National headlines have centered around a protest that disrupted a Sunday worship service in Minneapolis due to a pastor’s affiliation with ICE. The incident has sparked questions about religious freedom, church safety, and the provision of refuge amid cultural tensions. Although protesters will argue for freedom of speech and the right to protest, there is a time and place for everything, and an ongoing worship service is not one of them. If anything, they are disrupting the right to free speech and religious freedom in a house of worship.
The incident is a sad situation as churches are being targeted for political reasons. Clips have surfaced on social media showing the protesters shouting at the congregation and at the senior pastor, Jonathan, who was preaching that Sunday. “This is unacceptable. It's shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship,” Parnell told former CNN host Don Lemon, who was interviewing him. “We are here to worship Jesus. That’s why we are here.” Not only do I commend Parnell for maintaining his composure during this tumultuous time, but also for telling Lemon that what the protestors did was shameful and that the ultimate reason for the church coming together is to worship Jesus. Indeed, that is why we gather together on Sundays to worship the Lord. We experience a foretaste of Heaven every time we get together, as we will worship Him forever. That being said, we must ask the following question:
When worship is disrupted, and believers feel threatened, how are Christians called to respond—with courage, prayer, and a commitment to peace without surrendering the sacredness of gathering before God?
Jesus Modeled Bravery in the Face of Persecution
It doesn’t matter whether a service is underway; we have to be on high alert for what happens, especially in these tumultuous times. Although we don’t want these things to happen, they will, and it can get worse. Christians around the world are killed or imprisoned for their faith. Persecution of believers has long been taking place. Ultimately, we shouldn’t be surprised that we are persecuted, as Jesus Christ Himself was persecuted. He tells His disciples, "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first" (John 15:18).
Despite the ongoing tensions, we need not fear. The Bible says that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. Fear is not something children of God are to live by, whether it is real or fabricated in our minds. We have been given far more than that. We have been given His power through the Holy Spirit, the love of God which casts out all fear (1 John 4:10), and a sound mind, or as some translations state, self-control, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Also consider Jesus Christ, the author and perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2, and our Great High Priest, who always lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).
Friends, let us be encouraged that the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. Should we not be encouraged? Should we not take courage? Let us be bold in our Lord amid opposition. Let us be encouraged by the apostles in the book of Acts, who preached the gospel with boldness even when they were threatened by the religious leaders of the day to not speak about Christ. Even if they were imprisoned for their faith, they did not stop preaching the gospel. The apostle Paul, at the end of Acts, was under house arrest, yet he continued to proclaim the Gospel.
“Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” - Acts 28:30-31
Friends, our boldness is likewise tied with our witness of the Gospel to a lost and dying world. We don’t fight back with violence; we speak the truth in love. We continue to preach the Gospel in fulfilling the Great Commission, that is to,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19:20
Matthew 28:19-20 ESV
So we counter the fear and the tension that comes through opposition by preaching the Good News, and we do so courageously.
A Powerful Response to Tension Is Prayer
In addition to being courageous, we must pray! As the Scripture says to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We have access to God the Father through Christ when we pray. He is our lifeline, wherever and whenever. We can reach out to Him without delay, for He is there to hear our cry.
Let us continue to pray for Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, as they continue to hold the line as a light to those around them. Let us pray for the Lord’s peace and comfort for them at this time, as I’m sure the congregation is still shaken up. Let us pray that those who disrupted the church would come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. As the body of Christ, we must continually for one another for no one is alone in their struggle. Letting someone know you are praying for them can go a long way, as it demonstrates that you are present. Although we pray for a change in circumstances, let us pray that God continues to change our hearts and draw us closer to Him, no matter what we face.
Christians Are Called to Be Peacemakers in a Very Broken World
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” - Matthew 5:9
As one of the beatitudes, Jesus calls us to be peacemakers. This does not mean absence of conflict, but rather seeking and maintaining that peace in the midst of it. Amid the headlines, the media, and the chaos, Christians are not subject to the madness because they know that true peace comes from the Lord. We know that through Christ, we have peace with God since we have been reconciled to him. Therefore, we are to demonstrate that same peace to others that the Lord Himself gives to us. It is not passive, it is active. It is standing our ground, even if everything else falls apart. We take heart because Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33) and we are more than overcomers in Him (Romans 8:37).
So let us press on, persevere, and give thanks to Christ in all circumstances. Let us stand strong without fear, let us proclaim the Gospel whenever the opportunity arises, let us pray for our leaders that they would lead justly and effectively, and let us continue to glorify our Lord in all things. As we go about our lives in this world, let us stand with confidence, knowing that God is with us to the end.
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