Dear Pastor Leon and the members of Springs Church,
We are writing to you as clergy also serving faith communities in Manitoba and beyond.
During the past two weeks, Springs Church has garnered a lot of local media attention and sparked debate in our city and province regarding COVID-19 pandemic restrictions implemented by public health authorities. Springs Church has deliberately violated these restrictions in the name of religious freedom and subsequently lost a court challenge of these restrictions.
Much of the rhetoric coming from Springs church centres on the right of Christians to worship under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. You have claimed that your drive-in services are safe and your right to gather in-person to worship outweighs the Province of Manitoba’s right to restrict gatherings for the sake of public health.
Drive-in services may be relatively safe (but not as a safe as staying home) and the question of how the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is weighed against these public health orders has not been settled in court.
However, we are not writing to you regarding the epidemiology or legality of drive-in services.
We are writing to you as peers and siblings in Christ and as called and ordained ministers of Christ’s Church.
We find that your actions during the past days of encouraging Christians to disobey public health orders in the name of freedom are not an example of following Christ.
We find that your insistence on the right to worship is not in keeping with Christ’s command to love our neighbour.
We find that your actions disregard the dangers of COVID-19 in our community and that they only serve to create potential harm for our healthcare system and healthcare workers already pushed beyond capacity.
We find that your insistence on individual freedoms over collective responsibility are an affront to the many individuals, families, friends, community groups and other faith communities who are refraining from gathering for the sake of our neighbours.
We find that your focus on your own perceived loss (of not being able to gather for a short time) to be offensive to those 381 Manitoban families (as of December 5th) who have lost loved ones as a result of this pandemic.
Therefore we call on you to take the following actions:
That you repent of your actions and publicly apologize for putting your individual right to worship ahead of the good of our community.
That you publicly encourage your church members to remain at home and worship online while public health restrictions remain in place.
That you cease all legal action against the province and redirect those funds intended for legal costs towards a charity that truly helps Manitobans, such as Harvest Manitoba.
If and when these actions are undertaken, it would be our hope that they be a first step towards reconciliation between Springs and your sibling communities of faith in Manitoba.
Finally, knowing that we are not the first people of faith to live through a pandemic, we offer you the following quote from Martin Luther, written in 1527, about how Christians ought to respond to the Black Death:
Therefore I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid persons and places where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me, and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others.
*This letter also applies to any congregation refusing to follow public health orders under the guise of religious persecution including the Church of God Restoration South of Steinbach. *
Yours in Christ,
** If you are a clergy-person and would like to add your name to this letter please email your name, title and church affiliation to pastor@sherpark.ca
Manitoba Clergy:
The Rev. Erik Parker, Sherwood Park Lutheran Church, Winnipeg (Letter Author)
The Rev. Courtenay Reedman Parker, Messiah Lutheran Church, Winnipeg
Bishop Elaine Sauer, St Chad’s Anglican Parish, Winnipeg
The Rev. Rick Sauer, St. Mark’s Lutheran, Winnipeg.
The Rev. Ken Kuhn, retired (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada)
The Rev. Richard D. Schulz Pastor, Gimli Lutheran Church
The Rev. Nancy Walker, retired (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada)
The Reverend Theo Robinson, BTh, Incumbent St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Victoria Beach & Pastor, Interlake Regional Shared Ministry, MNO Synod
The Rev. Don Engel, retired, (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada)
The Rev. Father Chad McCharles, Anglican Priest of the Diocese of Brandon, Incumbent of Neepawa United-Anglican Church
Jeraldine Bjornson, retired DLM, United Church of Canada
The Rev. Barton Coleman, Zion Lutheran Church Beausejour, Manitoba
The Rev. Kolleen Karlowsky-Clark, retired (Evangelical Lutheran Church In Canada)
Rev. Rachel Twigg, Saint Benedict’s Table Anglican, Winnipeg
The Rev. Jennifer Marlor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Winnipeg
Rev. Liz Carter-Morgan, St. Paul’s United Church, Virden MB
The Rev. Canon Dr. Murray Still, Church of St Stephen and St Bede Anglican-Lutheran, Winnipeg
The Rev. Trudy Thorarinson, Grace-St.John’s Anglican-Lutheran, Carman, MB
Rev. Matthew Brough, Prairie Presbyterian Church, Winnipeg
Paul Peters Derry, Ordained Minister, United Church of Canada (Retired), Postulate for Ordination, Anglican Church of Canada (Diocese of Rupert’s Land)
Rev. Don Schau, Atlantic-Garden City United Church, Winnipeg
The Rev. Philip G. Read, St. Mary’s Road United Church, Winnipeg
Reverend Barbara Roberts, ordained retired minister United Church of Canada
The Rev. John H. Giroux, St. Mary Anglican Church, Winnipeg
The Rev. Judith Whitmore Anglican, Belair, Manitoba
The Rev. Dr. Kara Mandryk Coordinator, Henry Budd College for Ministry, and Regional Dean, The Pas Deanery, Diocese of Brandon
Rev. Lynell Bergen, Hope Mennonite Church, Winnipeg
The Venerable Gordon Payne, retired, Priest of the Diocese of British Columbia. (But living and serving in Winnipeg)
Jamie Arpin-Ricci, Pastoral Leader Little Flowers Community (Mennonite Church Manitoba)
Kim Arpin-Ricci, Pastoral Leader, Little Flowers Community (Mennonite Church Manitoba)
Rev. Tyler Gingrich, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Winnipeg
Rev. Bonita E. Garrett, Retired, United Church of Canada
Michael Pahl, Lead Pastor, Morden Mennonite Church
Rev. Margrét Kristjansson, Rivers United Church, Rivers, MB
Rev. Donna J. Smalley, Retired [Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada] Winnipeg
M.A.McCartney. Team Minister Oak Bank United Church, Oak Bank, MB
The Rev. Thomas J. Lurvey, retired (North American Lutheran Church), Winnipeg
Rev. Harold Peters-Fransen, Elim Mennonite Church, Grunthal, MB
Rev. Jim Vickers, retired, (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) Waldersee, MB
The Venerable Helen Kennedy Archdeacon of Winnipeg / St John
Priest of St George’s, Transcona.
Rev. Bruce Gelhorn, Grace Lutheran Church, Winnipeg Manitoba.
Rev. Christopher Smith, The Bridge Church of The Christian and Missionary Alliance. Winnipeg.
Rev. Kathy Koop, First Mennonite Church, Winnipeg
Rev. Barb Jardine- Retired, serving Forrest and Brookdale, United Church of Canada.
Josué Sánchez, Ordained Pastor, Seventy-day Adventist, Winnipeg
Rev. Stafford Greer, Morden Alliance Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Morden MB
The Reverend Lynette Miller, retired, The United Church of Canada, Winnipeg
The Reverend Patricia Langlois, (Retired), Team Vicar, The South Parkland Parrish Anglican Diocese of Brandon
Rev. Michael Kurtz, First Lutheran Church, Winnipeg
The Rev. Canon Rick Condo, retired, Diocese of Ruperts Land, Winnipeg
Kevin Drudge, Pastor, Covenant Mennonite Church, Winkler MB
Ron Fischer, Teaching Elder, Kildonan Community Church, Winnipeg MB
Rev, Susan Tillman, United Church Grey Street in Winnipeg and St.Paul’s in Beausejour, MB
Father Sam Argenziano, Pastor of Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg
Rev. Brian McNarry, Grand Valley Church of the Christian & Missionary Alliance. Brandon MB
Rev. Margaret Mullin, Place of Hope Indigenous Presbyterian Church, Winnipeg MB
Rev. Kristin Woodburke, DM, OakBank United Church, Oakbank, MB
Rev. Dr. Michael Wilson, Charleswood United Church, Winnipeg, MB.
The Rev. Kenneth Stright, retired, The Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Rev. Jeanne M.M. Stright, retired, The United Church of Canada.
The Rev’d Diane K Guilford, St. Thomas Anglican Church, Morden, MB
The Rev. Glen Krentz, Retired, (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada), Winnipeg
The Reverend R. David Lowe, On Leave from Call, ELCIC Winnipeg
The Rev. Lanny Knutson, retired, (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada), Winnipeg
Rev. Ken Thomas, Augustine United Church, Winnipeg
Rev. Noelle Bowles, Spirit Path United Church in Winnipeg
Rev. Anthon Bouw, minister, Knox Presbyterian Church, Selkirk.
Pastor Jonathon Shierman, Lead Minister, Moosomin Baptist Church
Reverend Cole Grambo, Minister, Selkirk United Church
Ha Na Park, the minister at Immanuel United Church, Winnipeg
Min-Goo Kang, the minister at Fort Garry United Church, Winnipeg
Rev. Lynne Hutchison, Pastor, St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church, Winnipeg
The Rev. Andrew Rampton, Priest Incumbent, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Winnipeg.
The Very Rev. Paul N. Johnson, Dean, Diocese of Rupert’s Land
Rector, Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist, Anglican Church of Canada, Winnipeg
The Ven. Simon Blaikie, Executive Archdeacon, Diocese of Rupert’s Land, Winnipeg
The Rev. Bill Blackburn. St. John’s Anglican Pilot Mound, Manitoba
The Rev Fr Wayne McIntosh, priest, St Francis Anglican Church, Winnipeg, MB
The Rev. M. Dwight Rutherford, Hon Asst, The Parish Church of St Luke,
Winnipeg
Rev. Deacon Marline Wruck, Anglican deacon serving at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba
The Rev. John Dolloff St. Mary’s la Prairie Anglican Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
The Rev’d Tim Sale, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Fort Garry, Manitoba
Rev. Elaine Pinto, honorary deacon at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church, Winnipeg
The Rev. Heather McCance, Diocesan Ministry Developer at Anglican Diocese of Rupert’s Land, Winnipeg
The Rev. Dr. K. Virginia Coleman, Clandeboye, Winnipeg Beach United Church
Rt Rev’d Geoffrey Woodcroft, Bishop of Rupert’s Land
Clergy outside of Manitoba:
The Rev. Matthew Diegel, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, ON
The Rev. Ed Long, Hilldale Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, Ontario
The Ven. Wilma Woods, St Giles Anglican, Estevan, SK
The Rev. Brian Woods, St Giles Anglican, Estevan, SK
The Rev. Jerry Borkowsky, Assistant to the Bishop Saskatchewan Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
The Rev’d Robyn King, St Paul’s Anglican, Leduc, AB
Rev. Fran Ota, United Church of Canada, Toronto, ON
Diaconal Minister Beth Kerr, Trinity and Atwood United Churches, North Perth, ON
The Rev. Arleen Berg Leishman, retired (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) Thunder Bay, ON
The Rev. Murray Halvorson, New Hope Lutheran Church, Regina, SK
The Rev’d Justin Cheng, All Saints Anglican, Diocese of New Westminster, Burnaby, BC
Rev. Reg Berg, Prince of Faith Lutheran Church, Calgary, AB
The Rev. Lindsay Hognestad, Retired (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) Regina, SK
The Rev’d Brandon Witwer, Christ Church Anglican, Calgary, AB
The Rev. Lyndon Sayers, Lutheran Church of the Cross, Victoria, BC
The Rev. Richard Engel, Hospital Chaplain, Lutheran Ministry in Hospitals of Saskatoon (LuMinHoS)
Bishop Cindy Halmarson, Retired (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada), Cobourg, Ontario
The Rev. Joseph McLellan, Bishop, Progressive Catholic Church of Canada
Rev. Sarah Bruer, Diaconal Minister (in search of call), North Perth Ontario.
Rev. Melany Cassidy-Wise, Ordained Minister, Rural United Ministry. Easton’s Corners United Church, North Augusta Pastoral Charge, Bishop’s Oxford Pastoral Charge, Maitland, Ontario
Rev. Wendy Molnar, Coronado Gibbons United Church, Sturgeon County, AB
Rev. Linda K. Douglas Grace Lutheran Church, Victoria, BC
Fr. Dick+ Kennedy, Palliser Parish, Anglican Diocese of Qu’Appelle.
The Reverend Boyd Drake, The United Church of Canada, Gatineau QC
Rev. Marie-Louise Ternier, priest in the Anglican Church of Canada, serving an Anglican-Lutheran Shared Ministry in Watrous, SK.
The Rev. Aneeta Saroop, Spirit of Life Lutheran Church, Vancouver, BC
Rev. Sharilynn Upsdell Diaconal Minister United Church of Canada, Chaplain at Good Samaritan Mountainview Village Care Home, Kelowna BC
The Rev. Seth Perry, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Kingston, ON
REV. LINDA C. HUNTER, Ordained Minister in The United Church of Canada, serving Central United Church in Calgary, Alberta.
Rev. Audrey Lounder, President, Fundy St Lawrence Dawning Waters Region, United Church of Canada
Reverend Susan Butler-Jones, United Church of Canada, Gatineau QC
Rev. Sarah Dymund, Trinity Lutheran Church, Regina, SK
Rev. Murdo Marple, Retired minister of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, Calgary, Alberta.
The Rev. Karen Stepko, Christ Lutheran Church, Rhein, Saskatchewan
The Rev. Laura Kavanagh, Knox Presbyterian Church, Victoria BC
Deacon Gretchen Peterson, Assistant to the National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Saskatoon, SK
Rev. Stephen W. Overall, Retired United Methodist Clergy, and formerly served as Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care Education at the Victoria General Hospital (1971-1979). Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Rev. Joy Cowan, Minister at Heritage United Church, Regina, SK
Rev. Beth W Johnston, United Church of Canada Nipawin SK
Rev. Dr Adela Torchia, Two Saints Anglican Ministry in Victoria, BC
The Rev. Stewart Miller, Bread of Life Lutheran Church, Regina, SK
The Rev. Dr. Chris Nojonen, retired (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada), Thunder Bay
The Rev. M Kornfeld, St Albert Lutheran Church, St Albert, AB
Rev. Mark L. Malek (retired) Trinity United Church, Vernon ,B.C
Rev. Lloyd Huber, emeritus, LCC, Drumheller, AB
The Rev Margaret Murray, (retired), Minister of the United Church of Canada, Woodstock, ON
The Rev’d Grace Pritchard Burson, Anglican Church of All Saints by the Lake, Dorval, QC
The Rev. Lyndon Sayers, Lutheran Church of the Cross, Victoria, BC
The Rev. Scott Agur, Retired United Church of Canada, Courtenay, BC
The Reverend Fergus Tyson, Incumbent, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Calgary, AB
Rev. Joan Jespersen (retired),Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
The Rev Catherine M Dorcas, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Moosomin, SK
The Millennial Pastor 
Thank you so much for speaking up about this outrageous undertaking and defiance of public health orders. Shame on those who choose to lead their followers in a very deadly direction. God bless you all!!
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Thank you, words of wisdom and caring 🙏
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Yes, it was very sad to witness utter defiance. It was not carried out in a manner of humility, as we should expect from our spiritual leaders. Much video footage shows unmasked face to face conversations with the window rolled down, between parking patrol and attendees. If one of those patrols was incubating this virus, he had the opportunity to infect hundreds, sadly., thus causing more strain on our overcrowded hospitals.
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Moron
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You are the lemming . I have a question for all who agree with this letter…. Do you go to the grocery store or any one you know are “essetial workers? Who do you think are in these vehicle .. Yes it’s the people they live with. Hyper fear is an ungodly thing… Give your head a shake. You go get groceries and medication. What is more important your body or your soul??? Think about the fear that has overtaken you. Have at least a little faith in God.
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I have no faith in God protecting Christians or anyone else from the virus. Right now approximately 12,000 people a month are being infected because morons like you are not following protocol. Jesus Christ would at least expect humans today to use their brains and protect each other. Vaccines are how we wiped out Polio, Smallpox and Diphtheria. People are not getting vaccinated because of Hyper-Fear, they are getting vaccinated and following guidelines because they are intelligent, responsible, and wish to protect themselves and their community. If God is in charge of our well being he/she/it didn’t get the message, or we would not be in the crisis we are in. When you and/or people of your mindset come down with the virus please stay home as God will look after you, and do not use up beds in our hospitals.
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Not to mention thos attitude of not caring about your neighbors health is bad enough but their children will grow up to be bad citizens of Canada .
The Torah says to preserve life as much as possible not test God like that . Jesus wept . Weep with those that weep not say I don’t give a darn if I make u sick !!!
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[The content of this comment contains false claims regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please consult official sources of information such as https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/ ]
Deadly? How many people have died as a result of Pastor Leon’s actions? What is far more deadly is the official response to this plandemic. The lockdowns and closure of small businesses, (many permanently) and other effects has resulted in a plethora of other serious and deadly things. Suicide rates have skyrocketted. In Japan the suicide rate last month was more than the total deaths so far from COVID for the whole year. Nor do we here in Canada feel the full impact of this official response. Our government leader simply rob our great grandchildren to buy us (and the media) so we can continue to live okay with the lockdowns. But in so many parts of the world where this is not an option, the lockdowns are bringing about masive unemployment, poverty, hunger and starvation. One Oxfam study suggests that we the impact of these restrictions is going to lead to over 125 million additional cases of starvation — mostly of children. We are being scammed and this scam is killing far more people than it purports to save.
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I can understand people not of Faith falling for this but seriously!! How blind are you?! The Black Death is nowhere near the same as this! If this truly was a health crisis to fear then I know as Christian we’d all be more then willing to comply with even the most extreme restrictions. But this is a hoax and it beyond me how you all don’t see it! We can’t have even drive in church but the president can go to a blm protest! If you can see the hypocrisy and the inconsistency then nothing will convince you! Ignorance is bliss…till it’s too late! Just go look at some facts!
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what measure you use to judge others, will be the same measure God will use to judge you. The church in question has broken pandemic law. everyone found at fault should be held responsible.
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I totally agree with you, shame on those pastors signing this letter!
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Are these folks representing the same Christ who fought the Religious establishment of the day and the government of the day; with words and no violence till they hung Him on a tree or that fairy tale image of christ with the peace sign at the top of this page. These are the ppl calling the cops on their neighbours. They called them Stazi in East Germany. The establishment and now a museum to them that you can see them all forever; a stain on their family name forever.
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Do you really think that infectious disease specialists went to school for many, many years just to “trick ” people into wearing masks and staying home?
Doctors from all over the world got together and concocted a scheme, a fake illness? For what purpose? To laugh at you as you wear a mask? To cripple the economy that they are also apart of? Are they not also inconvenienced by the restrictions?
SMH
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Pastor Leon only cares about money. It’s well known to most people in Winnipeg. I’ve been there twice a decade ago, and it was more of a get rich seminar than a church. I’m not at all surprised Springs Church could not care less about the community.
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You are the lemming . I have a question for all who agree with this letter…. Do you go to the grocery store or any one you know are “essetial workers? Who do you think are in these vehicle .. Yes it’s the people they live with. Hyper fear is an ungodly thing… Give your head a shake. You go get groceries and medication. What is more important your body or your soul??? Think about the fear that has overtaken you. Have at least a little faith in God.
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the bible clearly tells us in Romans 13 to follow the laws of the land. Instead of spending astronomical amounts of money disobeying the laws of the land, why does Pastor Leon not put that money towards small businesses struggling during this time. Instead of complaining of these businesses needing help.. put their money where their mouth is, and put their money towards good to help this city and the small business during this pandemic… or food banks,
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So you confess you’d be a nazi and turn your brothers and sisters over to the oven then thnak you for your transparency!
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Well said!
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These people are so brainwashed they think covid is a rabid dog that is waiting to devour us all! How foolish.
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I agree
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conspiracy theorist. ….
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Thank you for verbalizing what is in the hearts of many
Gods blessings
Margaret anderson Ashern
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Shocking to think that as children of God we can be so easily divided, wheat from chaff. Our first allegiance is to our heavenly Father, we give to Caesar that which is Caesars(our gov’t), but our faith is ours, and we are called to encourage each other, fellowship with one another pray together where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name.
Retail stores are safer, really. What a sad world and time we live in…when we actually believe that our gov’t is only concerned about our well-being. Thank-you to those churches that have the courage to keep walking the talk, and talking the walk. For giving us HOPE.
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Can I ask the purpose of the publication of the letter?
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To provide a public voice – which as an ordained pastor I am called to a public ministry and office – that counters the narrative of Christian’s rights and freedoms coming before the care of our community being put forward by Pastor Leon and Springs
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Respectfully, if all of your pastors truly feel as you say you do and walk with the Lord Jesus the way your insinuating you do, then you would be covering your brother Leon and not throwing him under the bus with your attempt to discredit him publicly. This should be about what is best for God and what what is best for you. Stating that someone should be under shame is also no where near consistent with a proper walk with Jesus either so, your stating Leon is not consistent with God’s Word does not hold credibility. Can any of the ministers that signed this state you know for a fact that Leon is not annointed by our Lord Jesus? If you cannot state that you know that for a fact then you have risked to much because the Word is also very clear about not coming g against God’s annointed! I would recommend you take the log out of your own eyes before you try help your brother Leon to maybe get the baby spec out of his own. I will be praying for all who signed this that you will avoid God’s judgement on what you have done here. I witness that is He is annointed. What I find interesting is that is what the clergy that came against Christ in His day…
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Wow you sound stupid. Religion is so creepy. I feel bad for you people.
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Is this the same guy who fought the Religious establishment of the day and the government of the day; with words and no violence till they hung Him on a tree or that fairy tale image of christ with the peace sign at the top of this page.
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Remember the religious establishments then were only afraid of losing their wealth and position of authority not teaching the Lord’s word from the old testament . Just look at the minister’s today with all of the expensive jewellery on them. Jesus never had a house,. Some of these even have jets. All that money ill spent. What Hippocrates
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I want to know if any of the ministers who signed this stepped up to sign any other petition regarding people who could freely get out of the cars and go in and buy liquor or buy cannabis. If you’re so concerned about protection of the health order, where is any of your outrage to alcohol and drugs versus a church service.
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If an alcoholic stops drinking abruptly, they risk serious health consequences including death. There are many patients in this city who rely on cannabis for pain relief, denying these patients cannabis is cruel. In both instances there are complications in regards to “just give it to people who need it”, so the health system decided it was easiest, and in the best interests of the people, to simply keep these establishments open. In both instances, people do not have to go in to the buildings in order to get what they need.
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There are many people who rely on the kindness, charity and community of the local church also. So, I guess you kind of made the point yourself, didn’t you, the church is essential.
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Why not have a delivery based model? Do you need to touch the bottle of booze? Can’t cannabis ship in the mail? Curb-side pick up can’t be arranged?!
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Exactly
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Do you honestly not understand why these are exempt in closures? We do not want to overwhelm and strain the hospitals any more than what there are currently dealing with. Many many people are alcoholics and would go into withdrawal and need medical attention. As well as the cannabis and for those use it for medicinal purposes.
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As usual you selfish bastards that think your above the law and play God and pointing your finger at the addicts and less fortunate shame on you and your parish you all thought you were above the law and do what ever you wanted to do as far as I’m concerned you all committed a crime and should be charged and thrown in jail you are not any better better than those addicts so stop trying to play God and face your crimes you infected many people that will be very sick or die let’s hope that no one dies in your flock!!!!!!
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Probably due to there being people who are alcoholics, and to cut them off would cause hospitals to be filled up with people suffering from the DT’s. So keep liquor stores open, since we need to room for COVID victims. Unsure about marijuana, as I don’t see the need for pot shops to not be locked down.
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good comment Gerald Harris
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Leona Bacon
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Hilarious, you sit here and tell these pastors they are wrong to judge, as you sit here judging them. I wonder, respectfully, do you even see the hypocrisy in your statement? Remember, god is judging you if you lie
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Leon threw himself under the bus. He didn’t need help with that. He discredited himself and all his followers.
Does he not know that this is a world pandemic? Respect for fellow man , and support for people on the front lines dealing with patients are imperative.
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[The content of this comment contains false claims regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please consult official sources of information such as https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/ ]
It is a world plandemic. It is politicians playing medicine, and using fearmongering to destroy freedom.
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Even anointed people can make mistakes.
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Pharisees are not anointed they are lost.. Read John 5:39-40 and John 17:3.. The authors of this letter don’t know God or Jesus Christ.. Check out those scriptures and see what I am saying. Pastor Leon knows Christ and our Father. Love accept forgive.. God bless you
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The pastors who signed this are doing the right thing. Leon, and every church leader who encourages the members of their congregations to disobey health orders, are wrong. God would not want us to possibly cause harm to one another. And believe me, this virus can and does do harm.
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Your “OH! So holy Leon” made this a public thing when he took action against the city, so you saying that these gentlemen are throwing him under the bus, he threw himself under the bus by going against city orders. People , like Leon, are the reason why we are in the situation of increases in the virus, so he doesn’t deserve any respect from the religious organizations or the people of Winnipeg.
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Totally agree 💯
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[The content of this comment contains false claims regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please consult official sources of information such as https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/ ]
How sad for Christians to shame a brother because you have been brainwashed into buy this whole covid crap. This is a ruse, let me give you some facts, 85% of folks who contracted covid were wearing a mask regularly, folks under 70, 1% die from covid, under 70, 50% die from ebola, how come we didn’t lock down for the ebola outbreak???
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[The content of this comment contains false claims regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please consult official sources of information such as https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19 ]
Totally agreed. Where are the people that will walk like Jesus walked. Leprosy was a contagious disease also and Jesus didn’t run from the Lepers, He let them run to HIM and He touched them and they were healed. Where are the real men of faith today who will go and follow in Jesus’ footsteps. They are using “health” and “safety” as trigger words to indoctrinate and manipulate people with a virus that has a 99% survival rate for those who do get it. The numbers have been grossly exaggerated and for the first time in history, the healthy have been on lockdown along with the unhealthy wherein in times past it was just the unhealthy and sick that would be quarantined (same as in the law where the lepers had to be put aside). This is a plandemic and some of us already alerted the people that this was for a global economic reset set out to take control of smaller businesses and advance further to a cashless society. Some of you ministers that have signed were already preconditioned to take these actions and think this way through government programs in YOUR CHURCH on YOUR BOARDS so that the government can use YOU to control the believers. For this, you must repent and will have to answer to God. Where are the Shadrachs, the Meshacs and the Abednagos who will NOT bow down to the image of Nebuchadnezzar. You’ve been simply indoctrinated into thinking those in power actually want your best and its best to NOT gather, to not visit the poor and afflicted in their time of trouble and NOT practice true and undefiled religion. Notice the gov/t is NOT instructing us on how to avoid the covid with the natural God given vitamins readily available that will boost our immune systems? You are trusting the same W.H.O. organization that is implementing gender confusion sex ed in schools worldwide and suggesting teaching masturbation to kindergarteners in Europe (and of course eventually in Canada). You’re trusting the words of a leader who cannot even make sure Reservations in Canada have running water in the 21st Century while during a plandemic this same gov/t is giving MILLIONS away to abortion clinics in foreign countries….oops I mean for the “health” and “safety” of women (sounds better right?). You are putting out the voice of the Church which we know when founded on the TRUTH is THE absolute foundation of any thriving society letting them take away any judeo christian foundation and freedoms of our country. If Jesus were to walk by and TOUCH someone with Covid, would you throw Him under the bus too and accuse Him of being selfish and non compliant? Would you say like the Pharisees that in the name of Beelzebub He does these things? What are you going to do when even preaching the gospel (which some TRUTHS of the bible are gettting banned as we speak)? Canada needs Revival and we need to stop being effeminate and little momma’s boys/lukewarm/yes ma’ams and start being real men of GOD (not advocating violence) like the apostles of old who would NOT shut up and not stop preaching the gospel in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Yes, I am calling all of the above to REPENT and get in your prayer closet and see where your heart really is with God. Want to know what the real purpose of shutting down the churches are and forbidding especially believers to preach against sin and to preach the SOLUTION to these problems is? Right here:
Acts 4:18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Will you be the Pharisees who want to shut the gospel down or will you be bold like John and Peter? WE NEED GOD’S HELP and HIS WISDOM in this time, not man’s wisdom.
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How do you decide which “care of our community” circumstances you choose to speak out against?
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Did you talk to him in person?
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No, because that is currently illegal.
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But did you actually send it to him? I hope so … I would add my name, but I’m not ordained … just a church warden.
Thank you.
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I have a question. What is the difference between parking lot service and gorcery parking lot services? I went to the store yesterday, there were lots of cars parked, (with no distancing if I may add), and not only that… everyone came out of thier cars and went into the store, purchasing grocery. Now I am not attacking that because I too was at the store. Food is infact, essential.
In Springs case, however, everyone is in thier cars (social distanced even) and watching a screen!!!! I can’t understand how that is causing issues. How?!!!!
It sounds hypocritical and also like a government-issued who just wants to control its citizens. I have no problem against social distancing and stopping congregation gathering. I am definitely for that. This pandemic is real, as I have lost persons too. But they are sitting in thier cars though! Not interacting with anyone, with windows up and each car spaced out in the lot. How is this a public health issue?
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Thats the same thing they say in China to make sure the Weigers stay in their place?
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Communist
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Good question. Just because someone uses the name Jesus or God doesn’t make them christian. Mormons and JWs also use the names but their most important person is Joseph Smith. anytime works is a way of salvation it disqualifies a religious group, Jesus called those who criticized His disciples some names also whipped those in religious temples. By bashing a Christian pastor, expecting him to do things your way and ignoring the fact Springs has a Springs Inner-city which does much more than the Pharasies and Sadducies. Not only do they feed the poor they also clothes them. I don’t know but perhaps even house them. If any research was don’t prior to writing a bashing letter perhaps the letter wouldn’t sound so off. You see folks they are partially correct in that this is a repeat of the past but not what was referred to however the symptoms of our freedoms being taken away reminds me of the time when Europe was invaded by a dictator, another time was Korea as well as Russia, China and more recently 1994. My Rwandan friends have told me about what happened in their formerly fine country. They tell me the things happening in our country is so similar to their country prior to the beheading began. Many left when they saw the unrest but we have no place to go as North America is the last free continent. Read the book Miracle Escape a 1st hand experience of a survivor of a doctorial country then decide if this is only about a virus or perhaps the great reset to bring in a dictatorship and an excuse to force all citizens to get the vaccines/chip inserted.
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You sit here and say springs inner city has fed and clothed people that frequent there place of worship. Quick note, kinda their responsibility and one of the reasons churches are tax exempt. Maybe if you did a bit research as you are asking these pastors to do, you might realize that. And if you truly believe that we are being “chipped”, you do realize that by you submitting your post on a public forum, well you have already given “them” all “they” need to know about you. Or has that ship already passed?
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Seriously? It’s pretty straightforward for anyone with a modecum of common sense.
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They think their shit doesn’t stink and love to judge others.
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you have ministers marrying engaging in willful sinful acts and allowing fornication and harlotry–calling on others churches to repent. There is a tree in your eye brother.
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You’ve lost me. Please explain
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Seriously?? Can you not read?? It’s pretty straightforward for anyone with a modecum of common sense.
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good response Mike
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The greater good and safety of all must be the genesis of any actions taken by anyone or any government. Is this guy emulating the billionaire evangelists in the USA who are raking in huge profits during this pandemic. You religious people should be publicly condemning those ones….
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We do
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Thank you fir doing this. I am not clergy but I am a church member and everything I have learned of Jesus, God and the Bible would represent everything said in this letter. I was just saying that very thing to my husband last night. May God bless.
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Thank you for speaking up. I, too, question the claim of practising their faith in community, especially when evangelical broadcasts have been available via TV networks for decades and everyone watched from their homes.
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This letter, from this group of pastors, is shameful. I do not attend Springs Church and I am not a supporter of them, but I will stand with them in defending their actions. This letter is not an act of charity and it is not supported by scripture. This letter is a full fledged surrender of personal and collective responsibility and an embarrassing let down to more courageous Lutherans from the past, including Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
I am disgusted with this weakness.
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Indeed! Somewhat akin to a witch hunt, imho!
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The Bible speaks decisively to this issue. Romans 13:1-2 says: “Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.”
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If you believe there is no exception to scripture and it only means what you interpret, then how would you explain the angles that broke Peter out of prison before he was to be killed. That would go against that scripture. How many times did the authorities try and kill Paul and the Lord helped him escape…
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Make sure you stop sending bibles to other countries!!! You are aiding and abbeting Christians going against their government if you do. Please start a petition to stop the breaking of laws in countries that don’t allow the distribution of bibles! Those Christians that send bibles aught to be ashamed of themselves and must read a letter like this to put them in their place. Fear and obey the government and then God will protect and provide. Hand over your freedoms for the greater good…
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So when Jesus fought the government and the religious establishment of His day till they crucified Him? how do you square that with your fairy tale image of christ with a peace sign who also said; I Come not to bring peace but a sword. Christ said many things, ppl who only know one or two of them are the safest in the world.
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So when Jesus fought the government and the religious establishment of His day till they crucified Him? how do you square that with your fairy tale image of christ with a peace sign who also said; I Come not to bring peace but a sword. Christ said many things, ppl who only know one or two of them are the saddest in the world.
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You may want to listen to John MacArthur’s response on youtube to your argument.
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great point
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But publicly shaming and calling out other people’s “sins” is Christlike? I’m not necessarily saying I agree or disagree with what the Springs church is doing, but calling them out through social media is not your “responsibility”. Contacting them personally would have been sufficient, if you believe they are not being Christlike. Your letter doesn’t shine well on the Christian community either.
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Totally agreed, that would have been the right way to handle it.
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Thank you so much for expressing exactly what I was feeling in my heart. This pandemic is terrifying and the idea that anyone would encourage disobedience to a public health order while our hospitals are at capacity, people are dying and the workers are so exhausted is unconscionable. It doesn’t feel like something Jesus would encourage.
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As usual, the comments section will be more instructive than the actual letter. I predict logical fallacies and theological cherry picking.
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I really don’t care what any nomination has to say . I am and always will be Catholic . Therefore I’m sure those would be happy if I say honestly, I am a fucking sinner , God loves the sinner but hat the sin . Again , therefore , I have been with spring church for about 8 yrs . So , ha ha , therefore, Spring of the living water as far as I’m concern , is a cult . End of discussion .
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You make very little sense with garbage spewing from your mouth
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wow maybe you should take a look in the mirror if that is what they teach you i would be ashamed to be involved with that church.
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This is incredibly self righteous. There is no health threat caused by holding a church service in vehicles. You should be more concerned with the loss of religious freedom that is happening around you as we speak.
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My understanding of this is 1) There is a danger of vehicular accidents, just last week a seven car accident where three of the people ended up in ICU, where there are Covid-19 patients. The ICU is not just for COVID patients, it is for any who are critically ill.
2) You cannot hold a meeting without proper rest room facilities, these could not be provided by Springs.
3) Certain church leaders were contacted ahead of time by Dr. Roussin and were specifically asked not to do what Springs did. What part of rebellion is Godly in the Word of God?
Lastly, so many Canadians are starting to sound like Americans. Their constitution is not our Charter, we are not Americans, we don’t need to pound our chests and yell and make a scene because we don’t get our way. Being a follower of Christ, our rights have been given over to Christ, we are servants, not rebels. And we can still share the Gospel, our method may need to change but the government is not changing our message, it is just asking us to not meet physically. We are not being herded together and put on a train to be exterminated, our bibles are not being burnt, our homes are not being confiscated, our jobs are not forfeit because of our faith. We are being asked to do three things, wear a mask, stay at home, not to meet together until this pandemic is under control. Is any of that against the Word of God? No, is any of that persecution, no.
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…yet…not yet.
And you are incorrrect about it being against Gods word. “ Forsake not the assembling of believers together”
We are social beings. There’s a reason solitary confinement in prison is the worst punishment. That reason for the higher suicide and overdose now. With a 99.98% cure rate and way more suicides. Do you really think this is about life.
No it’s about control! Trudeau himself is speaking about the great reset they want to bring in. Stop being ignorant! The end is not blissful.
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Really? Sitting in a car with the entire family including children, with running motor to be warm (or cooled if it would be summer), not allowing the children to go to the bathroom until the family is home, is healthy? MS
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Totally agreed, that would have been the right way to handle it.
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MP good point and Lutheran, Catholic, Anglican as well as United churches will all be eventually fighting to keep their rights
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Absolutely agree with you!
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A bunch of cowardly, so called pastors. Your congregations are dead and the pews are empty, and this explains why. Submit your high-church credentials, and do some physical work for a change. You have no stamina or guts to stand up for anything, except for what the world demands.You are a disgrace to the Body of Christ.
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so true John
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No wonder Jesus got crucified. Makes perfect sense with “holy” people like you.
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Gordon Hunter DLM retired. United Church of Canada
I am dismayed that any clergy would find it Christ like to deliberately lead parishioners into the dangers of a pandemic. I believe that calling upon individuals to be more responsible is a duty of clergy.
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Wow ppl r dieing and u guys don’t like rules .
The Bible speaks decisively to this issue. Romans 13:1-2 says: “Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.”
I grew up in a church and I do not support anything Springs is doing , how about the environment when u r running your cars for a hour , REALLY u don’t see that as a problem ?
How about go work at the hospitals or care homes and then see what u say after .
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It is very interesting to me that no one seems to u derstand what the bible says about fighting the good fight of faith, Everyone in this thread needs to do there research and know that Springs has followed all of the rules that have been set out by the goverment and manitoba goverment was also coming to Springs on how they could further do this in other areas of the city, Palliser is overstepping his power and this has always been been safe with the approval of health officals, if you can park and wait to have an online order picked up at costco and not have drive in chruch 6 feet apart, you are missing the mark. This has everything to do with our freedoms that my grandfather fought for, and please for those who are using the bible out of context please stop.
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[The content of this comment misrepresents, the words and actions of Jesus in the Bible, conflates US style nation worship, and/or advocates conspiratorial thinking and mistrust of authority.
Please consult more appropriate sources such as seminary trained clergy, theologians or other appropriate scholars].
You are brainwashed into believing this pandemic is like a rabid dog, running around slaughtering people. It’s a flu. The government that you are worshipping is not the government spoken of in Romans. This one is evil. Not to be obeyed. Wake up.
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‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’ Quoted in Mark, Matthew and Luke wasn’t just about taxes
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You,sir, have collectively missed the whole point..read the letter again..s-l-o-w-l-y😉
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Dear pastor Leon, I applaud you for your wisdom and courage to use the god given common sense you have to challenge unscientific rules. But I’m ashamed for your fellow pastors to take a knee and bow down to the overlords which will bring us all to communism. Bless you and all your flock.
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To all those who think covid is a hoax I say only this.
If you truly think covid is a liberal hoax why don’t you prove it by volunteering to work in the covid ward of your nearest hospital, you know caring for the sick, working in the ICU, helping remove the fatalities and cleaning the wards. No PPEs will be required or even offered as you cannot be harmed by something that is “Just a liberal hoax.”
Take a TV crew and film yourself daily I am sure your local media will be only too happy to broadcast it.
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Ya, go try to volunteer. See how far you get.
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[The content of this comment contains false claims regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please consult official sources of information such as https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/ ]
Jesus Christ was not a liar. The writers of this letter are. Or they are too stupid to do even the most basic research.
There is no hospital in the country that has been overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients. Ever.
That is a lie. Stop supporting lies, start standing for the truth, or don’t call yourselves Christians.
Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. So stand firm then, and do not allow yourselves to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
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Amen
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I’ve been slowly scanning these different comments and realize I prob disagree theologically with both parties on different issues,but it seems to me we need to consider the days in which we may be living. There will be days where we must take a stand and we will need to be careful which side we chose. I hardly believe that parking lot worship is truly an expression of our faith considering our faith is a relationship with our creator God.
However, agreeing with a world Govt that wants to damage the church is a dangerous proposition.
I believe there is a much greater power at work that is greater than any world power, but is definitely less than the power of our creator God.
Be careful , be mindful of which side you chose.
As christians, we do need to stand together , because what we agree to now , we will have to deal with in the future. This will not end in 2 months, and we are all being distracted by Covid. Be mindful of who the real enemy is.
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Good point
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The Protestant Reformation and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race.
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many good responses to the letter written by 1 person signed by those who profess but he who is without sin cast the 1st stone. yet what is really happening in our country? it is acually a battle for freedoms. if those who signed this letter would really check back into the past they would see some symptoms we have today to those in the past where freedoms were lost. many years ago i heard for evil to triumph takes only for good people to do nothing if we don’t learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it. looks like it’s being repeated. why did Martin Lutheran nail the thesis on the church at Wittenberg???
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Hmmmm….collectively, which of the 7 Churches of Revelation do these guys represent? Pergamos, Thyatira or Sardis? My money’s on Sardis.
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Sounds like Jim Jones-type rhetoric before he had his minions pass out the kool-aid. Shameful! Yup. Sardis Church.
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Interesting that the first thing these pastors do is jump on springs for not following the Bible. Apparently they haven’t read Mathew 18:15-17 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Nothing here about slamming brethren publicly.
Mathew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Love God first, THEN neighbor. Follow governments laws yes, but when government makes laws that go against God, follow God. What does God say about gathering for Church?
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
‘Nuff said. Good to see a Church obeying Scripture over man and standing up for God!
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Firstly, the irony of communistic sentiments coming from a self-branded millennial ought not to be lost on anyone. Secondly, I saw a lot of generalization and very little evidence that you observed or watched how those services are carried out. Not only are families in their cars at all times, but the cars themselves are 6 feet apart at minimum, with signs posted all over detailing instructions (not to mention, if I know them, security at the ready helping see things are carried out). As far as I can tell, there is no violation of distancing or contact happening during production either.
Its also disturbing to me that in a province with such a low death count (compared to the tens of thousands in the states around me) you would, already, be throwing mental health completely under the bus – no questions asked.
And not to mention not a single morsel of caution against the growth of government control or the use of unnecessary measures in targeting a church. Here’s one thing I know, say what you will about their teaching/structure, etc. you will be hard pressed to find a church more dedicated to running with the highest possible standards as it regards the safety and health of congregants and the surrounding community.
The battle between ‘lockdown happy’ liberals and ‘fight the power’ conservatives is being fought all over and I don’t think requesting support via names makes any of this valid.
You want to call out what the church is doing, use logic and facts. How much have they spent in litigations? Has anyone been documented as coming down with covid after a service? Do they have contact tracing? Is what they are doing more or less dangerous than what happens in other parts of society all the time (i.e. all vehicle traffic)? Are you protesting against big-box stores that remain open, filled with people who could care less for the safety of others?
Maybe think about the fact that, like it or not, this church, too, can and is being used by God. And its congregants, too, are part of the body of believers. I’m not convinced that calling for them to repent for offending you personally is the best move. Could it be a case of ‘meat sacrificed to idols’? Maybe, is it important to resist a government playing with oppression? I think so.
I have my own issues with the style and teachings of churches like this, but that is another matter from the discussion at hand. If you don’t like the church, fine, but argue fairly. This letter and the sentiments behind it seem extreme and far more the product of politics and ideological cultivation than problems with theology.
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As the writer of the post said, it is not the actual possibility for transmission of the virus in this situation that is at question, but rather whether Springs and others should take the lead in defying government health regulations.
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regarding staying in cars….. many people were seen with windows down speaking to the security people–and at least one woman was seen walking with her child around the lot speaking to people in cars through open windows, no masks in sight. From the environmental point of view–is this really a good thing to have: a large number of cars idling for an hour in one spot….just think of the air pollution. Another breaking of the rules: all public gathering places are required to have bathroom facilities that are usable…. people would have to get out of their cars to use those at the church, given they were open to the public at the time. As for your accusation about the “politics and ideological cultivation” nature of the letter, I see nothing that makes me think that these make any difference to the message, that the Springs pastor is taking it upon himself to flout the current rules established to protect Manitobans–from themselves in some cases, and this might be one of them. In addition, I’d just like to suggest that the money being used by the church for legal suit against the government could be used for a much more socially beneficial purpose. Oh, and one more thing…. it’s not like they can’t gather at home to watch religious services on television.
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[The content of this comment misrepresents, the words and actions of Jesus in the Bible, conflates US style nation worship, and/or advocates conspiratorial thinking and mistrust of authority.
Please consult more appropriate sources such as seminary trained clergy, theologians or other appropriate scholars].
Do you enjoy having the right to publicly share your opinion and criticize other people? You have that right because somebody took pains to fight for the individual’s rights and not just that of the group (what this article contradicted). You have that right because people fought tyranny and gave their lives so you could live in a free society.
And you want to give it all away based on hysteria? Why not research the best arguments for and against this topic and covid in general.
Just because you don’t care about the individual’s rights, doesn’t mean they are worthless – just because you take them for granted, doesn’t mean they will ever be guaranteed. Basic Human Rights are more important than pandemics – far more people die from tyranny than they do from pandemics.
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Maybe the signatories would feel different if their congregation actually fought to go to their services. I’ve been to dozens of churches in Winnipeg (and don’t go to any now) and I have seen how apathetic most congregations are. Church, for most of these people, is backburner and irrelevant.
I went to springs for years and they were actively living their beliefs. They taught that a belief in god meant something in this world and that we should take our creeds seriously.
Maybe these other churches don’t see the damage done when they are closed – because they don’t really do much for their community. It is painfully ironic how they are quick to call out somebody who is fighting for other people’s rights.
Without individual rights, we have no rights. If we don’t stand up for human rights, who will? How did these rights get here in the first place? It was the church that was oppressing people in Europe that lead to North America fighting for independence and creating the iconic constitution (I never appreciated it as much as I do now).
Now the church is aiming to continue promoting the oppression of the individual for the collective benefit. Neat how that works.
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I am always in awe when I see so called Christians try to beat up other Christians. When the world watches this, reads the absolute disrespect for someone else of the same faith they must really think this Christianity thing is completely nuts. I am in awe for a few reasons. For one, this is written by people that do not attend or listen to the pastor that they are trying to defame. Another thing is that passive Christianity is why we are in the situation we are in today. The conscientious observers have been made fun of for many years because they were cowardly. Someone that stands up to fight the good fight is what that great holy book is written of. The stories are told of people that fought the good fight, not of people that were passive. I come from a culture of passive, however it is through strong teaching that I have been taught to fight the good fight. Men are not respected if they are passive. I am a firm believer that this did not expose the pastor that this group has tried to expose. However it has exposed those that wrote this letter. When people try to expose others, they expose who they really are. I am watching many people I know, comment using their opinion. All it is doing is exposing who they are inside. I am saddened that this letter is getting the circulation it is. It sets a terrible example because it appears that Christians are fighting Christians. I have always been told that Christianity is the only religion that eats and beats up their own people. This letter is an example of exactly that.
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you have to understand . the ‘churches’ that endorsed this bizarre letter hate the orthodox historical positions … it is their great pleasure to try and publicly vilify orthodox Christians
they are moralizing manipulators . they try to publicly shame potentially reasonable alternatives to ‘gather as believers’, by using the very sad and tragic deaths of covid victims … while at the same time they would never write a letter about the mournful and tragic deaths of 3000+ innocent pre-born in manitoba every year
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This was great comment of truth, Juergen! Thank you for leading by example and for all the work you do for our city!
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Amen.. Abortion is a sign of ungodly nations and the wrath of God comes on them eventually.
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1. Publicly apologize for putting your individual right to worship ahead of the good of our community.
= Read Acts 5:29. Pls. note that Springs followed all the directives of the Public Health and did not compromise the good of the community. They’ve been allowed to do the drive in service since March. What about those people who goes to buy liquor/cannabis…. are these more “essentials” to you than “in-car gathering” to be able to worship in a Church ground?
2. That you publicly encourage your church members to remain at home and worship online while public health restrictions remain in place.
= Yes he did… you should watch his Dec. 5 Press Release. After the judge’s decision, what did he do? He followed the order and did not hold Sat & Sunday service at the parking lot.
3. That you cease all legal action against the province and redirect those funds intended for legal costs towards a charity that truly helps Manitobans, such as Harvest Manitoba.
= Sounds like one of the bible character. Read John 12:5-6 “”Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it”. I just remembered this teaching. If you only knew how much Springs Church has helped countless people and organizations. But, they don’t have to publicize this. they just do it, because of their Love… (not self-seeking).
4. If and when these actions are undertaken, it would be our hope that they be a first step towards reconciliation between Springs and your sibling communities of faith in Manitoba.
= Reconciliation? Are you implying that there was a division then? Are your teaching the same with the Spirit Contemporary Faith? There are other Church congregations other than Lutheran and Anglican who have thrown their support to Springs. They don’t express it by creating this kind of statement.
Just saying…..
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Excellent, Ash. I do hope the author will reply to these comments. There needs to be accountability for the charges made and the evidence given to the contrary.
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Wow… I sure hope you all tried taking to Leon first. You know, like how the Bible instructs you to do so in Matthew 18:15-18?
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If any of the congregation you invited to come to spring to listen to your lecture , if any congregation get the virus , are you willing to pay for their death you might have cause ? God almighty , heaven and earth , lord Jesus Christ, above and below, Our mother Mary and all the Angels and Saint , forgive Leon Fontaine and his families for they not what they do . Do right this time Fontaine , it’s never late to change , it’s now between you and God .
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First of all, how do you get a VIRUS from within a closed vehicle? We have been told a lot of insane, unscientific things, but nobody is even claiming we can pass a virus around this way.
Secondly, why are we supposed to fear death? Remember that guy who started your religion and was hanging out with the unclean and sickly – bringing god’s love and healing to them? What was his name again?
You have religious freedoms because of other people who stood up for your rights. Your children and the future generations will have religious freedoms if we stand up for their rights… now do you see how this works? This is a pay-it-forward scheme and you clearly aren’t doing your part.
Just because you take for granted the sacrifice of other’s who gave their lives for your freedom, doesn’t mean freedoms aren’t worthwhile.
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It was difficult taking this post seriously with all the horoscopes advertised I saw on here at first. Rather defeating the purpose, I thought.
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I’m sure you get ads shown to you that are customized – based on google’s analysis of what you like. I haven’t seen any horoscope ads….
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Rather amusing, pastors (most of them of the two dying denominations) are using the same socialist talking points. I have been around clergy of every historical tradition for years, and seeing a particular group of weakling clergy gang up on someone who stands up for what he believes, using theological arguments, is truly sickening. Pastors, please understand, your long titles don’t impress this generation. To support your cause, you even had to bring clergy out of retirement. Lord, have mercy on you! The brighter and longer the clergy robes and ceremonies, the closer to extinction. God has removed “the candlestick” from your ministry. There is a structure, but there is no light…
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what the h— are you talking about? “Dying denominations”????? “Weakling clergy”???? I don’t know what church you’re attending, but one of the ways in which “new” denominations from the time of the Lutheran religious revolution have tried to give validate themselves is by criticizing how others read the scriptures and worship God. This letter was signed by representatives from virtually every protestant denomination out there…. and being retired doesn’t mean that the person all of a sudden lost all of the wisdom they gained over years of serving their congregations. I think you need to light your wee candle and reconsider some of your complaints. And btw…. I do not belong to any of these denominations, but I still have some respect for them; this letter made me respect them even more.
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He had a service that used to be on TV. Why has he decided not to keep doing his sermons on TV?? Was he passing the collection plate during these drive-in services? There are plenty of religious programs on the television (maybe not your church) so watch one of those. Matthew 18:20 says,” For where Two or Three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” I haven’t gone to church since this Pandemic happened, and even though my church doesn’t have online services, I watch on TV or listen to the radio.
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Why was he passing the collection plate? Are you implying that he’s just on it for the money? There wasn’t any. People still have the freedom to give, online. If people doesn’t want to give, he’s not forcing them to. People need to understand that the order (no drive-in) came only after a few days later (Thurs) on such a short notice. Even if they’ve already announced “Critical Red” ahead of the implementation date. Even the schools did not close/shut right away. There are logistical limitations that have to be considered.
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Have you talked to Pastor Leon in private with your concerns? How is penning a public letter of condemnation (no matter the legitimacy) any different than what Springs has done? As a minister, you know what Jesus said about this, first speak to your brother in private, like in Matthew 18:15. A call to repentance should be done in love and not showboated to local media.
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WELL SAID!!
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So your telling us that you think Jesus would have stayed home to protect people from this virus? The Jesus that I know doesn’t have fear of a virus, and neither should we. Jesus came in contact with leprosy (which is by far worse then this). Would you be willing to touch someone who had leprosy or even someone with coronavirus? Sounds to me like you’d be sitting at home wearing a mask, and full of fear. As Christians we should be visiting the sick and praying over them. Not letting them die alone full of fear. This world is sick. And Christians have become weak.
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The biblical foundation for this letter is about as solid as the sand the house was built on.. Parallels to what the Lutherans did to Bonhoffer is actually quite uncanny. Questions abound to whether or not the motivation to do so is the same… Personally, I don’t care about celebrating faith at home or in cars.. But thank you Leon for standing up against these dangerous precedents being established through subjective clauses in our constitution.
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I’ll be praying for each and everyone whose hearts feel it’s ok to sign this document.
Very disappointing
No I’m not in agreement
As you follow along
And help with this genocide
And Desecration of our society.
It’s truly not a pandemic.
I believe GOD wants us to
Do the footwork.
Love out 🥰
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“Genocide”???? and just who is being killed off?????
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Wow.. The fear that is in this letter is ripe.. The ungodly people can not act godly. So don’t expect in godly religious Pharisee to understand the life of Jesus Christ ..he even said in John 5:39-40: “you diligently study the scriptures because you THINK that by them you posses eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me. Yet you refuse to come into me to have life.” Because the don’t have the love of God in their hearts just fear. Perfect love cast out all fear. We can’t expect the signers of this manifesto to act like Christ because Christ is not in them .. Pray for them that they may be led to Christ. John 17:3 Jesus said: “now this is eternal life: that they may KNOW you b the only true God, and Jesus Christ WHOM you have sent.” Thank you Pastor Leon for all you do for us in the name of Jesus. I know you know him!
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Pastor Leon, (like Dietrich Bonhoeffer during the Third Reich) clearly sees the big picture. Unfortunately those who have signed this judgmental and uncharitable letter apparently do not.
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To all of you concerned about some kind of new world order/dictatorship/totalitarian regime coming down the pipe: this current situation is due to nature and science doing what they’ve always done; morphing, changing, adapting, destroying life to live and propagate.
SARS-CoV-2 is not the end of democracy and free will.
Technology has enabled all of us, to have at our fingertips, the latest and most up-to-date information re: COVID-19 and it’s deadly consequences in North America and the world. And all that information obviously scares you because you don’t really know what to believe or who to trust. But guess what: science and technology are the weapons being used by our governments to fight against this latest natural mutation of the SARS virus.
Pandemics and epidemics are not new. Ask your most tech-savy friend named Google: AIDS, H1N1, Ebola, Polio, Spanish Flu. And, guess what: the world carried on after science and government intervention with things like masks and lockdowns. I’m sure most of you can remember what the fight against Ebola looked like in countries far away from North America.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and The American Constitution were put together by the same governments alot of you are now scared and distrustful of. Caveats were put into those documents because those governments learned from the past and tried to plan for the unexpected, to protect the well-being of ALL it’s citizens. Regardless of race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, etc.
Whether you like it or not, that’s the natural world we all live in: the unexpected things to come that we all must deal with; as individuals, as a group, or as a large population.
This current virus, COVID-19, like all of them before it, does not care if you’re religious and it doesn’t care what country/government system you live in and it doesn’t care if you believe in the science behind it or in the technology that will stop it from spreading.
There is no NWO or rogue group of world leaders that created a “plandemic”. People fear what they do not know and latch onto whatever “reasons” or “actions-to-take” make them feel most comfortable.
Time will tell, as it always does. COVID-19 will be another blip in the history of the world and there will be more viral outbreaks.
Maybe a few of you will feel foolish for being like chicken little and for being so selfish at a time when family members are dying, but I doubt it.
Most governments of the world are just trying to protect ALL of their citizens. Religion will not protect you from a virus. Science will, and right now, at this moment, science is telling us to wear a mask, stay home, wash your hands and avoid groups… just like science told those battling Ebola, the Spanish Flu, H1N1, etc.
Go ahead, Google it. Google democracy, governments, viral outbreaks, science. Then Google compassion, empathy, life, joy, and pragmatic.
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Amen. Clearly the author of this “NOT SO OPEN” letter didn’t even pick up the phone and make a direct personal call – but rather posts something on a open forum for all to see and make their individual judgements. Understand the issues before you judge others. Better yet, JUDGE NOT LEST YE BE JUDGED!
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Have you no common sense? This isn’t the Black Death! I won’t even go into the actual data on this subject, since it is clearly being ignored. You should study history in your spare time instead of casting stones – the stripping away of religious freedoms is the one of the first things done by totalitarian regimes. Christ said, It is better to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29), and He says not to forsake assembling together (Hebrews 10:25). He also says ‘Do not fear’ over and over. It is one thing to be a fearful sheep, but much more serious to be a spineless shepherd. Perhaps you and your cohorts will be the ones serving antichrist soon, as Christ also warned us that the apostasy/falling away happens first (2 Thessalonians 2:3) . You are clearly proof of this. Yes, as you have judged Pastor Leon, I also likewise urge you to REPENT of your great wickedness!
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I agree…. Place a picture of a numbered Holocaust persons arm next to a contact tracing app and tell me the difference.
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I’m just trying to understand something so excuse me for my ignorance, so what is happening is there is an extremely expensive legal battle to allow people to drive to a parking lot to watch a device on a TV?? Why not stay in the comforts of your home and watch the service on YOUR tv and NOT ENDANGER YOURSELVES AND OTHERS????
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Nobody is in danger. Otherwise, the government should have banned drive-in service long before. The Church obeyed all the parameters that the government put in placed. It was only that certain weekend, just a day before the banned drive-in services to happen. Why? because the Steinbach church is adamant to held their own drive-in service (they were also present at the anti-mask protest).
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It’s unfortunate that Luther isn’t as quotable when the subject is women or Jews.
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I applaud Springs Church, the Church of God, and the many other churches who are meeting secretly, for standing up against the unlawful restrictions. Public worship is and forever will be essential. We need the church; we need to hear preaching, we need fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to sing to the Lord, we need to share the Lord’s supper. This is essential. It is a grievous thing when public worship has ceased.
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