A deliberate act took place on Easter morning when a burning trailer filled with Bibles was left outside an evangelical church in Tennessee. The pastor of the church, known for his far-right views, condemned the incident as a deliberate act without any doubt.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, authorities were called to a trailer fire at the intersection near the Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet, located approximately 20 miles east of Nashville. The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office reported that police and firefighters promptly responded to the incident. Fortunately, the fire was quickly extinguished by the firefighters. This information was stated in a news release issued by the sheriff’s office.
According to the report, the trailer, which was carrying bibles, was deliberately set on fire after being left in the middle of the intersection. The sheriff’s office has not provided any additional information at this time, stating that they must maintain the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Pastor Greg Locke, the founder of Global Vision and a self-proclaimed “social media firebrand,” recently took to Facebook and Instagram to share images of a utility trailer filled with burned Bibles. According to him, the church’s security cameras captured footage of a man deliberately parking the trailer in front of their church.
During a live-streamed Easter service, Pastor Locke addressed his congregation and confidently stated that the culprit responsible for the incident would soon face severe consequences. Although he admitted to not having personally viewed the security footage, he proceeded to vividly describe the incident. With a touch of irony, he mentioned that the perpetrator had considerately activated his hazard lights at 5:58 in the morning, leading the pastor to dub him as the “most polite crook” he had ever encountered. In his experience, encountering well-mannered Satanists was a rarity, making this situation all the more intriguing.
“He unhooked the trailer and poured gasoline, fueling it up. Inside, there were approximately 200 Bibles,” Locke recounted. “I have no idea where he managed to find them.”
The pastor expressed his desire to distribute the burned Bible pages, but unfortunately, the authorities seized them as evidence. He stated that the incident was under investigation as a hate crime and that the FBI was actively involved.
The Daily Beast has contacted Locke to gather more information. However, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment on Sunday. According to NewsChannel 5 Nashville, Sheriff Robert Bryan stated that he firmly believed the Bibles were intentionally burned.
According to local station WKRN, Pastor Locke expressed his shock and dismay over the recent incident at his church. He revealed, “We’ve had people do things to our building, we’ve been vandalized a number of times, hence why we have to have security, but never 200 Bibles being burned. That’s a pretty rebellious statement towards the church.” Locke’s statement highlights the severity of the act and the disrespectful nature of burning Bibles.
Jonathan Locke, an ardent supporter of Donald Trump, fearlessly incorporates his sermons with condemnations of President Joe Biden, the news media, and what he refers to as “crack-smoking, demon-possessed leftists.” Known for his controversial views, Locke has gained national attention for his skepticism towards vaccines, his stunts against the LGBTQ+ community, and his acts of book burnings. Additionally, he has been involved in conflicts with his neighbors and local authorities due to the disruptive noise from his lively late-night services and ongoing construction projects.
Global Vision has experienced several incidents of vandalism in recent years. In 2020, before a planned appearance by Roger Stone, a loyalist of Trump, the church was defaced with the phrases “repent” and “Locke + Stone will burn in hell.” Additionally, the letters “FU” were spray-painted on the pastor’s pulpit.
In the following year, Locke reported that his cameras had captured additional incidents of vandalism targeting the church. Vandals were observed painting “FU” on the pulpit once again, as well as the message “your lies cost lives” on a wall.
It remains unclear whether any arrests were made in connection with the reported acts of vandalism.
During his Sunday sermon, Locke presented the burning trailer as a significant signal. He expressed gratitude for those who oppose the church, stating, “The average church would be like, ‘Oh, my goodness, they’re coming against us.’ And I’m like, Thank God they are. Thank God they are.” His audience responded with cheers, aligning with his perspective.
Christianity is facing more attacks in the United States of America than ever before.
“You need to stop burying your head in the sand,” he warned. “Avoid being lukewarm and passive-aggressive. It’s time to step up and be more assertive and confident in your beliefs.”
