By Michael Hernandez
NEWBURY PARK—“This is not the first time that Easter has been cancelled—that government authorities have tried to cancel Easter,” said Godspeak Pastor Rob McCoy at a livestream service viewed by almost 400 people. “We have seen a deliberate attempt to silence the churches despite our protections (First Amendment) in this nation. In America, we have never witnessed anything like this in our history. We are connected to the first Easter recorded as the government authorities did the same thing 2,000 years ago.
“The idea that mayors would cancel a drive-through church service but not drive-through restaurants and drive-through liquor stores. Even if you try to cancel Easter your efforts are futile. This was proven on the first Easter to those who tried to cancel Easter and is proven today on Easter 2020.”
Godspeak Pastor Rob McCoy generated national media attention when he resigned his Thousand Oaks City Council seat April 4th prior to taking a stand on Palm Sunday that the church is an essential service in the community. Godspeak hosted a public communion—ignoring city, county and state ordinances—while following federal and state public health guidelines after the Palm Sunday livestream service. California does not recognize churches as essential—neither does Ventura County Public Health Medical director Dr. Robert Levin.
“I believe if we do not exercise our rights, they are lost,” said Pastor Rob McCoy on his livestream Palm Sunday service. “I respect authority, but I cannot submit to an authority that states the Church is nonessential. If the Church is nonessential, then Christ in nonessential.” Later during his regular 7 p.m. “Fireside Chat,” Pastor McCoy reflected on the day’s activities by stating: ‘If cannabis stores and liquor stores can be essential; the church is essential.’”
(Editor’s Note: To see the Citizens Journal coverage of Pastor Rob McCoy’s Palm Sunday service go to: https://www.citizensjournal.us/pastor-rob-mccoy-were-essential-communion-is-assembly-of-the-saints-palm-sunday-observes-jesus-triumphal-entry-into-jerusalem/. To see the Citizens Journal editorial about his resignation go to:
“The disciples forget what Jesus declared but not his adversaries,” said Pastor McCoy using Matthew 27 and 28 as the text for his Easter Sunday message. “The Messiah said he would rise after three days. But the adversaries of Jesus needed to manage the truth of His resurrection. If Jesus was dead, the movement was dead. They would make the tomb secure.
“Why were the disciples paralyzed by fear on Good Friday. They knew the odds were against them. They forgot what they had heard for the last three years. Fear paralyzed them. The angel declares to the women who came to the tomb, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen’ (Matthew 28:5-6).
“I know that everyone has been gripped by fear of Covid-19. It is not to be taken lightly. The tragedy of deaths is awful. The description of how people die is gruesome. The desire to protect those must vulnerable is critical. I do not want to endanger anyone.
“Our nation is gripped by fear and we are surrendering the essential of life. But in Jesus is the fullness of life. We do not need to fear. We want to be safe, so we sacrifice our liberty for security.
“This coronavirus pandemic emerged and politicians and health experts attempted to manage the truth. Government operates by taking fear and paralyzing you. They never let a good crisis go to waste. Solutions come at a cost—the surrender of liberties. If you are willing to give it to them, they will always take it.
“Christ came to give us freedom and set us free. Easter cannot be cancelled. At the first Easter the tomb was empty. It is still empty today. God wants to strengthen you. He does not want you to be afraid. Jesus rose from the dead. We understand Good Friday and now we understand the power of a Resurrected Savior that desires us not to be afraid.
“Jesus is alive. The tomb is empty. Our God is Risen! Jesus loves you. He is the King of the universe He came to set you free—to no longer be afraid. Come and know His peace that passes all understanding. Receive Jesus as Your Savior. We have been set free from fear.”
(Editor’s Note: View Pastor Rob McCoy’s “Fireside Chat” broadcasts each night at 7 p.m. Tonight’s Episode 25 will feature Sam and Kevin Sorbo. Godspeak “Fireside Chat” has 700 subscribers. Go to Godspeak’s web site to view the livestream at: https://godspeak.com/)
Michael Hernandez, Co-Founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service; editor of the History Makers Report and founder of History Makers International—a community nonprofit serving youth and families in Ventura County, is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. He worked 25 years as a middle school teacher in Monrovia and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted by email at [email protected].
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