A Word to Young, Immature Street Preachers

Some brothers seem persuaded that aggression is a “sine qua non” (a thing that is absolutely necessary) for street preaching, but that is far from the truth.  There are some who appear to labor under the conviction that they are called to make a scene rather than move a soul.  Their whole manner is one that speaks of belligerence, forgetting that Christ's sons of thunder were, on at least one occasion, soundly rebuked for their destructive spirit. 

These are the men who seem to imagine that if they have only managed to get into some kind of argument, only succeeded in stirring up some kind of antagonism, they must be doing their job well.  They seem intent on venting a measure of unholy spleen, determined harshly to probe the sensitivities of all who pass by at their most tender spot, and then applauding themselves because they are convinced that the resulting negative reaction is expressive of a heart set against God.  Consider that the reason for such a reaction might just be that you are an offensive troll whose mission to stamp on as many toes as possible in the name of God has been overwhelmingly successful.

Just because truth came from the mouth of Balaam's donkey does not make your behaving like an obstreperous ass somehow virtuous.  You are there to do these men and women and children good.

Sadly, some street preachers seem to think that there is some scale of awards in which the more they are abused or restricted, the more effective and faithful they have been:

"Somebody yelled at me the other day."

"Oh, that's nothing, I got spat at a few weeks ago."

"Really, well, they threw something at me just last month."

"All terrible, no doubt, but I got asked by the local authorities to move on."

"Gentlemen, I .  .  .  [pause for effect] .  .  .  I have been .  .  .  arrested!" [Gasps of awe and a smattering of applause for the esteemed brother.]

I have seen and heard some and of some who, as soon as they are challenged by someone, invite them to call the police if they have a problem.  Now, if that isn't unhelpful, kindly fax me an explanation of what is! Or, the police turn up to have a word, and the immediate response is to get up on one's high horse (tricky if you are already standing on a small box, but I have seen some brothers attempt it with panache), strike the martyr pose (again, if you are already on a box on your high horse, this becomes quite a high risk approach), and state that you are exercising your rights as a citizen and as a Christian, and the only way to muzzle you is to arrest you.  Brother, you are probably not (yet) Bunyan before the magistrate.

I know that some police officers, appointed to keep the peace and enforce the law, have mistaken themselves for moral guardians in accordance with the spirit of the age.  Nevertheless, a friend of mine with the Metropolitan Police assures me that most of the police are likely to apply some sort of 'attitude test' – a deliberately combative street preacher invites his own trouble.  A soft answer turns away wrath, and we would do well to learn that a calm explanation, a readiness to find another location, or perhaps - in some circumstances - even a willingness to come back another day, avoids unnecessary trouble.  Stirring up trouble and inviting arrest is not being persecuted for righteousness' sake, but bravado.  "Ah, but I was forbidden to preach Christ!" Really, was that before or after you made a argumentative nuisance of yourself?   Often, they are not even forbidding us to preach, and - although I freely acknowledge that we should not bow to illegitimate pressures - a gracious response can defuse the situation, win the appreciation of the law enforcement officers in question, and spare us to fight another day.  We are in danger of provoking conflicts that do not need to happen.

The same Bible that tells you that all men will speak well of you only if you are in the train of the false prophets tells you also to live at peace with all men, if you can, and to pray for those who exercise authority in the hope "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence".

We are sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves.  "Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves".

- Author Unknown