With coronavirus restrictions forcing the closure of church gatherings worldwide, and authorities threatening to punish those who continue to attend public worship, the Christian church has become more dependent on the internet than ever as Google begins censoring sermons.
It was only a matter of time, and frankly, I am surprised this didn't start happening sooner but here we are. First they force all churches to shut their doors, forcing a mass exodus over to social media so church services can continue. Then when everyone makes the switch and preaching starts resounding around the Internet, now
tech dictators like Google are deciding what can and cannot be preached online.
"But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." Luke 21:12-15 (KJB)
In the over ten years that Now The End Begins has been online, we also have experienced the anguish and virtual blunt force trauma of being censored and blocked for preaching, teaching and posting bible truth. Facebook has blocked me in excess of 100 times in ten years. I am blocked right now yet again, and have to rely on our wonderful NTEB team members to do the posting for me. Thank God for faithful workers in the harvest field, I could not continue without them! The longer this coronavirus lockdown continues, the more we are going to see censorship of pastors and preacher who teach and preach the gospel of the grace of God. I say...to the fight!
"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more." Acts 20:24,25 (KJB)
Tech Giants Like Google Begin Censoring 'Unapproved Sermons' as Churches Are Forced Online Due To Coronavirus Lockdown
FROM CALDRON POOL: Churches are now employing popular social media and video sharing platforms to conduct their services and broadcast their sermons. But how will the tech giants and social media outlets respond, especially considering their tendency to censor unapproved messages? Well, it would appear straight-up banning churches isn’t off the table for some platforms, as a church in Moscow, Idaho discovered last week.
On Friday, Google suspended
Christ Church’s app from the Google Play store after accusing the pastors of a lack of sensitivity and/or capitalizing on the current coronavirus pandemic.
The church received a notice from the platform, stating: “We don’t allow apps that lack reasonable sensitivity towards or capitalize on a natural disaster, atrocity, conflict, death, or other tragic event.
“Your app has been suspended and removed due to this policy issue,” the notice added.
It’s believed Google was referring to Pastor Douglas Wilson’s short lessons on responding faithfully to the COVID-19 crisis, and Pastor Toby J. Sumpter’s sermon calling God’s people to humble repentance in the face of the pandemic.
Is this a glimpse at what’s now in store for the church online? Should we expect to see more censorship of church services? Will the platforms that we now depend on dictate what our pastors can and cannot preach on? Time will tell, but if the past is any indication of the future, I don’t think Christ Church will be the last church gagged.
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