David Lynn, a pastor in Toronto, was arrested earlier this month while preaching the Gospel on a street corner in an LGBTQ-friendly community.
Church Wellesley Village is an LGBTQ-oriented enclave in Toronto and happened to be the space in which Lynn was scheduled to speak as part of a preaching tour throughout the 22 districts of the city, according to a report from The Christian Post.
The minister’s message was live-streamed on Facebook and a portion of it has been uploaded to YouTube:
Lynn was reportedly neither disrespectful nor condemnatory during his address, going out of his way to ensure no demographic who may have heard his preaching felt singled out.
“Jesus died for the sinner,” he said at one point, adding, “Every heterosexual has sin. Every homosexual has sin. Sin is when we violate the laws of God.”
Lynn also preached about tolerance and approached a handful of people on the street corner, asking them, “Would you tolerate me as a Christian?”
Nevertheless, the encounter soon turned tense. Some started to gather around Lynn, crowding the preacher and keeping him from moving.
Why was he arrested?
Lynn, who preaches outdoors nearly every single week, said he has always used amplification and has never violated the law by doing so. However, during this particular event, he was told he needed to preach without amplification.
The pastor cooperated. He kept preaching, without amplification. But he was ultimately arrested, regardless.
In a statement released later on Tuesday, June 4, the day he was arrested, Lynn said, “Every community in Toronto should have the same laws, and everyone should be welcome. Everyone should have rights, dignity, and respect, just like Christians should as well.”
“God loves you. There is hope for you,” his statement continued. “Whatever community you are, God loves you. Jesus died for you.”