If you have any kind of connection with Christian news, you may, like me, have seen a variety of stories about freedom of speech and attempts to block Christian activity. One such event was even commented on by the American Vice President, where a British man stood outside an abortion clinic in quiet prayer for his aborted son and was arrested for being inside a “protective” zone and demonstrating anti abortion tendencies (these are my words, but you get the idea).
A preacher had a noticeboard with the comment “Love Muslims, Hate Islam” and was arrested for inciting racial hatred (again, these are my words but this was the general gist). A black NHS nurse has been disciplined because she unintentionally addressed a burly transgender “woman” as “Mr” and he took offense at her not realising that he preferred female pronouns and called her the N-word. No action was taken about his racist slur, but she was disciplined.
Now we can all get very upset about this madness. There are very real issues to be concerned about when people can be arrested for silent prayer. It is worrying when people can be arrested for speaking “unacceptable” truth. Some of these people I have great sympathy with. Others, I think were trying to be deliberately provocative and then complained bitterly when they got the reaction they were looking for. We are called to speak the truth in love, and in some cases I think there wasn’t much love and just declaring truth for the sake of a reaction. I can’t think that that is what the Lord wants us to do.
But actually, we are not called to say how wrong Islam is. We are not called to speak out against transgenderism, nor abortion, nor homosexuality – although all of these things do not line up with God’s plan for people. We are called to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are called to tell people about Him, His love, His sacrifice on the cross. We are called to tell people to repent of their sins and believe the Gospel. In doing that, yes someone may ask about abortion. transgenderism etc. At that point we can find gracious ways to speak out truth. But that is not our primary message. Our message is the salvation on offer in Jesus.
It’s not for us to tell every other religion or lifestyle choice how wrong they are, but to declare and demonstrate by our lives how right Jesus is! If people do follow Christ as a result of our words, then they will certainly be led by the Bible, by the Spirit and by church teaching to live godly and pleasing lives for the Lord. It has been said that so often we live by the maxim “Behave, Believe, Belong” when Jesus says “Belong, Believe, Behave”. As people are accepted into a loving church family, so they find faith in Jesus, and their behaviour is changed by the Holy Spirit as he sanctifies us. Declare the Gospel!