Trinity Bible Chapel has received at least four threats since last week. All threats have been reported to WRPS. We remain grateful for the police and their ongoing investigation as well as their increased presence on and near our campus.
Just after Christmas, we opened our church to offer hope to a community in despair. We did so again the following week and then again on January 24.
The media could focus on the harms of the lockdowns. They could report that the former chief medical officer of Ontario has spoken out against the lockdowns. They could advise that more people over the age of 90 have died of COVID than under the age of 80. They might consider reporting that children are statistically at greater risk of dying of the flu than of COVID. Instead of unremittingly pointing out accumulative case counts and death counts, they could highlight that more than 99.9457% of Canadians have not died of COVID since it arrived on our shores over a year ago.
But they don’t do that. No, but they do give incessant attention to our church. Why? Because we had the audacity to challenge the narrative. We offered the lonely a place to gather in person. As consenting adults who love each other, some exchanged warm smiles and greetings and it — scandal! — was caught on camera. We offered hope to the destitute and despairing. We proclaimed the forgiveness of sins by faith in Jesus Christ. And we did what churches have done for over 2,000 years: We gathered for worship.
I’d be less concerned about the untiring reporting on us, if they’d spend some more time criticizing the lockdowns.
One wonders to what degree the media’s non-stop reporting has whipped people up to provoke threats of violence against us. Or, perhaps with that, it was the vocal scorn from some politicians? Maybe it was a combination of both.
Threats or smears, we must embrace the reproach of the cross with honour. Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. So that is what we will do.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).
P.S. Because we opened our church, we have some legal troubles. If you’d like to contribute to our legal fund, please click here.
