Come Down, Lord!

  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...

  I want to offer here a brief update regarding my court case.  I do so with a measure of trepidation.  I have heard some say that if I believe my cause is just I should just quietly accept the penalty.  Some might think my updates have been motivated by pride.  They may feel that what I have done - in keeping my church open - was wrong and that spreading the word about my charges is self-serving and arrogant.  I can say this with a fair degree of certainty. Such men do not know my heart.  If they did I expect they would find it worse even then they believe.  I am nowhere near the man I would like to be, and if there is anything praiseworthy in me it is by the grace of God.  The truth is I am probably far more proud than I know.  Though I want to eschew pride, and while I desire humility, pride seems strangely natural to sinful men.  But I also know what motivated me through 2020 and 2021; and I can say that at every step I ac...

The following sermon was preached on February 14.  The previous week I had been charged for gathering God's people for worship.  I would later be charged for gathering that week as well.  Since that time I have been charged four more times. Seems like a waste doesn't it? I face a maximum of 6 years in prison (and $600,000 in fines). Seems like a terrible waste...   Was it?

  I do not know Wyatt Graham, and until recently I had never heard of him. That is probably simply because I have never followed TGC.  More recently I have taken an interest in him because of his position on covid.  He represents the other side and I am one that likes to know what the other side is thinking.   Here I would like to respond to his recent article titled Our Views of the Virus Affects Our View of Persecution .  It is a gracious article, but the author is saying what he and others and TGC Canada have been saying for a while: that what James Coates, Jacob Reaume, Tim Stephens, Michael Thiessen, Aaron Rock, myself and others have experienced isn’t persecution.    The problem begins with the premise.  Graham says “If I view the pandemic as severely harming society and if I see restrictions as preventing that harm, then fining someone for breaking health regulations generally makes sense.”  He adds, “On the other hand, if ...