The Essential Church Versus Malevolent Government

Aug 5, 2023

Pastor Travis Allen of Grace Church in Greeley, CO joins to discuss the just-released documentary film, The Essential Church, which chronicles how three churches defied government mandates during the Covid pandemic. They explore the crucial role of the church, the complex relationship between the church and the state, the significance of the local church, and the power and authority of Jesus Christ in the church.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Introduction

00:00 • 3min

The Church and the State: A Co-ordinate Relationship

02:48 • 9min

The Ministry of the Church and Government Intrusion during COVID-19

11:23 • 9min

The Significance of the Local Church

20:53 • 9min

The Instinct to Submit to Governing Authorities and Navigating the World with Wisdom

29:38 • 3min

Financial Challenges and the Threat of Gay Christianity

32:09 • 18min

The Power and Authority of Jesus Christ in the Church

50:12 • 4min

Send us a text

GUEST: TRAVIS ALLEN, pastor, Grace Church (Greeley, CO)

The church is the body of true believers across the world that Christ redeemed for eternity through the shedding of His own blood in order to represent and proclaim the excellencies of Christ to a rebellious world.

The church and its message of salvation through faith in Christ is the only hope for sinners. This is why the church is essential.

Referring to Himself, Christ told the apostle Peter, “upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18).

Christ promises to build His church, to grow His body of believers, and that the powers of death and darkness (i.e. Satan) will not overpower it.

The Bible says that Satan is the god of this world and he is active in deceiving nations, governing authorities, and peoples. The church is the primary obstacle for his deceit, which is why he incites governing authorities to persecute the church and introduces “tares” (false Christians, see Matthew 13) to lead it to compromise.

This weekend on The Christian Worldview, pastor Travis Allen of Grace Church in Greeley, CO joins us to discuss the just-released documentary film, The Essential Church, which chronicles how three churches—Grace Community Church in Los Angeles and two churches in Canada—defied government mandates during the Covid pandemic, continuing to gather to worship because they understood that government does not have the God-given authority to dictate how a church worships.

We will play audio clips from the film and then discuss some current events, including how a young believer was arrested in Wisconsin without warning for preaching on the street at a “drag queen” event, while other Evangelical churches are dressing themselves up in Star Wars, Barbie, or Toy Story themes for “At the Movies” sermon series.
--------------------------------

The Essential Church movie:

When COVID-19 restrictions force Grace Community Church to close its doors indefinitely, the Los Angeles-based congregation takes a courageous stance and sues the government.

This feature-length documentary explores the Church’s unwavering determination to exercise its constitutional rights and ecclesiastical authority to serve its assembly through faith and fellowship amidst government restrictions and global lockdowns.

Find a theater near you