News
Pastor Sounds Alarm After City Lets Protesters Walk Free
Faith Facts
- Cities Church pastor condemns St. Paul city government for refusing to press charges against Don Lemon and anti-ICE protesters who disrupted their January worship service
- The protesters entered the church during Sunday service, creating chaos and violating the sanctity of worship
- Local authorities declined to pursue state charges despite the disruption, raising concerns about religious liberty protections
A Minnesota pastor is speaking out against what he calls a failure of local government to protect religious freedom. The leader of Cities Church in St. Paul issued a strong statement this week after city officials declined to press charges against former CNN host Don Lemon and anti-ICE activists who disrupted a worship service in January.
The incident has sparked outrage among Christians who see it as yet another example of worship spaces being treated with less respect than other public venues. The protesters entered the church during Sunday service, creating disruption and chaos at a time when families had gathered for prayer and worship.
The pastor’s statement condemned the city government’s decision not to pursue state charges against those involved. His rebuke highlighted the growing concern among faith leaders that houses of worship are not receiving adequate protection under the law when it comes to preserving the sanctity of religious services.
For many in the Christian community, the incident represents a troubling pattern. Churches across America have faced increasing intrusions from political activists who seem to face few consequences for disrupting worship. The decision by St. Paul authorities not to prosecute has raised questions about whether religious liberty is being adequately protected by local governments.
The January disruption at Cities Church brought unwanted attention and fear to a congregation simply trying to worship in peace. Families who attend the church have expressed concern about their safety and the precedent this sets for future incidents.
Critics of the city’s decision argue that if similar disruptions occurred at government meetings or secular events, charges would likely be filed. The apparent double standard has frustrated religious leaders who believe their constitutional right to free exercise of religion should include protection from harassment during worship.
The involvement of Don Lemon, a high-profile media personality, has brought additional attention to the case. Many conservatives see this as emblematic of a broader cultural divide, where progressive activists feel emboldened to target traditional institutions, including churches, without facing legal consequences.
As cities and states grapple with questions of immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies, churches have found themselves caught in the crossfire. Some faith communities support ICE enforcement, while others oppose it, but nearly all agree that worship services should remain sacred spaces free from political disruption.
The pastor’s public statement serves as a call to action for Christians concerned about protecting their right to worship without interference. Religious liberty advocates are watching cases like this closely, concerned about the precedent being set when local governments decline to hold protesters accountable for disrupting religious services.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Scripture warns against creating images that could lead to idolatry, as seen in the account of the golden calf in Exodus 32.
- The Bible teaches that God alone deserves worship, and any object resembling a pagan deity raises serious spiritual concerns.
- Christian leaders have long called for vigilance against cultural influences that could subtly compromise faithfulness to biblical truth.
A senior official in the Trump administration has reportedly raised concerns about plans to display a bull statue at an international exhibition, citing its resemblance to the golden calf condemned in the book of Exodus.
The official expressed worry that the statue could be interpreted as honoring a Canaanite deity rather than serving as a neutral cultural artifact.
“We should not be participating in something that could be seen as promoting idolatry,” the official stated, according to reports.
Critics of the exhibit argue that such displays risk normalizing symbols once associated with pagan worship, especially at a time when many Americans are seeking to reaffirm biblical values in public life.
Supporters of the display claim the statue is merely artistic and historical, but faith-based observers remain unconvinced that context alone removes the spiritual implications.
Concerned believers point to Exodus 20:3-5, which commands, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” as a clear reminder that God’s people must avoid anything that could lead to misplaced reverence.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Scripture teaches that wisdom is a gift from God, not merely human achievement (Proverbs 2:6).
- Believers are called to seek discernment and understanding in times of rapid change (James 1:5).
- Technology must serve human dignity and moral responsibility, never replace them.
The world is racing ahead with artificial intelligence at a moment when traditional institutions are already strained.
Many leaders worry that the speed of development leaves little room for careful moral reflection.
“The world does not lack intelligence. It lacks time for wisdom.”
Christians have long held that true understanding comes from the fear of the Lord, not from raw computational power.
Rapid deployment of AI tools risks amplifying existing divisions rather than healing them.
“The world does not lack intelligence. It lacks time for wisdom.”
Families and churches are urged to ground new technologies in biblical principles before embracing them uncritically.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- The Rev. Jim Rigby, pastor of U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, publicly endorsed an ‘inclusive’ Bible that removes gendered references to God and eliminates titles such as ‘Son of God’ and ‘Lord.’
- Traditional Christian doctrine holds that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, a truth affirmed in Scripture and central to the historic faith of the church.
- Scripture warns against altering God’s Word, stating that ‘every word of God is pure’ (Proverbs 30:5).
The Rev. Jim Rigby, pastor of Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, was recorded promoting a new translation of the Bible that removes all gendered language for God.
Rigby encouraged listeners to ‘let go of the stupid stuff’ and praised the so-called ‘Inclusive Bible’ for replacing titles such as ‘Lord’ and ‘Son of God’ with gender-neutral terms.
“Let go of the stupid stuff.”
Critics argue that such changes distort the clear teaching of Scripture and undermine the deity of Christ.
The move reflects a broader effort by progressive churches to align biblical language with modern cultural preferences rather than preserving the historic text.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
NEW: James Talarico’s longtime spiritual mentor, Rev. Jim Rigby, says his church provides copies of the “Inclusive Bible” to new members.
The “Inclusive Bible” strips the Bible of “gendered language.” It refuses to call Jesus the Son of God and describes traditional… pic.twitter.com/R6Nf4SPisg
— Amber Duke (@ambermarieduke) September 17, 2026
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