is people like you who encourage tyrannical governments to dictate to citizens whatever they wish, on the pretext that it is for the general good.

 

[kaylagrl]

Biden should be impeached for suggesting that the amendments to the constitution are not absolute. If Trump had said such a thing they would have drug him out and burned him at the stake on the front lawn. I'm not for violence but it seems that Biden has failed to uphold his oath to defend and protect the constitution of the United States.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

Just saw someone post that comment on my FB yesterday. I was stunned. What stupor has fallen over the country that people are not alarmed by this? I don't understand it. Is it because Joe has been in politics so lonng they are just use to him and ignore him? You're 100% right, had this been uttered by Trump he'd be in solitary confinement by now, long since dragged out of the WH and any one that dare say they support him would be in the cell next to him. It's stunning to me.

 

[SophieT]

I wish Coates had not done this. It opens the door to people like the failed Notley to use this civil disobedience as a stepping stone to her socialist agenda. Sadly, most Albertans are totally disillusioned with Kenney, even though almost no one would vote for the NDP, who pulled a Trudeau in their 4 years in gov't, trying to start in a worker's "green" paradise in redneck Alberta!

I've asked this question so many times, not just about this church in Edmonton, but all the pastors and churches in both Canada and the USA who are defying COVID health protocols,

What about Romans 13?? I just don't see any wiggle room. And Paul was taking about tyrannical Caesars like Nero and Caligula, who were absolute rulers, who killed people in a whim!

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience." Romans 13:1-5

No mincing words here! So answer me why it is ok for pastors, to be leading their congregations into disobedience to the gov't and God. I just don't understand the reasoning!

Well the thing is, it's different in the US. Here, people take their freedom as a God given right and the government be da**ed.

The blue states here would like to stay on lockdown and the red states are open or are opening. The riots in the streets last year were allowed to go on and this year it is worse in Oregon. Half the people do not wear masks and not one Democrat has anything to say about the so called spread of any virus.

Surely you are aware of the border to the south here. Testing for Covid? It's hit and miss. Just put 'em on a bus and send them to the interior.

Covid is an excuse to shut down churches and Canada has become a country with another dictator.

 

[SophieT]

“On April 6, Canada’s rate of new COVID-19 cases came as close as its ever been to that of the United States since the beginning of the pandemic, as Canada posted 180.8 cases per million population, while the U.S. posted 195.7 per million population. And our case count is rising so fast—up 28 per cent in the past week alone—that we’re likely to exceed the plateauing U.S. rate in the coming days. “

https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada-likely-to-exceed-u-s-infection-rate-in-coming-days/

Canada is being brainwashed and your lovely PM is a one worlder who gives thousands to people who are not Canadians while Canadians are stuck in a no man's land of CBC telling them how bad it is

 

[SophieT]

Respectfully, that is not a true statement. If you say the government has no right to dictate who should be worshipped then I would agree, but we have fire regulations and if the government believes the assembly is in danger then they will intervene. If they believe the assembly will hurt someone either themselves, children, or mass suicide....then the government will intervene. In this case, if they are working on the erroneous belief that large assembly of individuals endangers the lives then they feel justified to intervene in regards to COVID19. If you disagree than civil disobedience is your right to express but then there are consequences and unfortunately that is what the pastor is living with along with other violators of the sanctions. This is not persecution of Christians since every organization is subjected to the same sanctions.

Oh good grief lady.

this is hardly about fire regulations. or mass suicide.


For that matter, it isn't really about covid either. I live in a red state (thank God) and we are open and doing very well thank you.

Y'all can keep breathing your own carbon monoxide

 

[SophieT]

Just saw someone post that comment on my FB yesterday. I was stunned. What stupor has fallen over the country that people are not alarmed by this? I don't understand it. Is it because Joe has been in politics so lonng they are just use to him and ignore him? You're 100% right, had this been uttered by Trump he'd be in solitary confinement by now, long since dragged out of the WH and any one that dare say they support him would be in the cell next to him. It's stunning to me.

I have started to wonder if this mess will not lead to actual physical intervention. Biden et al are ruining the country.

 

[kaylagrl]

I’m new and I know I should keep my mouth shut but I won’t because I feel like truth is so important and we aren’t all telling the truth. The pastor was not asked to shut the church down but to reduce its numbers and change the way they operated while Canada struggles to manage the rapid spread of COVID in this country.

The truth of the matter is that there are several restaurant owners who were asked to do the same and they broke the rules like the pastor did. Like others who sharEd his convictions, they too went to jail because it’s to deter this behaviour of not following the government’ s rules.

I honestly don't mean to be rude, but a few points. We are now over a year past "15 days to flatten the curve". We have half the country ( sure Canada is the same) of people out of work on gov't support. People are trying to keep their business open. They have families to feed, homes to pay for. How long are we to stay locked down or half closed? Fauci says we could be wearing a mask into 2022. The goal posts keep moving. Just how long are we going to continue this way?

More importantly there are people suffering in our hospitals which are set up differently than the states and the government regulated a lot of sanctions which people call draconian but it was not restricted to Christians. Please don’t manipulate the truth to sound like persecution - the whole country faced these sanctions. The big box stores were the only places to prosper which has now been addressed.

My friend when the church house is deemed non essential, and the Liquor Barn and Planned Parenthood are considered essential, please don't tell me that isn't wrong. When the hardware stores were allowed to remain open, and they were packed with people lining up to get in, and the church was forced to stay closed, no, that is a problem. I saw people buying flowers and mulch, garden supplies by the car loads, none of it was essential, and yet the church remained closed. That's a problem.

The penalty the pastor faced is the same that other violators of the law faced, this includes jail and the fine of people who would be repeat offenders. This entitled attitude gives Christian’s a poor reputation because all other organizations followed the rules. There are churches who are open and conducted multiple services with 10 people because of the rules. It might not be the right rules but it wasn’t just given to Christians but to the country.

It is the wrong rules, church is essential. And who gets to say what is essential? I don't know about Canada, but here in the US politicians were caught eating out, without masks, traveling, walking in parks, and getting haircuts while we mere peasants were told to sit in lockdown. Should they be in jail for breaking the rules?! You know you'll never see that, right?!

Currently Canada is doing worse than America and Britain in managing COVID. Many people are suffering and the medical staff who have cared and are caring for patients in the ICU without vacations, working double shifts and have also contracted COVID while on duty are really hurt by the pastors lack of understanding. We have the military working on this, people coming out of retirement to help, new grads coming alongside AND people understand that the pastor is not bad but frustrated with a frustrating situation. I just pray that he humbles himself to see the hurting and how they could support the weak. There are other churches who are making meals for the shut-ins, bring communion to those who are desperate to fellowship and can’t risk being around large crowds; while preaching the gospel multiple times a week which is also exhausting.

You cannot keep a society locked down. We now have a rise of children committing suicide. People are hopeless. If there ever was a time the church is essential it's now! Those who are at risk, stay home, those who are not, or are vaccinated need to open the country up again. Here in the US we were told that maybe in a couple months we could have a BBQ to celebrate the 4th in our backyard if we are vaccinated and stay socially distanced. Right now our gov't has let people flow into the country who that admit have COVID. They have no idea where they are in the country. Yet there was no alarm. No, they're telling us we can't travel, we can't have get together, have to wear a mask on and on and on.

Here's where I stopped listening to "authorities" and believing what they are telling us. Last spring I wore a mask, I wore gloves, I had the sanitizer in my purse, covering all the bases. Mind you I live in the south, so we're talking hot, muggy weather here. Then a man named George Floyd was killed. Suddenly all the rules we were told to abide by went out the window. They were allowed to have large groups, not socially distanced, not wearing masks, because this was so important, more important than COVID. This isn't about what people think of the mans death, this is about the hypocrisy of the gov't. I couldn't go to church because it was so dangerous, and people were being fined and threatened with jail if they did go to church. "It was outdoors", was one excuse, while yellow tape kept children from laughter and play in the parks and playgrounds. While they were shut inside, masses of people were in the cities protesting. "They all wore masks" was another excuse, I personally saw people one evening on tv screaming in the face of cops, no mask, not socially distant.
" It's their right", they said, ahhh there we go. My right to go to church didn't matter, their right to protest trumped my right. See the problem here??

So one weekend in late spring our Gov. was on tv. All the parks were closed, churches were closed, restaurants were closed, schools, closed. Our Gov. was giving his evening brief on COVID. and he was telling us we weren't doing enough to flatten the curve. He shook his head as if scolding children. He said that people were having BBQs in their backyards and said how selfish that was. That very same weekend in the city there were protests, sanctioned by the Gov. and the mayor. Thousands of people marched in the streets, people came from other states to take part and they gathered in the city to protest. Yet children could play in parks, the churches were closed and we were being told we weren't doing enough to stop the spread. And that's when I knew I had been had. And I changed course from there and I really could care less what Fauci, CDC, WHO have to say on the subject. When people are thrown in jail for trying to save their business, or go to church, but nothing is said when others crowd the streets night after night to protest ( and other things)... My friend you better believe we have a problem.

 

[Billyd]

No one shut down church meetings here. We adjusted our meeting format to comply with CDC and local recommendations, and put many of our ministry programs on hold. Last month we restarted our community outreach children's ministry. As nursing homes open up we are ready to restart that ministry with a fully vaccinated staff.

All I hear here is how the government is trying to take over, or vaccinations are the mark of the beast, or that vaccinations are killing off the entire population, or we can't open our church because the government won't let us.

I ask where is your faith in God? What happened to "I can do all things through Christ"? Do you want things to change? Stop the bellyaching and really put God first in your life. Do you want to change the nation? Humble yourself and pray and seek God.

It's time to preach the Gospel of Christ. There are far too many souls being lost to the Gospel of Covid19.

 

[gb9]

No one shut down church meetings here. We adjusted our meeting format to comply with CDC and local recommendations, and put many of our ministry programs on hold. Last month we restarted our community outreach children's ministry. As nursing homes open up we are ready to restart that ministry with a fully vaccinated staff.

All I hear here is how the government is trying to take over, or vaccinations are the mark of the beast, or that vaccinations are killing off the entire population, or we can't open our church because the government won't let us.

I ask where is your faith in God? What happened to "I can do all things through Christ"? Do you want things to change? Stop the bellyaching and really put God first in your life. Do you want to change the nation? Humble yourself and pray and seek God.

It's time to preach the Gospel of Christ. There are far too many souls being lost to the Gospel of Covid19.

" trust God and get the vax"

how about trust God and to heck with the vax.

 

[MoonCresta]

Reminds me of the story where a man was drowning in a river, and the current was taking him to a tall waterfall. Various people tried to save him; they floated a lifeline out to him, they chopped down a tree across the river in his path, they sent a person out in a motorboat to save him - all to no avail. He fought them all off, saying God will save me. Shortly thereafter, and predictably, he fell to his death over the falls.

When in heaven, he said to St Peter, "hey, what happened, didn't you hear me crying for help, begging for my life - God never saved me." St Peter said, I don't know what more we could've done - we sent a lifeline, gave you something to grab onto with the tree, and sent a lifesaver with a motorboat. God was in all three attempts.

The vaccine is your lifeline.

 

[Nehemiah6]

The vaccine is your lifeline.

Do you seriously believe this lie? What do you know about these bogus vaccines which are (1) killing people like flies, (2) causing serious medical and health conditions, (3) failing to provide any immunity whatsoever, and (4) making billions of dollars for the manufacturers even though they were only approved FOR EMERGENCY USE?

 

[Nehemiah6]

I ask where is your faith in God?

I ask where is your faith in God? If you are healthy and trusting in God, why would you need a vaccine WHICH IS NOT A VACCINE?

While genuine vaccines create immunity, bogus vaccines create serious health problems, blood clots, and death. You do not have to take my word for it. Do some serious research in conservative, reliable, scientific sources. As one professional virologist has already stated publicly this so-called pandemic was THEGREATEST HOAX perpetrated on an unsuspecting public.

 

[Angela53510]

Biden should be impeached for suggesting that the amendments to the constitution are not absolute. If Trump had said such a thing they would have drug him out and burned him at the stake on the front lawn. I'm not for violence but it seems that Biden has failed to uphold his oath to defend and protect the constitution of the United States.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

I'm Canadian, and I was shocked to hear Biden said this. I thought the American constitution was untouchable. If this is Biden's plan - to overthrow your constitution - your country is in great danger.

As for Canada, Trudeau will not hold a full Parliament since COVID started, but well before that, he cut the days down, plus he rarely shows up, and when he does, his answers are either "word salad" or on totally different topic. I saw Pierre Poilievre question him on the WE charity (watch for this in the US- they are starting to blow up in California!). Trudeau launched into vaccines, and all his gov't was doing to get more. He talked for 4 or 5 minutes on a different subject. Poilievre asked him several times, but he never once spoke to the topic!

I grew up in Edmonton, and I also lived there from 2000-2014. My daughter coached figure skating in Spruce Grove for many years, where the church is. He was in a jail located a few miles from me, a road which I used to ride down often. I still say this pastor is defying Romans 13. Hebrews 10:25 does not apply, because this was a pastor openly defying the health law. Whereas Hebrews 10:25 is speaking to backsliders, who were neglecting church. It in no way directed to a pastor having services, and breaking the law!

Canada's COVID rate is rising rapidly. We are short of vaccines because Trudeau blew it. We need to shut down everything, especially the borders, and to international flights. It's sad AHS is making a spectacle out of this, but in view of our situation and how fast this disease and the variants are spreading, this pastor should have obeyed the law.

PS I also heard one of the church members say, "God will protect me from the virus!" I thought of how when the devil asked Jesus to throw him down, and God and his angels would protect him. What did Jesus say?

"You shall not put the Lord, your God to the test!" Opening churches is simply testing God, which if Jesus did not do, neither should we!

 

[Angela53510]

Well the thing is, it's different in the US. Here, people take their freedom as a God given right and the government be da**ed.

The blue states here would like to stay on lockdown and the red states are open or are opening. The riots in the streets last year were allowed to go on and this year it is worse in Oregon. Half the people do not wear masks and not one Democrat has anything to say about the so called spread of any virus.

Surely you are aware of the border to the south here. Testing for Covid? It's hit and miss. Just put 'em on a bus and send them to the interior.

Covid is an excuse to shut down churches and Canada has become a country with another dictator.

Canada was already under a dictatorship, since he was first elected in 2015. There is no doubt he is the worst prime minister Canada has ever had. I'm not just talking COVID, but ethnics violations, giving money away to other countries so they can have abortions, pocketing kickbacks, and not caring for Canadians, bringing in Muslim immigrants only, and constantly, because he wants Canada to be a Muslim, globalist nation.

So, I agree with you, except it is much worse than you can imagine. Of course Biden is probably the worst president the US has ever had, so you have my sympathies!

 

[Angela53510]

I ask where is your faith in God? If you are healthy and trusting in God, why would you need a vaccine WHICH IS NOT A VACCINE?

While genuine vaccines create immunity, bogus vaccines create serious health problems, blood clots, and death. You do not have to take my word for it. Do some serious research in conservative, reliable, scientific sources. As one professional virologist has already stated publicly this so-called pandemic was THEGREATEST HOAX perpetrated on an unsuspecting public.

You are not trusting God, but TESTING God!

"Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matt 4:5-7

COVID kills. It also damages the body and 1 in 3 people who have had COVID have neurological or mental illness when they recover.

I've know a few people who have died from COVID, including one of my seminary professors, who taught church planting and always had a smile in his face. One of my fellow PhD students almost died in the ICU from COVID. But that time, God did intervene. He prayed for healing, and for God to spare his life, so he could continue his ministry to a tribe of indigenous people in southern Mexico. But he did beg God. He was lying in his stomach, and after he prayed he felt a hand rubbing his back. He turned around and no one was there. By the next day his lungs were clear, and everything was healed.

So, God will heal someone who is sick with COVID, I agree. But all the people walking around with no safety precautions, are truly testing God. Do NOT test the Lord.

These precautions, with a proper mask, not a layer of T shirt material, do work. I've been self isolating and I have a carbon filter mask which filters out the smallest particulate matter or bacteria/virus. I've been doing it since February, 2020!

This is the longest I have ever gone without a cold, which always turns into pneumonia for me. My latest lung CT scan from March shows the fluid in the bottom of my lungs has dried up, and the blocked bottoms of my lungs can work again. I also feel much better!! (I'm a never smoker, don't drink!)

Sometimes God uses the strangest things to help us, like COVID precautions! I just praise God for leading me in a way my health is improving! But I am NOT going to test God and get COVID. My lungs, heart, kidneys and liver would not survive a bad case.

 

[gb9]

You are not trusting God, but TESTING God!

"Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matt 4:5-7

COVID kills. It also damages the body and 1 in 3 people who have had COVID have neurological or mental illness when they recover.

I've know a few people who have died from COVID, including one of my seminary professors, who taught church planting and always had a smile in his face. One of my fellow PhD students almost died in the ICU from COVID. But that time, God did intervene. He prayed for healing, and for God to spare his life, so he could continue his ministry to a tribe of indigenous people in southern Mexico. But he did beg God. He was lying in his stomach, and after he prayed he felt a hand rubbing his back. He turned around and no one was there. By the next day his lungs were clear, and everything was healed.

So, God will heal someone who is sick with COVID, I agree. But all the people walking around with no safety precautions, are truly testing God. Do NOT test the Lord.

These precautions, with a proper mask, not a layer of T shirt material, do work. I've been self isolating and I have a carbon filter mask which filters out the smallest particulate matter or bacteria/virus. I've been doing it since February, 2020!

This is the longest I have ever gone without a cold, which always turns into pneumonia for me. My latest lung CT scan from March shows the fluid in the bottom of my lungs has dried up, and the blocked bottoms of my lungs can work again. I also feel much better!! (I'm a never smoker, don't drink!)

Sometimes God uses the strangest things to help us, like COVID precautions! I just praise God for leading me in a way my health is improving! But I am NOT going to test God and get COVID. My lungs, heart, kidneys and liver would not survive a bad case.

what a load of garbage.
government shutdowns are anti- human rights , and should be resisted at any cost.

the pastor did the right thing by refusing to close.
" covid restrictions are a gift from God", what a joke.
try looking at actual numbers, not media propaganda.

canada has 70.000 active cases for 37 million people.

you have no covid crisis. you have a fake news crisis.
that being said, i do hate to hear you have lost friends , and that you have a serious health issue.

 

[MoonCresta]

Do you seriously believe this lie? What do you know about these bogus vaccines which are (1) killing people like flies, (2) causing serious medical and health conditions, (3) failing to provide any immunity whatsoever, and (4) making billions of dollars for the manufacturers even though they were only approved FOR EMERGENCY USE?

Well, I guess I believe that God uses men and women to help others. I believe that God has disseminated wisdom to drs and other knowledgeable to help humanity.

As far as believing anything the media puts out, no I don't. Yes, I wouldn't believe the news tonight if they came on the air and said, hey guys, it rained today. (and it did rain). I don't believe anything anymore from the right or the left. I just try to increase my faith in God.

 

[Natasha91]

Every one of you has made some good points of discussion! I'm still in the process of reading through everything. I am grateful we have a place we can talk about these points. Let's keep praying for Pastor James and the freedom of churches worldwide!

Just to give an update, there was a large protest today at Grace Life church. However, according to his wife, it was not members of the church, but others who came from around the province.

Here is also an interesting article, from John MacArthur's viewpoint.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/john...s-heartfelt-letter-from-jailed-alberta-pastor

 

[SophieT]

Canada was already under a dictatorship, since he was first elected in 2015. There is no doubt he is the worst prime minister Canada has ever had. I'm not just talking COVID, but ethnics violations, giving money away to other countries so they can have abortions, pocketing kickbacks, and not caring for Canadians, bringing in Muslim immigrants only, and constantly, because he wants Canada to be a Muslim, globalist nation.

So, I agree with you, except it is much worse than you can imagine. Of course Biden is probably the worst president the US has ever had, so you have my sympathies!

I don't understand why the other parties do not get rid of the entitled little momma's boy? As apparently that can be done?

As far as Biden goes, he is a figurehead. He was put there along with the giddy VP (people are starting to wonder what is up with her since she is giddy and laughs at everything). We have a cartel in office...never mind the border