When Sacred Space Is Disrupted: A Theological Reflection on the Cities Church Incident

Over the weekend of January 18–19, 2026, worship at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, was suddenly interrupted when a group of activists stormed into the church during a Sunday morning service. The protest targeted a pastor who is allegedly also serving as the acting head of the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office.

The incident quickly went viral online and made headlines across several media outlets. Protesters shouted slogans such as “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to a local woman who was shot and killed earlier in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

The disruption prompted responses from federal officials, including a Department of Justice (DOJ) civil-rights investigation into potential violations of laws protecting freedom of worship. Political leaders from across the political spectrum condemned the interruption. It emphasizes that houses of worship exist to be protected spaces.

Sacred Space vs. Social Protest

Christians have long held that the church is a sacred space—not merely a building, but a people and place set apart for worship.

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” —1 Corinthians 3:16–17 (NASB)

The early Church gathered in homes and synagogues with reverence because worship exists first and foremost for the glory of God and the gathering of believers, not for spectators or outside agendas.

When people disrupt worship, it often reveals a deeper cultural tension: when civil conflict and moral outrage spill into sacred space. Historically, the church has served as both a refuge and a prophetic voice. At the same time, Scripture consistently warns us not to violate what the Lord has set apart as holy (cf. Ezekiel 44:23; Malachi 3:1–5).

Interrupting a worship service—regardless of motive—draws attention away from God and undermines the unity of the Church.

When Protest Becomes a Crime

To put it plainly: forcing one’s way into a church during worship is not only disruptive—it is criminal.

Civil law in the United States explicitly recognizes houses of worship as protected spaces. Entering a church to intimidate, disrupt, or halt a religious service can constitute trespass, disorderly conduct, and violations of federal religious-freedom protections. These incidents is precisely why the Department of Justice’s involvement matters. In particular, federal law includes the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which—despite its name—also applies to places of religious worship.

The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act is a federal law enacted in 1994 that prohibits the use of force, threats of force, or physical obstruction to interfere with individuals exercising certain protected rights intentionally. While the law is often associated with abortion clinics, its scope also includes places of religious worship. The Act applies when individuals use forceful or disruptive conduct to obstruct, intimidate, or prevent others from participating in religious services.

From a Christian standpoint, this legal reality aligns with biblical wisdom. Scripture affirms that public order is not the enemy of justice but often its guardian (Romans 13:1–4). While civil disobedience may have a place in extreme circumstances, intentionally disrupting worship is not one of them. Scripture never authorizes the coercion of the gathered church.

Calling an unlawful act “prophetic” does not make it so.

Moral outrage does not guarantee moral responsibility.

And zeal—when untethered from obedience—quickly becomes destructive.

Prophetic Witness and Civil Disobedience

Scripture doesn’t shy away from calling out injustice.

Amos spoke out against exploitation.

Jeremiah mourned over national sins.

Jesus flipped over the tables of the moneychangers in the temple.

Today’s protest movements often come from real pain and a genuine desire for justice. That’s understandable.

But how we act is just as important as why we act.

The New Testament shows two truths: God asks Christians to respect those in government (Romans 13), but also commands us to speak truth boldly (Acts 4:29–31).

Before jumping into public action, believers should ask some hard questions:

• Does this honor Christ as Lord?

• Will it build up or tear down the Church?

• Does it reflect Jesus’ humility and meekness?

A protest that interrupts worship fails the biblical test of being a disciple — even if the cause is sincere. Justice should never come at the expense of God's glory or the command to love others.

When Pastors Hold Dual Roles

When pastors also take on government or civic roles, trouble can happen. Reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin had a doctrine called the two kingdoms: the church cares for souls, while the state handles civic order.

Mixing these roles can confuse the gospel, the church’s mission, and how much power the government really has.

If a pastor works in a government role, especially one involved in controversial enforcement actions, it’s important to be clear, responsible, and wise. The church isn’t supposed to withdraw from culture, but it also shouldn’t give up on its mission because of politics.

The goal remains the same: to represent Christ faithfully in every part of life without watering down the gospel.

The Digital Aftermath: What People Are Saying

After the protest, online reactions exploded. Many comments went beyond criticizing the protest or the church and instead attacked Christianity itself, often via guilt by association and quick moral judgments.

Here’s a small sample:

“You should be praying for them because they have a cruel, racist pastor.”

“Fake Christians are the problem.”

“ICE’s actions go against Christ’s teachings. It’s also okay to hold church leaders accountable; that’s what they were doing.”

“Jesus would have flipped those tables. Their pastor was the head of ICE in town… that’s against Jesus’ teachings.”

“The SBC is covering up sexual crimes and moving pastors around instead of holding them accountable.”

“The SBC is founded on slavery and is an anti-Christ institution. It’s time for it to end.”

“Maybe pastors shouldn’t work with agencies that practice cruelty and harm God’s people.”

These comments aren’t borderline—they reflect a standard moral narrative right now—one that claims biblical authority but rejects the church, dismisses church order, and redefines righteousness based on ideology rather than Scripture.

Lament and Hope

This moment calls for lament.

The disruption exposes deep wounds in our society—over immigration, use of force, and the church’s role in public life. Scripture teaches that honest lament isn’t weakness but faithful prayer (see the Psalms).

The church must lead in lament without bitterness or division.

At the same time, we hold onto hope:

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude… from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues.” —Revelation 7:9 (NASB)

Christ will one day unite what’s broken now. Until then, the church bears witness through words and actions—doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God (Micah 6:8).

Questions for the Church

• How should Christians engage public policy while keeping worship centered on God?

• What does it truly mean to honor the house of the Lord in times of cultural outrage?

How can the church model a godly lament that brings healing rather than further division?