RPD Continues to Trample on Christian's Rights

Unfortunately, many times corruption starts at the top.

 

I can't help but think we're getting just one side of the story. What were you arrested for, and why do you believe you were not guilty of the charges?

Also, what was the outcome of the 9-20 case?

 

Is this the same activist group that shouted at members of William and Mary College's Students for Life organization phrases like "Turn to Jesus, or you're going to hell". According to students Amy Green and Caitlin DeMarco (who, btw, are Christians), they are. L & L ministries is unfortunately not making friends with other pro-life groups.

In this case, L & L Ministries shouted at passersby on campus with a bullhorn repeatedly. While they or any other group has the right to peaceably assemble and practice free speech, that right does not include disrupting the learning environment, which they most certainly did, according to students there that day (and this was according to pro-life Christians students). I believe they had to be escorted off cambus by campus police for disturbing the peace.

This doesn't exactly sound like constitutionally guaranteed peaceful assembly and free speech. This makes the content of the OP suspect. I don't believe the poster is telling us the whole truth. There is no place in Christianity for this type of "ministry".

 

This is the same poster who cried persecution when instructed not to leave his tracts in the library books. The types of tactics used by this "ministry" is what turns people against Christianity. Just because one thinks they have a higher calling to civil disobedience doesn't mean the law will ignore their behavior. This is not persecution. Many uninformed Christians in western societies love to use that word, but none of them have ever had anything close to persecution.

 

I have to agree with the basic point brought out by Johnv here. Many times these types of groups do things to provoke law enforcement. I have seen "Repent America" do this kind of thing. Now having said that I want to focus on a more important issue.

That issue can be summed up in a quick question: What do you really expect?

Even if we can assume for a moment that this group was simply preaching the Biblical Gospel (and nothing more) and where arrested for this, what do you expect? Do you really expect spiritually dead children of the devil to not persecute the followers of Christ, children of God? They always have and Jesus said they would! So what is the problem?

Have we read the Gospels lately? What did Jesus say (WDJS??). I am always amazed when I see Christians who seem to think that persecution is something they have a right to live without. Friend if we live Godly in Christ Jesus we will be, not might be, persecuted. This is the position of the Apostle Paul and Jesus Christ Himself! Of course this DOES NOT mean we go looking for persecution. The point is that by living Godly for Christ we will be persecuted.

"Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" 2Tim 3:12

"You will be hated by ALL because of My name...if they have called the head of the house Beelzebul how much more will they malign the members of His household? Therefore do not fear them for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness speakin the light and what you hear whispereed in your ear, prolcaim upon the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" Matt 10, selected verses.

Beyond all of this the Apostles (etc) did not find persecution and threats to be surprising. In fact Scripture tells us that they "went on their way from the presence of the Council rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His Name" (Acts 5:40-42). They did not go around saying the leaders were corrupt (thought many probably were). What did they do? They took it as part of their Christian witness. They understood Jesus' words and they obeyed His command, "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matt 5:11-12). Notice that we are to rejoice when we are persecuted for "His Name". We are to expect it and rejoice when it happens. However we should not be persecuted for something wrong we have done (see 1Peter 3:13-18). This takes me full circle to what I said above.

The problem with Christian political activism is that it (a) replaces the saving gospel with a non-saving false message, (b) causes Christians to be hated and persecuted for all the wrong reasons, and (c) causes Christians to loose focus on what is really important.

I could also add that what was described in the original post as persecution DOES NOT in anyway relate to real persecution. There are people in the world today who literally lose their lives for the Name of Christ! Look back in church history my friend. People were beat, killed in brutal fashions, and abandoned by family and friends because of the Gospel and the Name of Christ. That is persecution. What is described in the original post here is, at best, persecution-light. That is, of course, assuming that the group was just simply preaching the gospel in a law abiding fashion and were not provoking law enforcement (by breaking a law). I find it hard to believe that street preachers who are just preaching the gospel, who respect/obey local laws, would be arrested. There are street preachers around this area all the time. None of them are arrested unless they break a law (and preaching the gospel is not against the law in our society). So I must assume the group was doing more than just preaching the gospel. What "more" I don't know but I have seen these type of groups in action before. They push law enforcement into arresting them (etc) then claim persecution.

Martin.

 

Where exactly is that scriptural command? Chapter and verse please.

 

I got the information firsthand from some Christian kids who are members of Students for Life, who verified to me L&L's harrassment of the students that day.

What happened in court on 9-20? Was it continued, rescheduled, what??

You failed to answer my other questions, and that falure is so noted.

 

It's somewhat disconcerting that you don't see the lack of credibility in the method of you Christian witness.

Are you denying that L&L was shouting "Turn to Jesus, or you're going to hell" from a bullhorn?

Are you denying that this was disruptive to the learning environment?

Are you claiming that you notified the school of your presence prior to your visit?

Are you claiming that you had the support of the campus's Christian pro-life group?

Are you claiming that there was no dissention to your presence?

What is Mr Neal being charged with, and why do you believe he is not guilty?

Then answer my previously unanswered questions:

What were you arrested for?
Why do you believe you were not guilty of the charges?

 

lifeandliberty:

I am waiting on your response to the Biblical issues raised in my post.

Martin.

 

That is harrassment and is to be expected.If you want to read about real persecution go to Voice of the Martyrs.We have brothers and sisters being beaten,jailed,and killed at a rate today higher in number then at any time in human history.