Preacher Arrested

Yesterday in adult ed we talked about the growing persecution of Christians and how it WILL be coming to America if the Lord tarries.

Today we have the news coming out of the UK that a Christian street preacher for saying that he believed homosexuality went against the word of God.

Dale McAlpine was charged with causing “harassment, alarm or distress” after a homosexual police community support officer (PCSO) overheard him reciting a number of “sins” referred to in the Bible, including blasphemy, drunkenness and same sex relationships.

The 42-year-old Baptist, who has preached Christianity in Wokington, Cumbria for years, said he did not mention homosexuality while delivering a sermon from the top of a stepladder, but admitted telling a passing shopper that he believed it went against the word of God.

Police officers are alleging that he made the remark in a voice loud enough to be overheard by others and have charged him with using abusive or insulting language, contrary to the Public Order Act.

Mr McAlpine, who was taken to the police station in the back of a marked van and locked in a cell for seven hours on April 20, said the incident was among the worst experiences of his life.

“I felt deeply shocked and humiliated that I had been arrested in my own town and treated like a common criminal in front of people I know," he said.

See it here; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7668448/Christian-preacher-arrested-for-saying-homosexuality-is-a-sin.html

Some will say, "Yeah, but Dennis...that was in the UK. That will never come here!"

To which I would reply....."It's closer than you think."

It's ironic that the USA has been the freest place on the planet to learn about God's word, to study it, preach it, learn it, discuss it.....yet most of us know a shockingly small amount about ANYTHING that the Word of God has to say.

I hate to say it, but maybe some persecution is EXACTLY what we need to make us value, appreciate and fall in love with the Word of God.