Calgary Pastor Ray Matheson says: “Everyone must submit to governing authorities.” .But which authority? Christians are divided as some church leaders speak out against ‘defiant pastors,’ claiming they “blaspheme Jesus with their actions.”.I spoke with Faith Presbyterian Church Pastor Steve Richardson in response to statements published by Calgary Pastor Ray Matheson..“When men start to do unlawful things in the name of duty because I was told to, that is frightening to me,” said Matheson. “We have an historical precedent for that.” .Matheson took offence to Pastor Artur Pawlowski calling police “Nazis” and insists he should of instead asked the officers “to leave the church kindly.”.Pastor Richardson points out when police illegally arrest pastors for carrying out their pastoral duties, “Where is the honor in that?”.And considering Alberta’s track record of arresting pastors and the double standard applied to protestors critical of lockdowns, it’s questionable how effective that approach would have been..Richardson draws a parallel to the story of Daniel. Daniel was told by ‘authorities’ he must stop praying to his God, for ‘just a season.’ What started as an effort to ‘slow the spread’ or ‘flatten the curve’ for two weeks has now turned into 16 months, and Richardson does not see any end to what he says is a “persecution” of Christians. .In fact, he states, “As long as people are willing to comply, things will only continue to get worse.”.Richardson, when asked why these pastors feel compelled to speak out against their colleagues instead of standing with them, speculates, “They are embarrassed by them, their own consciences are stricken, they feel guilty they are not doing the same thing.”.Richardson reminds us that Christianity has never been ‘popular’ with the world. “Jesus said, as they hated me, they will hate you. The idea that Christianity is a popularity contest is a ‘gross misunderstanding’ of the Bible.”.“Jesus was not popular with authorities.” .Matheson only references the one side of Jesus, but Richardson points out there was another side of Jesus. A side that used words like “hypocrite” and “a brood of vipers.” He recounts the story of Jesus in the temple, fashioning a whip, overturning tables, and chasing the money-changers out of His house in anger..Richardson reminds us Jesus was very familiar with disease, and yet he always ensured people had access to him and his ministry. .“When a minister of the gospel is carrying out his God-given duties and calling his people to worship in obedience to God’s commands, that’s the furthest thing from blaspheme. Just because the world doesn’t like it; it’s astonishing to me that a Christian (Matheson) could suggest because people are upset by it that therefore it must be blaspheme … that’s just completely upside down.”.Nadine Wellwood is a Correspondent for the Western Standard
Calgary Pastor Ray Matheson says: “Everyone must submit to governing authorities.” .But which authority? Christians are divided as some church leaders speak out against ‘defiant pastors,’ claiming they “blaspheme Jesus with their actions.”.I spoke with Faith Presbyterian Church Pastor Steve Richardson in response to statements published by Calgary Pastor Ray Matheson..“When men start to do unlawful things in the name of duty because I was told to, that is frightening to me,” said Matheson. “We have an historical precedent for that.” .Matheson took offence to Pastor Artur Pawlowski calling police “Nazis” and insists he should of instead asked the officers “to leave the church kindly.”.Pastor Richardson points out when police illegally arrest pastors for carrying out their pastoral duties, “Where is the honor in that?”.And considering Alberta’s track record of arresting pastors and the double standard applied to protestors critical of lockdowns, it’s questionable how effective that approach would have been..Richardson draws a parallel to the story of Daniel. Daniel was told by ‘authorities’ he must stop praying to his God, for ‘just a season.’ What started as an effort to ‘slow the spread’ or ‘flatten the curve’ for two weeks has now turned into 16 months, and Richardson does not see any end to what he says is a “persecution” of Christians. .In fact, he states, “As long as people are willing to comply, things will only continue to get worse.”.Richardson, when asked why these pastors feel compelled to speak out against their colleagues instead of standing with them, speculates, “They are embarrassed by them, their own consciences are stricken, they feel guilty they are not doing the same thing.”.Richardson reminds us that Christianity has never been ‘popular’ with the world. “Jesus said, as they hated me, they will hate you. The idea that Christianity is a popularity contest is a ‘gross misunderstanding’ of the Bible.”.“Jesus was not popular with authorities.” .Matheson only references the one side of Jesus, but Richardson points out there was another side of Jesus. A side that used words like “hypocrite” and “a brood of vipers.” He recounts the story of Jesus in the temple, fashioning a whip, overturning tables, and chasing the money-changers out of His house in anger..Richardson reminds us Jesus was very familiar with disease, and yet he always ensured people had access to him and his ministry. .“When a minister of the gospel is carrying out his God-given duties and calling his people to worship in obedience to God’s commands, that’s the furthest thing from blaspheme. Just because the world doesn’t like it; it’s astonishing to me that a Christian (Matheson) could suggest because people are upset by it that therefore it must be blaspheme … that’s just completely upside down.”.Nadine Wellwood is a Correspondent for the Western Standard
