Street preacher's son
I grew up the as son of a street preacher, with fond memories of some of the eccentric but entertaining street preachers that I encountered at street preacher rallies, especially in London in the late fifties and sixties (1950s-1960s) at Trafalgar Square. People that could play a saw like a violin, told of how they were gangsters who had their life changed when they encountered Jesus, of having no money but given a ticket to travel, and more. One of my earliest memories is of Fred the barber who used to cut my hair in Margate. Facebook page with photos of old Margate We moved to Southend-on-Sea in about 1960 so the teddy boys, mods and rockers immortalised by The Who in Tommy were part of my experience. Street preaching was then an accepted part of seaside town and city life in Britain and of course Speaker's Corner at Hyde Park London has long been a forum for all manner of topics. The overall tone of these events was generally of a good humoured nature, of course with banter from those who did not share the speaker's point of view. Street preachers, entertainers and spruikers contribute to make a street vibrant compared to the somewhat artificial sterility of a Westfield style shopping mall. I like to wander down a busy high street enjoying the street life but would not wander round a multi-storey shopping mall in the same way. Multi-storey malls do provide entertainment but there's a different energy on the street.
Why preach in the street?
- Jesus did it
- It is immoral to allow someone to fall to destruction when you could have warned them of the danger
Luke 16: 27
And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
Fast forward to today and tolerance for open discussion has diminished. The Alphabet Brigade is clearly one aspect of it, as well as violently extreme Islam supporters and academia. All of this is underpinned by woke policing and a general lack of respect for religious faith and its adherents.
GBNew.uk report on stabbing by Muslim of a street preacher Woman preacher stabbed at Hyde Park returns a week laterLet me have a feel of your collar
Uxbridge police couldn't contain their eagerness to grope Mr Sherwood after he mentioned their favourite subject. "It has been a long time since we have seen a major crime incident in this vicinity", a chestfeeding spokesperson, PC Poof said. "We received reports that someone was rubbing people up the wrong way. When we heard that the Sherwood gang were in town we despatched our entire force to the scene so they could all get a good feel of the offending party. Our amyl nitrate supplies now need to be replenished, if anyone knows a good dealer". The leader of the Sherwood gang was charged with aggravated assault after calling a police officer by the wrong pronoun which triggered a panic attack.
In Uxbridge 14 Police arrest street preacher for alleged homophobic remarks Unfortunately police can be zealous and aggressive in limiting freedom of expression for those who do not fit with a "progressive agenda" that is based upon nonsense. In London Cressida Dick, a dyke in uniform, seems to have been a significant influence in making sure police get copious amounts of diversity training. Almost 40 percent of Britons think Cressida Dick should rsign Add to that a Muslim mayor of London and the prospects of police protection of Christian street preachers seems to have reduced chances of support.
Romans 1 sums it up well
Since they didn’t think it was worthwhile to acknowledge God, God abandoned them to a defective mind to do inappropriate things. 29 So they were filled with all injustice, wicked behavior, greed, and evil behavior. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deception, and malice. They are gossips, 30 they slander people, and they hate God. They are rude and proud, and they brag. They invent ways to be evil, and they are disobedient to their parents. 31 They are without understanding, disloyal, without affection, and without mercy. 32 Though they know God’s decision that those who persist in such practices deserve death, they not only keep doing these things but also approve others who practice them.
Two sides of the coin
Not just a UK issue
Toronto police get frustrated when their Grindr date fails to show up and they find Christians on the corner instead. If they can have a Gay Village that stops Christians preaching imagine the furore if a Gay-Free Village was set up to protect people who might be vilified by The Alphabet Brigade.Adelaide Australia
The Impact of Religious Bias on Mental Health and Academic Performance
If Jesus were to walk the streets of the UK and many western countries today he would be arrested for offending somebody.
Luke 13: 32
He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’
Jesus said in Matthew 24:9
They will arrest you, abuse you, and they will kill you. All nations will hate you on account of my name.
Luke 21 : 11-13
There will be great earthquakes and wide-scale food shortages and epidemics. There will also be terrifying sights and great signs in the sky. 12 But before all this occurs, they will take you into custody and harass you because of your faith. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will provide you with an opportunity to testify. 14 Make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance.
My suggestion to those who have to face court is to be like Jesus, who when asked on whose authority he taught his message, asked the scribes and Pharisees on whose authority did John the Baptist preach and baptise. Ask the court whether the Bible on which you are asked to swear is a moral and good Book. If so, you can ask why you should not then speak words from that Book. If it is offensive then the law is immoral and unjust by the standard and words of the Book that you use to speak the truth.
Mark 16 The Great Commission
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Freedom in the Philippines
What the developed nations are losing in terms of freedom of speech is accepted in developing nations. Plato on tyranny
Cultural Shift
As evidence of a broader cultural shift into intolerance in western society it is enlightening to consider what was considered acceptable humour on mainstream media in 1982. Barry Humphries as Sir Les Patterson on The Parkinson Show BBC Clues to indicate an institution is failing in its job The comment section of this article reflects the opinions of many on the nonsense that is propagated by institutions
Police chiefs continue bias training
What type of evangelist are you?
I host this website independently rather than use social media so that I can address issues that I believe will become increasingly controversial in a society that is being driven by people with an agenda to silence those they do not agree with. Additionally I can say something in a way that a moderator cannot remove. The goal is to speak the truth without fear or favour not to cause offence. Just joking, keep your hands off me, you pervert.
Sceptic does non-Biblical investigation into reality of Jesus