Romans 13 and James Coates

Romans 13 and James Coates

Hello ladies and gentlemen, my name is Justin Peters. I hope that you and your family are doing well today. I want to thank you very much for watching this video. By now most if not, all of you have heard of the arrest of Pastor James Coates.

James is the pastor of Grace Life Church in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. And James was arrested this past Tuesday as of this recording. But this past Tuesday, February the 16th of 2021, and he was arrested simply for the high crime of Leading his church in doing what the church is supposed to do what the church is commanded to do by her head Jesus Christ and that is to gather together as a local body of believers gather together For the purpose of worshiping God and having fellowship with one another and for for that crime James has been arrested and To as to my best understanding. He is even in a maximum Security prison if you can believe that.

Just a little bit of background story here in early 2020 Grace Life Church of Edmonton or just outside of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Closed its doors. They closed their doors as did the vast majority of Churches around the world because at that point there was a lot of uncertainty about just how serious COVID -19 was going to be and all the health officials and the in the local state and federal government Had told all the churches that you've got to close and and initially it was for just about all businesses that were not deemed essential, of course church is essential, but we'll get to that in a minute, but Grace Life Church shut down as did nearly all the churches.

But then as the weeks and months went on it became pretty obvious pretty quickly that COVID -19 was really not Going to be all that serious for the vast majority of people it it had and still does have a survival rate of upwards of 98

In fact, I would surmise that the survival rate is actually far higher than that because I think the vast majority Great majority anyway of people who have had COVID -19 their cases have not even been reported.

I think there's been a lot more people just never went to the hospital. But anyway, that's it. That's another discussion but safe to say.

That.

The great great great majority of people survive COVID -19. Granted it can be Fatal. In fact just a few days ago. As of this recording a few days ago Fred Price one of the more well-known word of faith preachers faith healers Prosperity preachers died of COVID -19, but he was he was 89 years old and And he died from it.

So yes, it can End up in a fatality for people who are who are very advanced in years and they have some other underlying health issues. Yes, it can be serious. But the for the vast majority of people it really doesn't seem to be Much if any more dangerous than than the common flu that we have.

Every single year so as time went on this became pretty obvious and In fact what we were seeing is that the effects of a lockdown. We're turning out to be far more serious than the effects of the virus itself and so Grace Life Church beginning in June of 2020 did exactly what they should do and What other churches began to do they began to reopen open back up and meet together.

And so they did this and they began to meet together again for corporate worship fellowship with one another. But in December Alberta's chief medical officer issued a mandate that for all of the churches in Alberta, Canada all of them had to restrict the size of their worship gatherings on Sunday to 15 capacity 15 you know assuming a church has Just about a full sanctuary.

Of course. What about the other 85 of people? What about them? They're apparently gonna be excluded from doing what Christ has commanded them to do. And so you've got just 15 or so of your of your body there and and so that's not real worship, this is this is a restriction on the churches and Grace Life Church just continued to do church the way they had been doing it since June well, this got the the powers that be really upset and so health officials were beginning to come to the services there at Grace Life and take notes they came with pen and paper or smart device or whatever and They were basically spying on the church looking around seeing seeing who had mask on how many people had mask how many didn't because the Restrictions were not only just the 15 but everybody had to have a mask and you had to do social distancing.

You had to be at least six feet apart from the next worshiper. Suppose family groups could could sit together, but they had to be separated and and so I've seen this I've seen this in a lot of churches myself and.

So.

That's what was going on. They were spying on the they were spying on the church and so they they were taking back their reports and reported it to the Health Department and on December the 17th, I believe it was the report was submitted and on January 29th.

The.

The local government there or provincial government. Issued a mandate that Grace Life Church had to close had to close completely. This despite there not having been a single COVID case in that congregation for at least half a year.

But the church met anyway and on February the 7th Sunday, February the 7th police officers came to Grace Life Church to arrest Pastor James and James explained to the police officers why he was doing what he was doing.

He has a command from Scripture this is religious freedom after all, but he had a command from Scripture to meet and to shepherd his flock and the police officers left apparently without even arresting him even though that was the Purpose for which they had come but they left without arresting him.

Well Sundays tend to roll around pretty regularly and so the next Sunday came Sunday, February 14th the church meets again and James preaches a fantastic sermon from Romans chapter 13. Talking about being in submission to the governing authorities.

He preached that sermon and I'm about to play that sermon for you because you really Really need to hear this message. He preached that sermon knowing full well That it was going to mean his arrest. They had already come for him the Sunday before and for whatever reason they decided to to not arrest him, but.

But he knew if he had church again, they undoubtedly would do it the next time and and so. And so they did. I think my best understanding he preached that Sunday knowing that he was going to be arrested for what he was Doing and yet he did it anyway.

Because this is what a faithful shepherd does he shepherds his flock? He preached the Word of God on Sunday, February 14th cared for his flock and then two days later Tuesday the 16th. According to the report that I read online from a Canadian news source He turned himself in he was the police didn't have to come and get him.

He turned himself in and despite going to the police station himself turning himself in they still put him in handcuffs and leg shackles. Leg shackles are for people to prevent prisoners from Trying to escape if there is reason to suspect that they would do so if they had the opportunity.

He obviously was not going to do that. He turned himself in and yet they still put him in leg shackles and I have no doubt that that was to simply to make a statement and So in a prison cell Pastor James sits as I understand it.

He is actually in a maximum security prison now. Along with rapists and murderers, that's where he is this pastor this shepherd and He has been offered his freedom. The Canadian government has told him you can have your freedom if you will just promise not to step foot inside Grace Life Church again.

But pastor James cannot do that. He could be reunited right now with his wife Erin and their two sons. But pastor James understands Luke 14 26 he understands what that really means. He understands the gravity of the responsibility that has been given to him by God to shepherd that flock and so he must obey God rather than man and so in a prison cell he Sits.

I want to read to you some excerpts from From his wife Erin and some of the things that she has posted on social media and this was posted just the day after Her husband was arrested. Erin says this Saints, I can't even begin to express my gratitude for the outpouring of love.

I've been flooded with messages and it pains me that I cannot respond to them all I want to know each one of you and how our dear Lord has worked in your life. Thank you for your kindness in our darkest hour my heart is shattered yet rejoicing.

We knew this could cost us and I would do it a thousand times over for our King in the hearts entrusted to us at Grace Life Church. Her health and progress in the gospel is our top priority. Yesterday was the hardest day of my life.

I want to address a secret part of my comment from yesterday. Our lawyer was zoomed in with James in Trial yesterday the courthouse and the officers were the ones who would not tell us where he was. The inhumanity of my husband in chains while I could not find or get to him broke me.

To think he stood alone when we were trying to get to him was almost too much for me. Until I remembered the one who loves him more than I ever could was standing with him. I Must trust James life to him.

He is only good to us. I was able to speak with James yesterday again trying to get to him, but they wouldn't let us see each other. He is in quarantine in a medium security. I believe it's maximum security now.

I Cannot visit because of the virus restrictions. He'll be isolated for two weeks or Lord willing his release. I do not know when I will speak to him next in God's goodness. He has his Bible the sweetest treasure.

He knows he has been able to carry with him. You all keep asking. What can you do? The Lord is so faithfully provided for our physical needs. Our lawyer is pro bono. So if you desire to send a donation, please consider the JCCF.

What is something tangible you can do. Open your churches? Open your churches worship Christ. Practice the one another's sing your hearts out. Let your pastor see your eyes as he preaches the Word of God to you.

Don't underestimate this task in your life. Obey Christ with all you have proclaim his excellencies through this. Use this as conversations for those who do not know Christ and let the Spirit do a work we have never seen.

Please keep praying for us. My children are broken yet resolved. Pray for James. Isolation can break the strongest of men. Aaron if you happen to be watching this, I would say your husband is a very very strong man.

And I know that he loves you and I know that he loves the boys your sons. I am so sorry. I am so sorry that this is happening to y 'all. My wife Kathy is just she just told me a few minutes ago that that You and your family are all she can think about right now and what you're going through.

We're so very sorry. But at the same time What an encouragement the witness of your husband James is what an encouragement and what a rebuke to so many of us. I so admire Him and so grateful for the witness that he is showing the world right now.

Praise God for that. So that was Aaron from a few days ago, and I want to read to you what she wrote just today again. This is Saturday, February the 20th. So Just today Aaron wrote this she says I want to answer some questions.

I'm getting to bring some clarity. I'll do a few of these please understand that information is always moving and changing. Many people when they give me information have put it through their own grid.

I know now why the Lord made James a man of precision and Dear friends. Let me tell you when when you hear a sermon here in just a little bit from Romans 13 precision. From this point on James will be my main source of information.

I was able to speak to him last night. I'll try to be as transparent as I can with the information number one James condition. James could be a free man. He could walk at any point. All he would have to do is capitulate on what he believes is his duty before God and what love requires of him towards grace life church.

Just bend his conviction and override his conscience. That's it. James told me last night the crown said that he can walk if he agrees to not hold Services as he has been doing if he does not the conditions currently in place.

Prevent James from preaching leading worship and even setting foot inside grace life church. Until the time of his trial which is yet to be determined. What is our public health order. 15 capacity and she said this is about 1 5th to 1 6th of our congregation.

So, you know from all the other folks too bad. She says we don't have a large building. This would mean no visitors no outreach no being a light to this city. Mandatory masks social distancing. No singing no conversing with anyone outside of your home.

Livestream is available, but you are not allowed to have anyone into your home. These restrictions hinder James for being able to converse with the people of grace life church on a Sunday as They immediately have to leave the service.

We are prohibited from practicing though one another's in the gathering or in person at all. These have been in place since early December. Alberta has had two extreme lockdowns, but has but has had restrictions on the gathering for almost a year.

He could not sign these conditions. I Love him for this. Amen. Amen, this is. This is a man of conviction. This is a man who actually believes that he will one day give an account For the souls that he is shepherding.

He actually believes that all of us as ministers as Preachers pastors and I'm not a pastor. I'm an evangelist but all of us in the ministry would would Say, you know, actually, oh, yeah. Well, yeah yeah, we're gonna have to give an account for one day for all the people we've taught and you know, I Really wonder a lot of times how many of us actually believe it.

James Coates does. Aaron continues. Was James chained? James was hand and ankle cuffed at his hearing and Transferred to the RCMP. I don't know if he was still chained when he was brought to the jail.

His words to me when he called me at the RCMP were honey. They shackled me. Is James getting food and water and I think this is kind of humorous in parentheses. She says I'm guessing this question is coming from countries that have dungeons for prisons.

In the last video I posted you can see the facility James is receiving Food and water three meals a day. Portioned meals like all the others. This will be an adjustment for someone who has an athletic build and fast metabolism.

He told me last night. He had lost some weight and was hungry. Again, this is natural. Is he still in chains. He is not in cuffs currently. He is in quarantine for two weeks and has about one hour out of his cell a day for exercise.

One hour out of his cell. You know, he's basically he's in solitary confinement as I understand it one hour out of his cell. With the murderers and the rapist and child molesters right where he belongs, right?

She says you can't see him. She says I cannot visit him because of kovat after his quarantine. He has allowed video calls every two days for half an hour. He has one hour out of his cell where he can call me shower and do whatever else he needs to do.

How.

Incredibly heartbreaking. I cannot imagine What this dear sister in the Lord is going through. I cannot imagine what James Is going through. I cannot imagine what their sons are going through. I just can't.

How utterly Heartbreaking and yet how encouraging to see this man Take a stand and and do what he knows He is mandated to do from God's Word I a tremendous encouragement and the flip side sadly of that encouragement is that I have been greatly discouraged by a lot of the comments that I have seen from a lot of professing Christians, you know this this whole this whole social justice issue has been Quite revealing in the last several years because it is it is really it's been a it's been quite the dividing line.

And as I've watched this unfold in just the last week or so it really seems to whether you're supportive of Pastor James and what he has done or not supportive. It really does seem pretty much to fall along which side of the social just justice issue you have decided to plant your flag and I want to read to you just a couple of the comments that I've seen and One of them this is from Jacob Den Hollander and Jacob Den Hollander says this he says I'm not saying I agree or disagree with Coates imprisonment.

I Lean towards thinking it's quite excessive. However, that's not the same thing is thinking this represents a troubling slide towards specific towards specifically religious persecution. So he says he leans towards thinking it's it's excessive but he but for him to for him to actually say I'm not saying I agree or disagree with his imprisonment what You can't say whether you agree or disagree with it my word this is just I I Don't understand that kind of thinking.

I really truly do not understand that kind of thinking and in his as discouraging as that was I Probably the the one that takes the cake for me at least the ones I've seen and I guess I should count myself blessed that I haven't seen nearly as much of this as uh as I probably could have but Mike Hovland Was was an elder there at Grace Life Church the same church didn't pastor James is pastoring he was an elder there and he He is now pastoring kind of a like a church plant from this church.

And.

And I know some of the folks in that church. Actually, I preached this is in Lacrete, Alberta, Canada and I preached in Lacrete and I know some of the some of these brothers and sisters that are in this church plant, but Anyway, Mike Hovland Said this he tweeted he said John Bunyan was in prison for 12 years for not complying with the government regulations imposed on religious gatherings.

He could have left at any time if he agreed to comply. He said if you release me today, I will preach tomorrow. That's what John Bunyan said and and that's exactly What the situation is with James Coates?

I mean the the the nature of the persecution is is different granted at least the specific reasons, but nonetheless John Bunyan could have had his freedom if he would just Agree not to preach. Pastor James could have his freedom if he would just agree not to preach as we just read from from his wife's statements in Aaron Harding.

Aaron Harding is Fully woke and Some of the things I've seen from her are just just appalling but she responded To Mike Hovland and I want you to see what she said. She said just so we are clear James Coates is literally not in jail for preaching.

He is allowed to preach. Everyone in the whole country has to follow health mandates. He isn't the special snowflake. Stop this false narrative Snowflake.

Really.

Snowflake, huh? This is a man who is sitting in Solitary confinement in a maximum security prison because he must obey God rather than man. He is without he is apart from his family. His wife is without her husband.

His sons are without their father.

It's.

Honey, they shackled me. And you call him a snowflake. Shame on you. Shame on you and shame on anyone who would disparage this brother in Christ. Shame on you. A little bit earlier tonight I spoke with one of the brothers that I know up there in Lacrete, Alberta, Canada.

And He's part of this church plant and that's his church and I was up in Lacrete, Alberta several years ago Preaching and he's one of the one of the brothers that I met he and his family. Dear family, but anyway, I called him up tonight to just discuss some of this and and Robin told me that some of the prisons there in Canada have actually released a number of prisoners.

Because they had COVID and some of these were violent criminals, I mean criminals that have been arrested for some for some very violent things and they were released because they had COVID and here sits Pastor James who does not have COVID.

No one in his church has COVID and hasn't had COVID for at least half a year or more and.

And.

Here he sits in prison and Robin told me that the restaurants in Alberta, Canada I don't know about the entire country, but I know in Alberta the restaurants are at full capacity. There there is no limit.

If a restaurant can fill every table. They're allowed to do so right now. They're allowed to do so full capacity. No not 15 capacity. No full capacity in the restaurants not with churches not with churches.

And you're gonna tell me that this isn't persecution. Of course it is. Of course, it's persecution. But you know Pastor James is just a snowflake. Okay, this brings me to the sermon that Pastor James Coates preached on Sunday, February 14th from Romans chapter 13.

And this is the text that deals with us as Christians being in submission to the governing authorities. Is there a limit to what the government can tell us that we can and cannot do? Within the confines of a worship service and the answer to that question is an unequivocal Yes, there are limits and there is a time when we as believers are to practice Civil disobedience to the governing authorities if the government oversteps its bounds.

You see dear friends all authority belongs to God, right? I think we should all be able to agree upon that all authority belongs to God and so any authority that any other individual or any other institution exercises is Authority that has been delegated to it by God and God is not going to delegate Authority to any other person or any other institution that is in contradiction with his own Decreed will and we know God's decreed will for us as Christians to worship because his word tells us What his decree will is his decreed will for worship is that we are to do it.

We are to gather together as Saints as brothers and sisters in Christ. We're to gather together and we are to worship Christ. We are to hear the Word of God preached. We are to encourage one another have fellowship with one another.

This is what we do. This is what the Bible tells us to do and so anytime the government Steps in to the realm of the church and says you can't do this. You can you you must limit your gatherings to 15 capacity and you cannot sing because of COVID the government has overstepped its bounds it is Exercising authority that has not been given to it by God because God is not going to delegate authority that contradicts his word.

And.

That's just I'm I'm gonna leave it there and I want you to listen. I Want you to listen to the sermon from James Coates on Romans 13 because a lot of Christians.

Have a.

Very unbalanced and very unhealthy and I would say a Unbiblical view of Just what the government can and cannot do when it comes to Telling us what we can and cannot do when it comes to worship and the government has no jurisdiction in the church.

It has no jurisdiction in the church. So please listen this sermon listen to it carefully listen to it Repeatedly take notes. I encourage you to do that. It is a it's a superb Sermon and all the more meaningful knowing That brother James was preaching this Knowing that it was going to be in all likelihood the last time he preached from that pulpit for who knows how long and so that it makes it all the more meaningful and What an encouragement this is going to be for you and what a rebuke that this will also be To so many people who think that the government has a right to tell us What we can and cannot do within the local body.

So without any further delay pastor James Coates.

Well, thank you so much Joe and team for leading us in song this morning. So faithfully and powerfully it is a.

Rich.

Rich joy and pleasure to bring to you the Word of God this morning and obviously, we've been in John chapter 10 working through John's gospel and there's a portion at the end of John 10 that we still haven't yet covered but as I Anticipated this moment.

I I Felt something else was needed and I wasn't entirely sure what that was but as the week progressed it began to kind of crystallize and Here we are. So we're gonna be a little bit off the map today not in John.

And I've got a bit of an introduction here to kind of set the table a little bit. I think we can say this that this particular time in history has exposed some deficiencies in the broader evangelical church.

For one it's exposed a deficient Ecclesiology. Ecclesiology is the study of the doctrines of the church and encompasses everything from what the church is to the essential elements of worship and what's apparent at least to me is That the church today has a very low ecclesiology.

Where a virtual church is not only fine. It's a wonderful evolution of things and related to that is to a deficient approach to Scripture. That unless Scripture Explicitly states certain things there's total freedom on how we fulfill its commands and so unless Scripture states quote Thou shalt meet on Sunday in one gathering in person ensuring that all interaction takes place within six feet of the other person without a mask and with some kind of physical expression of affection whether it be a hug or a handshake and Quote we're off the hook and it typically goes like this Scripture doesn't explicitly say and This is coming from pastors from the overseers of the corporate gathering.

Scripture doesn't explicitly say and so the government isn't commanding us to sin and therefore we must obey and What that reveals is a deficient approach to Scripture and Ironically, it might even betray a legalistic approach to Scripture that unless Scripture Explicitly says something I'm under no obligation to do it.

So why is that deficient? Because it fails to recognize that the God-intended implications of a passage are binding. It doesn't have to be Explicitly said as students of Scripture were under obligation to heed its Implications and that requires a much more careful and thoughtful reading of Scripture.

You see it's too much to ask that Scripture would speak explicitly to our current situation. Now it does speak to our current situation both implicitly and explicitly. But given the unique setting we find ourselves in much is addressed by way of Implication and that requires again an intensely careful and thoughtful reading of Scripture.

Third. I Believe our circumstances have exposed a deficient theology of persecution. We seem to have an incredibly narrow and historically ignorant view of what persecution actually is. We seem to think Persecution is only persecution when it's directed exclusively at the church and That unless the church is being persecuted it must obey government.

Now developing a robust theology of persecution is beyond the scope of what I intend to do today. But I think we need to understand that persecution often results from doing what the state forbids. That obedience to Christ is the catalyst for persecution and So you don't wait to be persecuted to obey Christ.

It's your it's your obedience to Christ that results in persecution. You see some give the impression that if we were being persecuted that only then would it be right for us to gather? Which is a strange position.

Especially since all you need to do is is Obey the government comply with government to avoid persecution. If you comply with the government you may never be persecuted and Really what that does to say that that only if we're being persecuted are we to gather as we currently are.

You're basically saying that it's right to gather. Implicitly you're saying it's right to gather. That that according to the Word of God if if Persecution were on the church, then we would have an obligation to gather.

So you're admitting that it's right to gather. I think that's amazing. Because now if you say well, we're not going to gather because we're not being persecuted. You're not doing that out of biblical conviction at this point in time.

You're doing that out of some kind of pragmatism. To to uphold your your testimony in the world, which I hope isn't Seeking the approval of men or avoiding the disapproval of men, but let me just say this.

Whether or not we're being persecuted makes Absolutely, no difference to me. I don't think that I could care any less about whether or not this meets the definition of persecution. That doesn't even factor into the equation for me, that's not the basis upon which I'm doing anything.

I'm doing what I'm doing in obedience to Christ. I am quite content to let the Lord Jesus Christ himself decide whether or not this is persecution. He promises that those who are persecuted for his namesake will be blessed.

He's the one that blesses and I'm content to leave that in his court. My responsibility is to be is to obey Christ, correct?

Amen.

Doesn't matter whether this is persecution or not, that's irrelevant. Irrelevant doesn't even factor into the equation and connected to this deficient Theology of persecution I believe is a deficient knowledge of history both church and secular.

We are awful historians myself included and That makes us incredibly susceptible to deception both theological and Political. Why do you think they want to rewrite history? Why do you think they want to change the curriculum in schools?

To make us stupid. To make us more gullible. That will fail to see what's really happening fail to be able to see what's what's really taking place in this day and So we need to become better historians.

You as a congregation Need to get into history. You need to start reading history one book at a time Exposing yourself to what has taken place centuries past to equip yourself for the present. But the deficiency that I want to address today relates to the role of government.

The.

Historical time we're in has revealed both a deficient and inaccurate theology of government. And it's deficient for at least two reasons. One. We've simply had it so good for so long. We've simply had it so good for so long and therefore haven't had to think deeply about this aspect of theology.

It's a muscle. We just simply haven't worked. And two as I've already said We're ignorant of historical theology because theologians of the past thought deeply about these things and we haven't significantly enough and sufficiently enough exposed ourselves to their writings and Sort of begin a conversation today that seeks to address this deficiency.

I want to turn to Romans 13. Only I want to look at it from a different vantage point. You see instead of Focusing primarily on our response to government. I want to focus on the government's God-given duty.

What is the God-ordained role of government and can't we even ask that question? And so there's a sense in which this sermon is addressed to the government. The government needs to be informed of its God-ordained purpose.

And if we the church don't inform them who will we are the pillar and support of the truth. We are the the priests of God to mediate his word to this earth this world and Therefore we have a responsibility of informing the government of their God-given duty.

And so we'll certainly touch on aspects of our response to government but the main goal is to highlight the God-ordained role of government and so If you would open your Bible to Romans 13 if you haven't already and let's go ahead and read Verses 1 to 7 we're going to be only looking at verses 1 to 4, but let's read verses 1 to 7 every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities for there is no authority except from God and Those which exist are established by him.

Therefore.

Whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority?

Do what is good and you will have praise from the same for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil be afraid for does not bear the sword for nothing for it is a minister of God an Avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection not only because of wrath but also for conscience sake. For because of this you also pay taxes for rulers are servants of God devoted themselves to this very thing.

Render to all what is due them. Tax to whom taxes. Due custom to whom custom. Fear to whom fear. Honor to whom honor. So the goal of our time is Is to further develop our theology of government to assist us in navigating our ever-changing world and Lord willing to even inform the government of its God-ordained role.

And so if you're taking notes jot down first the source of governmental authority. The source of governmental authority. This comes out in verse 1. Look at it. Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.

Now what does it mean to be in subjection just briefly it means that were to arrange ourselves under the governing authorities to be submissive to them. Now does submission. Demand obedience. Typically yes.

But it's important to know Paul doesn't write every person must be obedient to the governing authorities. There's certainly overlap between submissiveness and Obedience but obedience almost demands more and obedience doesn't take into account that there are times when we simply cannot obey the government and Scripturally speaking we know there are times when we can't obey the government.

For example there's Shadrach Meshach and Abednego Daniel 3 who refused to bow the knee to the golden image. And We have the examples of the Apostles that we just read about this morning who declared we must obey God rather than men.