Canada, and especially Alberta, continues to persecute Christians. Another pastor (Tim Stephens) was arrested (for a second time), as their church meeting was discovered by a police helicopter. They had already gotten locked out of their church (similar to GraceLife Church minus the fencing).
Tim Stephens' children wept as they arrested their father and had him in the police vehicle. Christians, please pray for pastors like Tim Stephens and James Coates as well as the churches in their care.
Canada is now like a police state - arresting people for holding church, and sadly the police are not refusing to participate (as I think some police in California refused to enforce Governor Newsom's wrongful orders).
Canadian Pastor's arrest (Rebel News article)
The government was given by God for the punishment of evildoers and to reward those who do good, so when they start persecuting those who are doing good - they are not functioning as God intended. John MacArthur gave a message last Sunday speaking on the subject. Remember the people in the Old Testament times who would not bow to a statue, Daniel kept praying to God, the apostles in New Testament times went right back to teaching even though they were arrested for preaching the Gospel, Stephen and others were put to death, etc. The government was not meant to punish people for doing good.
The COVID-19 illness is real, but that doesn't mean that the government then has the right to usurp Christ's role as Head of His church. That is an abuse of their God-given authority. In California, the governor wanted to tell people not to sing. Well, thankfully, some of the tyranny in the U.S. has eased up due to court victories, but sadly, that isn't so in Canada.
Being persecuted for the sake of doing right brings reward and the watching world sees these Christians who are suffering well as a testimony of Christ to them. May God use the testimony of Christians persecuted around the world, and bring people to Himself. That is what I should remind myself of...that God's purposes in this will come about. Getting angry or feeling anxious won't help, but I need to continue to pray. God's Word speaks of rejoicing in persecution. It brings about perseverance, proven character, and hope.
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NASB (1995)
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