Come Down, Lord!

  Over the past several days, I’ve been reflecting on the trucker convoy. I remember how thankful we were to hear they were on their way to Ottawa. After months of lockdowns and vaccine mandates, ordinary Canadians had had enough. We had seen pastors imprisoned for gathering their congregations for worship, we had been barred from restaurants and public spaces for refusing the vaccine, and we had witnessed the devastating effects of lockdowns on the sick, the elderly, and our children. So when we learned the convoy was coming, many of us took our flags and lined the 401 to cheer them on as they passed. Some of us went to Ottawa as well. And some of us were there when the police violently cleared the truckers out. I will never forget that day. We had seen the female protester trampled by a mounted officer, and we felt compelled to go. We went peacefully, but we went to stand with the truckers. I saw no protesters acting violently that day - but I did see a great deal of gratuitous v...

Over the course of the last year, I have had plenty of time to privately reflect on what transpired through 2020 and 2021, and I have concluded that on some points I was in the wrong.  I have decided to address those things here.  Some may disagree with what I have concluded, but I write here first and last for Him. First, I believe I was sometimes overly harsh and severe in my writing.  I have since removed several blog posts, which I now believe lacked grace and char ity.  I still believe the churches should have remained open through the lockdowns, but I wish I had written with a better understanding of my own heart and a more charitable view of my brothers in Christ.  I was appalled by what I saw in those days, but in my zeal to speak the truth I sometimes lacked compassion and grace.  Second, when I was wronged by colleagues in the ministry I had a choice.  I could have covered what I believed to be sin, but I chose instead to expose it to the pub...

  A few listeners have requested a pdf of the following sermon, which was preached in November of 2020. I have attempted here to transcribe the sermon as closely as possible with only very minor edits. Quotes from the Bible are taken from the KJV unless otherwise indicated. That morning, following the service, I found the police waiting for me in the lobby. Though I was not fined on that occasion, the timing of the visit struck us all. This morning I want to face the issue head on; but before I do, I want to make a few preliminary comments. So, five preliminary comments. 1. Number one, there are good men — men that I love and admire — who will not agree with my conclusions. On this I am convinced that they are wrong, but my love for them is not diminished in the least. My hope and prayer is that you will all play the part of Bereans, that you will search the Scriptures to see if these things are so. It is sometimes tempting to play favourites, or to go along with the crowd, to be ...

  The Frankfurt declaration is an outstanding statement regarding Christian and civil liberties.  A number of statements have been put together in the last decade but possibly none are as important as this one . I was glad to be among the initial signers, and I would encourage you to sign it too. You may read it here . The declaration begins, "In the course of human events, it sometimes becomes necessary for people of good faith to speak out against the abuse of power. This should be done only after serious and prayerful deliberation, and even then, in an attitude of humility and with respect for the authorities that have been established by God. Such protest should be expressed in the hope that civil authorities who are found to be eroding rights and liberties may yet fulfill their responsibility as their rightful guardians. A few concerned pastors from different continents, moved by an emergent totalitarianism of the State over all realms of society, and particularly the C...

   * The following was originally written in May of 2021 when I was still the pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church of the ARP.  Now that the trial is past I am free to share it publicly.  I have since removed some irrelevant sections and added italics and bold emphases in places. It was prepared originally because it was important for the court to understand why we were continuing to gather for worship even when forbidden to do so. I share it here because it is important for believers to understand why believers should continue to gather for worship even when forbidden to do so. The Redacted Affidavit I am the pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Tillsonburg (“FPC”) and as such I have personal knowledge of the facts and matters herein set forth, except where stated to be based on information and belief and where so stated I believe them to be true.                Personal background I completed my Masters of Divin...