The following post will also be put up at the Newlife Church (Longview, Washington) Facebook page. I also put it here in case this message is deleted there.
I'm sorry that I put up posts on Facebook that didn't properly respect the Senior Pastor of Newlife Church and his wife. What I won't apologize for is my belief that it's sometimes acceptable to disobey unconstitutional executive orders and laws even if we're not required to in order to obey the Bible. Elected officials in the United States take oaths to preserve and defend the Constitution of the United States. They don't take oaths to always obey their superiors. There is no provision in the statement of faith in the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) that requires members to have an interpretation of Romans 13:1-7 that requires them to obey all laws and executive orders that are valid according to the courts unless such laws require us to do what the Bible forbids or keeps us from doing what the Bible commands. I'm not apologizing for allowing Christians and seekers to meet me by Lake Sacajawea. This is consistent with Hebrews 15:10 which reads "not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching." (World English Bible). I believe that God has called me to make such a bold move. I want to be at peace with other members of Newlife so even though I have switched to Valley View Church, I can be happy about visiting Newlife Church again.
