On Sunday January 21, Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota was invaded by around 36 protestors, including former CNN host Don Lemon. Chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee” the agitators chose to terrorize the church during morning services.
Pastor Jonathan Parnell issued a statement on the church’s website stating in part:
“Jesus is real. When we gather on Sunday mornings to worship him, we are gladly giving ourselves to what is most central and sacred in our life together. On Sunday, January 18, a group of agitators jarringly disrupted our worship gathering. They accosted members of our congregation, frightened children, and created a scene marked by intimidation and threat. Such conduct is shameful, unlawful, and will not be tolerated.
“Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, lived, died, and rose again for the rescue of all who put their faith in him. He offers a love that transcends cultures, borders, policies, and politics. As those who have been loved and rescued by him, we will not shrink from worshiping Jesus, nor will we stop ‘teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah’ (Acts 5:42). Church buildings are meant to be places of peace and solace, where worshipers can hear and live out this message. We therefore call on local, state, and national leaders to protect this fundamental right. We are evaluating next steps with our legal counsel.”
Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, posted on social media that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating federal civil rights violations by “these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers. A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws!”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Krisi Noem promised the agitators “will soon be held accountable.”
Citing FACE, Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances & Places of Worship Act, there is precedent for lawsuits to be files against the protestors trespassing in the house of God. The First Amendment to the Constitution established the right of every American citizen to exercise religion, assemble peaceably and speak freely.
Political theater cloaked as activism has no place in churches, synagogues or other places of worship.
Biblical Connections: Jesus reminds us in John 15:18-19, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” Jesus was hated without cause, and further on in Chapter 15, He says that “the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” During the End Times, the church and Christians will experience extreme opposition and persecution. We should not be surprised by this latest example of hatred. However, we must continue to share the Good News of the saving grace of God.