Bold to Speak

When confronted by the ills of a culture that needs to know God, we can consider how God has directed and empowered us to respond.  That may involve speaking truth in challenging circumstances.  There may be an opportunity presented to us and we find ourselves anxious or fearful - but, we know that the Holy Spirit gives us the boldness and confidence to do what God has led us to do: what He appoints, He anoints, it's been said. In Acts 14 (ESV), we read about some bold disciples:
1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

I shared with you recently a bit of good news in a set of difficult occasions involving a woman in her 70's in Scotland who was arrested not just once, but twice for holding a sign outside an abortion clinic inviting conversation.  She said not a word, but authorities saw fit to arrest her - then, the charges were dropped.  Good news in the face of a restrictive law, a law that does not protect freedom of speech.

But, we see laws restricting speech near abortion mills throughout the United Kingdom. Just recently, a 78-year-old man, who once served as president of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland, was "convicted on two criminal counts and fined £450 (British pounds) for a July 2024 sermon he delivered on the fringes of a buffer zone near Coleraine’s Causeway Hospital."  That's according to the Decision Magazine website from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  The article notes:

He is charged with “conducting a protest” that could influence a “protected person” and failing to comply with orders to leave, according to U.K.-based Premier Christian News.

Franklin Graham, on Facebook, commended Johnston and called on Christians to pray for him.

"God bless Pastor Clive Johnston for preaching the Gospel—John 3:16! ... Pastor Johnston didn’t even mention abortion; he just preached the Gospel in a public space. I hope his legal team at The Christian Institute will have success in appealing this. Religious freedoms are being threatened not only in the U.K., but here in the U.S., Canada, and around the world."

Franklin Graham did not mince words about the spiritual ramifications, stating: "There is an anti-Christ spirit that is prevailing in our world today. It’s as though every demon in Hell has been unleashed."  Johnston said that his first-ever conviction was “a dark day for Christian freedom.”  He said: “We held a small, open air Sunday service near a hospital,” adding, “We made no reference whatsoever to the issue of abortion. And yet the buffer zones law is so broad that holding a Sunday service has been found to be a criminal offence."

And, millions have reportedly viewed the arrest of a street preaching in Watford, England, according to CBN News.   It reported:

A shocking video shows authorities hauling away a 66-year-old street preacher and grandfather in handcuffs. His alleged "crime?" He was publicly sharing the gospel and speaking out about Islam.

The video showing the dramatic arrest of Pastor Steve Maile in Watford, England, has been seen by millions.
 
In the video, Pastor Maile can be seen struggling as he is handcuffed. He shouts, "I am a preacher of the gospel. Watch this. Watch this. There is no offense being committed here. None whatsoever. None whatsoever. Listen. You repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you'll be saved."

The article says, "Maile faces charges of hate speech for criticizing aspects of Islam and encouraging people to follow Jesus."  But, the pastor contends that preaching the truth of Scripture isn't hate; he is quoted as saying: "The Bible says you must be born again. And God affords this grace through Jesus Christ for all humanity. This is what I preach...This is not hate. This is love. This is compassion—because it's having compassion on the Muslims."

Maile also made this observation: "Something's going on here in the United Kingdom. That is insidious. It is dangerous. It favors a particular community. And if the Islamic community can do anything they want, watch out," adding,  "This is coming to America. Americans, you need to pray, and you need to get ready."    

Rep. Chip Roy of Texas held a hearing recently on the spread of Sharia law in America. Andrew Kolvet of Turning Point USA posted this on X:

RAIR Foundation USA founder Amy Mekelburg just delivered a BRUTAL truth to Congress:

"Islam is a hostile totalitarian political ideology using our freedoms to destroy us. To every non-Muslim, it offers three choices: convert, submit, or die."

"It does not stop until every court, every school, and every government on earth is under Sharia."

"These networks operate more than 8,000 Islamic nonprofits across America, including 650 in Texas alone."

"They have no plan of assimilating." We MUST stop importing Islam to the West. It is a Trojan Horse meant to destroy us.

The name of the RAIR Foundation, according to its website, is an acronym: Rise • Align • Ignite • Reclaim," described as "a grassroots activist and investigative journalism organization made up of everyday Americans leading a movement to reclaim our Republic from the network of individuals and organizations waging war on our nation — on our Constitution, our borders, and our Judeo-Christian values."

Note: The God of the Bible, the God whom we as Christians serve, is not the same as the God of Islam.  While we decry attempts to force Islamic law down the throats of various communities across America, we also should follow this pastor's example and continue to declare the love of Christ to ALL people, including those who follow Islam.

We should speak the truth to those who participate in abortion and to women who attempt to take the lives of their children.  Thank God for pregnancy resource centers and sidewalk counselors who boldly and compassionate share the truth of the gospel.

We should speak the truth to those in the LGBT lifestyle, recognizing they have bought a lie regarding their sexual identity and need to experience freedom in Christ.  We should speak that truth that their sinful desires should not be accommodated in Church and culture, but like other sinful desires, their sin has been nailed to the cross with Jesus and He provides the power by His Spirit to resist temptation and reject desires that do not please God.

We have incredible resources available to us in Christ that equip us to be bold witnesses for Jesus - we have the truth of Scripture, we have the Holy Spirit, and we can have the confidence that God will speak through us as we yield to Him.  We can be confident that He gives boldness to the believers who desire to speak for Him.