Houston pastor says it’s time to reopen Texas and will resist against “ridiculous” orders imposed on Texans

Last updated on: April 22, 2020 at 10:11 am by Bethany Blankley

Houston pastor says it’s time to reopen Texas and will resist against “ridiculous” orders imposed on Texans 2020-04-22T10:11:25-05:00 Bethany Blankley

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Pastor Steve Riggle who leads Grace Community Church in the Woodlands, a suburb north of Houston, posted a video message on Facebook, telling Governor Greg Abbott and state officials, “It’s time to reopen Texas. We have been patient, even though every projection of the impact of the coronavirus has been grossly wrong.”

“We were told to flatten the curve because there was no cure, even though a very small number actually die from the virus in comparison with the population and other diseases and causes of death we live with on a daily basis,” Riggle added.

According to State Department of Health Services (DSHS), as of April 17, only .0055 or half of one percent of Texas residents have been tested for COVID-19, roughly 169,536 people out of 29 million, and among them .0006 or 6/100 of one percent have tested positive.

Yet in the month of March more people filed for unemployment in Texas than those who filed during the entire year in 2019.

Riggle publicly said what many have been feeling, adding that the governor “made an announcement about an announcement and appointed a task force to further delay getting everyone back to work when he could have restored everything with a stroke of his pen.”

“Shockingly, his big action was to tell those struggling with mental and emotional health issues to go to the state parks with a mask on rather than opening the churches and suggesting they seek help there,” Riggle added. “He also decided to allow some elective surgeries since the hospital systems in Texas are losing money because so few are actually in the hospital.”

The number of those hospitalized for COVID-19 in Texas is 1,522, or .00005 or 5/1000 of one percent; the number who have died due to COVID-19 is 428 or .000014 or 1/1000 of one percent.

In light of the data, the government has created an economic disaster for Texans putting people out of work disproportionate to the health risks.

“Enough of the ridiculous!,” Riggle said. “It is time to open up Texas,” he said, because “We have Rights; we are Americans who have a constitution and a bill of rights.

“We will Resist, because it is our right to do so, we are free people,” Riggle emphasized. “Unless an overwhelming number of people let our officials know that we are done with their mandates and edicts we will continue to be controlled by them.”

Previous to Riggle’s announcement, several Houston-area pastors filed a lawsuit over Harris County’s order to close churches.

Within days of Riggle’s call to resist, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton published a statewide guidance allowing churches to hold in-person services during the coronavirus shutdown. The governor has opened state parks and allowed for some medical services to be conducted, however most “non-essential” businesses remain closed and the Texas economy– the 10th-largest in the world– remains crippled.

Grace Community Church

Steve Riggle

Woodlands

Previous Post

April 22, 2020

Group sues Harris County judge over violation of First Amendment right to worship and peaceably assemble

Next Post

April 23, 2020 Texas Attorney General: Houses of Worship protected by First Amendment can worship in person

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Christianity Islam politics Sexuality transgender Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 October 2019 September 2019 July 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 July 2016 June 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who saw a vision of a valley of dry bones?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel