"Churchgoers with face masks will be removed, Tennessee pastor says. 'I'm sick of it'"

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

"Churchgoers with face masks will be removed, Tennessee pastor says. 'I'm sick of it'"

A Tennessee pastor threatened to boot mask-wearers from his Tennessee church as some places are taking additional measures to help protect against the more contagious coronavirus delta variant.

"If they go through round two and you start showing up (with) all these masks and all this nonsense, I will ask you to leave," pastor Greg Locke told his Nashville-area congregation during a service on Sunday. "I will ask you to leave. I am not playing these Democrat games up in this church."

Locke's comments at Global Vision Bible Church come as some U.S. communities reconsider face mask recommendations during the continued spread of the delta variant. Locke in his sermon criticized officials for eyeing potential restrictions.

"I ain't playing these stupid games," Locke said in a video posted to Facebook on Sunday. "A bunch of pastors talking about how much they want to see people heal and they're afraid to baptize people because of a delta variant — I'm sick of it."

Locke during his sermon also vowed to keep his church open in Mount Juliet, east of Nashville.

"They will be serving Frosty's in hell before we shut this place down," he said.

Locke made similar comments earlier in the pandemic, when he said in July 2020 that he was willing to go to jail before closing his church. At that time, a video showed maskless people listening to an in-person sermon as Tennessee health officials recommended faith groups hold their services remotely, McClatchy News reported.

"We are staying open," Locke said in his past Facebook video. "You ain't gotta wear a mask. We're not social distancing."

About two months later, hundreds of people reportedly defied mask mandates in Washington state when they gathered to hear Locke speak.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged people to wear face coverings inside public buildings if they haven't gotten a COVID-19 vaccine. Health officials also are encouraging people to get vaccinated against the disease to help stop them from getting seriously sick.

A spokesperson for Global Vision Bible Church didn't immediately respond to McClatchy News' requests for comment Monday.



https://www.bakersfield.com/ap/nati...cle_c9577488-dc7e-55b3-b11c-6064c7f52571.html

 

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

Here is the telling article line for me: "A bunch of pastors talking about how much they want to see people heal and they're afraid to baptize people because of a delta variant..."


There was a time when churches were at the forefront of healing and caring for the sick. Now, churches are closed, but abortion clinics are open. This is no accident. Cultural marxists are relishing this.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Because choice isn’t acceptable to many people on both sides.

 

[Okie RP fan]

I mean, good. The churches need to regain their backbone. They've been utterly neutered over the years by the greater culture and a bunch new age nitwits at the pulpits.

 

[enhanced_deficit]

This pastor on the surface may appear anti free-choice but perhaps should be given a pass on this as he appears to be pro-choice on other issues like LGBTQ civil rights and supportive of life style equality activists:

https://twitter.com/morphonios/status/1088992358916636672
Roger Stone to Testify to Pastor Greg Locke on Sunday, August 30 In Mt. Juliet, TN at the Global Vision Bible Church
August 23, 2020


In looking up his community services, saw some haters have put up videos trying to paint him as an "emotional wreck", that is not nice.

 

[Sonny Tufts]

It's one thing to oppose governments forcing churches to close if congregants don't wear masks. It's quite another to expel congregants who choose to wear masks. Seems to me the pastor should have more respect for those members of his flock who want to mask.

 

[TheCount]

I guess evangelism isn't his priority

 

[tod evans]

Ball caps and cowboy hats aren't permitted in church either.

 

[CaptUSA]

It's one thing to oppose governments forcing churches to close if congregants don't wear masks. It's quite another to expel congregants who choose to wear masks. Seems to me the pastor should have more respect for those members of his flock who want to mask.

Maybe he views masked as showing allegiance to the false god of government?

 

[tebowlives]

Maybe he views masked as showing allegiance to the false god of government?

I think he wants to know who is and isn't singing.

 

[oyarde]

Maybe he views masked as showing allegiance to the false god of government?

Thats how I would see it if I was him . Wheres the faith at man ? LOL

 

[pcosmar]

Thats how I would see it if I was him . Wheres the faith at man ? LOL

It is an open display of Lack of Faith. an open display of Fear..

 

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

It's one thing to oppose governments forcing churches to close if congregants don't wear masks.

But you were for the churches closing.

It's quite another to expel congregants who choose to wear masks.

Except you were against people choosing not to wear masks.

Seems to me the pastor should have more respect for those members of his flock who want to mask.

You were for the mandates, so doesn't that cut both ways?

 

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

I guess evangelism isn't his priority

You were for mandates, so I guess evangelism is your priority.

 

[enhanced_deficit]

This may perhaps explain "Proud Boys" guiding light Roger Stone dropping by:

Pastor Greg Locke
@pastorlocke
Aug 15, 2019
Israel and Netanyahu are 100% right. I stand with them. By the way, so does the God of the Bible.

pulpitandpen.org/2018/08/07/pastor-greg-locke-adultery-in-gods-eyes-marries-church-secretary/


Was OP story result of blowback against Dunkin Donuts mask policy?

Pastor Greg Locke/YouTube

Trump-loving pastor threatens Dunkin’ Donuts employee, chain changes mask policy

'I’m going to kick your teeth down your throat.'

Eilish O'Sullivan
Aug 1, 2020

Ball caps and cowboy hats aren't permitted in church either.

Classy joint.

 

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

Pastor Greg Locke/YouTube

Trump-loving pastor threatens Dunkin’ Donuts employee, chain changes mask policy

'I’m going to kick your teeth down your throat.'

Now why would liberal youtube remove a video that would make a conservative look bad?

 

[Sonny Tufts]

Now why would liberal youtube remove a video that would make a conservative look bad?

Maybe because the YouTube algorithms can't distinguish between videos that expose extremist views and those that promote them. Apparently the video was posted by a group that monitors right-wing disinformation. https://www.citywatchla.com/index.p...-down-right-wing-watch-and-can-we-get-an-amen

I had never heard of Locke, so I looked him up. It's quite apparent he's an ignorant asshole who thinks the pandemic is fake and the Delta variant is nonsense. https://fox17.com/news/local/middle...lt-hospital-doctor-vaccination-misinformation

He ought to walk through a Covid ward (without any protective equipment, of course) and lay hands on the patients. He'll soon find out if Covid is fake. Apparently the death of one of his congregants from Covid didn't make a dent in his cement-for-brain outlook.

This guy doesn't need YouTube videos to make him look bad. All he has to do is open his yap and make inane claims such as members of the Biden Administration are operating "child-trafficking tunnels" under the White House and that God Himself is coming to D.C. to cleanse it of pedophilia. https://www.newsweek.com/pastor-gre...ed-insists-trump-legitimate-president-1604528

He almost makes the folks at the Westboro Baptist Church look good.

 

[Invisible Man]

It is an open display of Lack of Faith. an open display of Fear..

I wouldn't want to see someone kicked out of my church for making an open display of lack of faith.

Nor do I think the decision to kick someone out of church for more appropriate reasons than that is a decision to be made unilaterally and on the spot by a single authoritarian pastor without the involvement of the whole body in the decision.

I think the pastor saying something like this publicly says a lot not just about his views on mask wearing, but also about the kind of church this is and the role he plays in dictating things to the members. There are a lot of churches out there that have pastors like that. And its problematic for reasons that go beyond how they deal with COVID.

 

[tod evans]

I wouldn't want to see someone kicked out of my church for making an open display of lack of faith.

Nor do I think the decision to kick someone out of church for more appropriate reasons than that is a decision to be made unilaterally and on the spot by a single authoritarian pastor without the involvement of the whole body in the decision.

I think the pastor saying something like this publicly says a lot not just about his views on mask wearing, but also about the kind of church this is and the role he plays in dictating things to the members. There are a lot of churches out there that have pastors like that. And its problematic for reasons that go beyond how they deal with COVID.

Many view mask wearing as a sign of disrespect.

Disrespect for God, for the church and for the other parishioners.

Neither of us know whether or not this preacher discussed this matter with his parish but I'm inclined to believe he speaks for the masses.

 

[Invisible Man]

Many view mask wearing as a sign of disrespect.

Disrespect for God, for the church and for the other parishioners.

Neither of us know whether or not this preacher discussed this matter with his parish but I'm inclined to believe he speaks for the masses.

That seems like an ungracious way to view mask wearing. I think we should assume that people who choose to wear masks simply believe what they've been told by the CDC and others about it. Even if that's born out of misinformation, or even loyalty to the principalities and powers of this dark world, their choice to wear it is harmless. And even if they are trying to make a deliberate statement, like athletes kneeling for the national anthem, that's still harmless.

And even if they're making a statement, and positively intend to be disrespectful about it, Christians should take their cue in such a situation from 1 Peter 3:14-15, which tells them:

But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.