"He says, "They sit up there and play patty cake with demons and they coddle everybody and they stroke everyone's ego." Locke says his church continues to grow as thousands gather in person and even more on line to hear the sermons. His congregants are looking for a pastor that is going to stand up and something other than the status quo." - Greg Locke
Here we see two of the traits of Locke as a pastor. Everyone who does not agree with him is deemed an actual demon, witch or demonically influenced. Everyone who votes Democrat is also a demon and not welcome in his church. These are actual things he has said and stood by. These are things he has said from the pulpit. He hides behind the veneer of preaching the gospel but he does not do so. The second trait here is that Greg Locke plays into the basest emotions of the flesh. It is not that his followers are looking for something other than the status quo. It is that they are seeking confirmation for their biases instead of the truth. They like that Greg Locke quantifies their hate and directs it to one group or the other. They are always the conquering hero for Jesus just trying to bring some morality to an immoral world. Who better to lead them in this crusade than the guy who divorced the mother of his four children to marry the church assistant? Yay morality!
"We asked Locke how he works to operate out of love towards people who view the world and politics differently than he does and he says, "What we've been taught theologically is that means just speak love at the expense of truth. If you don't tell the truth it's not loving, it's deceptive."
Despite the censorship, Locke has joined together with other influential pastors and social media figures in a digital deliverance ministry and conferences. Locke isn't afraid to speak up on what he feels is important for the body of Christ to hear. "Jesus was not always lovey lovey, limp wristed, skinny jeans and fog machines," he says. Tune in to the full interview to hear Locke talking about speaking the truth in love at the expense of being misunderstood." - Greg Locke
A Christian should never be concerned about being misunderstood for speaking the truth in love. Let's say you really believe people who vote democratic are sincerely wrong from a Christian perspective. One might use the bible to show them why you feel they are wrong and be receptive to counterpoints, all the while affirming them as a brother or sister in Christ. Greg Locke's version of truthful love was to call them all demons and threaten to kick them out of his church if they ever showed up. That is not love. Heck, that is not even the truth. What is even more deceptive is telling sheep that they do not have to get vaccinated. What is unloving is telling them that COVID is fake. What is outright false is telling them the elites on got sugar water so they do not need to protect themselves. I agree that Jesus is not modeling skinny jeans but He is most certainly not this biker version Greg Locke is trying to sell. God is love and wrath and the true gospel preaches both. That said, the wrath of God is not directed at a political party or voting pattern. It is about individual sin and having saving faith in Jesus Christ. Greg Locke is not being censored. He is being told to shut up with his nonsense and quite frankly, it is about time.
Reverend Anthony Wade - December 8, 2022
