LawGrace

Does a Complaint Trump Our 1st Amendment Right?

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On November 10th, 2007, Brother Robert and I had been preaching on in the Pismo Beach Plaza. It was one of those picture perfect days at the beach – not too hot, not too cold – so there was a good crowd gathered.

This photo was from a different day. The reason I posted it again will become obvious as you read on.

We preached for over an hour to those that sat in the sun and passed by. I was up preaching when I saw a Pismo Beach Police patrol car out of the corner of my eye. It’s always nice to see them because I know they are there to protect us and enforce the laws of the land.

I believe the Pismo Beach Police Department does a fine job of uphold our laws and keeping our town safe. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with the officers – even witnessing to several of them. This day was a bit different. Not that I had a bad experience with them but felt maybe the officer wasn’t upholding our 1st Amendment Rights.

On a side note: Does a Christian have, “rights?” I mean, we were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ – we are not our own. Mmm…

You be the judge. Was my 1st Amendment Rights violated or was the officer right in shutting me down? I mean, he said someone did complain about the preaching, sighting California Penal Code § 415.

When I got home I looked it up and here it is. Please read it and listen to the short podcast of the encounter with the officer. We didn’t get to finish our discussion - he was pulled away on another call.

California Penal Code § 415
§ 415. Disturbing the Peace
Any of the following persons shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than 90 days, a fine of not more than four hundred dollars ($400), or both such imprisonment and fine:

(1) Any person who unlawfully fights in a public place or challenges another person in a public place to fight.

(2) Any person who maliciously and willfully disturbs another person by loud and unreasonable noise.

(3) Any person who uses offensive words in a public place which are inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction.

Please leave a post to let me know what you think. Does our First Amendment rights end when there is a complaint? Did I handle myself in a Christian manner? Do you have any suggestions, critiques or comments?

In spite of this encounter with the police, Brother Robert and I moved and continued to preach. It was getting dark and cold and there were few people there. However, we continued to read aloud from God’s Word, I began expounding a bit on the 3rd Commandment, when a group of young people (two guys & two girls), standing by railing on the pier began intentionally blaspheming God’s Name – loudly. They began attacking Creationism and Christianity in general.

They were collage students; one of them named Kyle came on real strong with his best intellectual arguments. Problem is, I’m a bag of hammers when it comes to debating intellectually – so I did my best, just to keep things on edge for a bit, thinking it might draw in a few more to hear the Gospel. Anyhow, it got pretty hot between Kyle and I as we debated Creation vs. Evolution. Sure enough it drew in a few more people.

I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder. I looked over and was my Pastor from our first church we used to attend. Pastor Robert and his wife Tammy showed up and asked, “What are you guys debating?” I think Pastor thought he would come in for back up. It was cool.

Pastor Robert began talking with Kyle, asking him about his religious background. This gave me opportunity to speak with the other three. After about 15 minutes or so, Pastor Robert had Kyle calmed down and I had been carrying on a civil (intellectual) conversation with the other three. They all were very resistant to God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ. One of the young ladies was Jewish and outright rejected Jesus as Messiah.

Pastor ended up leaving and I spent the next hour or so reasoning with these collage kids. As I continued to press them with the Law, the Holy Spirit seemed to be breaking up the hardness of their hearts. One of them asked, “Ok, if the whole world is on their way to Hell, why do Christians say God is all loving? Why does He want to send everyone to Hell?”

I took this as my queue for giving them the Gospel. As I began to share God’s love with them, it seemed like they softened even more. They were not justifying themselves in their sin, or blaspheming God’s Name – just quietly listening without argument.

In the end, they heard the Gospel at least three of four times and here’s the best part, they ALL took Bibles and tracts. Can you believe it? We should – “the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.” Please pray for Kyle and these three dear souls. God is so good and His Word is true!

Is preaching the Gospel worth it? Is getting hassled by the police worth it? Can we get discouraged? Could the beginning of this encounter with Kyle and his friends, seem to some as unloving? Yes – Yes – Yes! It’s all worth it.

I thank God for this encounter with Kyle and his friends. I don’t need confirmation from God but He knows we need encouragement from time to time. Wow – what a blessing to partake in Gospel fellowship with our Triune God. Praise be to the Lamb that was slain!

Posted by Ambassador at 1:38 AM |  4 comments    

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