People know that Christians are persecuted in other countries but what about the Christians who are persecuted here in America? I am starting a series of posts about Christians who are being persecuted by the government, both here in America, and in England.
The post this week will be about Brian Ingalls. Brian is a street preacher here in Maine. He is faithful to be outside Planned Parenthood in Portland and his presence and actions there have caused a little commotion.
Before my family was involved in abortion ministry in Portland, the city put in a 39-foot buffer zone around Planned Parenthood, that was succesfully challenged and deemed unconstitutional. Now Christians have been restored their right to stand on the public sidewalk directly outside Planned Parenthood.
However, even though we are allowed to stand close to Planned Parenthood, the persecution has not stopped. Maine Attorney General, Janet Mills, filed a civil rights complaint, against Brian, threatening fines of up to $5,000. What was Brian's crime? He was preaching too loudly outside Planned Parenthood. In the Attorney General's previous complaint she did not only want Brian to have to quieter outside the Portland Planned Parenthood, she asked that Brian not be allowed within 50 feet of any Planned Parenthood in Maine.
"Under the Act, it is illegal to make any noise that can be heard inside an abortion clinic after being warned by a police officer." Since Brian was being so loud in preaching outside Planned Parenthood, he was issued a preliminary injunction. Later, in a huge legal victory, a United States District Judge issued a preliminary injunction so that the Attorney General and Portland Police officers could not enforce the noise provision of the Maine Civil Rights Act against Brian. This was a huge victory for free speech. Before this, Brian stayed away from Planned Parenthood because he did not trust Planned Parenthood or Portland Police to treat him fairly or honestly so he stayed away from Planned Parenthood until the judge put a preliminary injunction against the police.
Later that District Judge's decision was overturned. Brian still has the preliminary injunction. He is not allowed to preach so loudly that he can be heard within any Planned Parenthood building in Maine. If he can be heard inside any Planned Parenthood in the state he can be arrested. No warning, just arrested. The noise ordinance is not applied to other people but only the pro-life group. This restriction on free speech is unconstitutional because it is applied based on the content of Brian's words, not merely how loud the speech is.
Brian is extremely careful how loud he is outside Planned Parenthood. He does not preach anymore, he is afraid that if he says something too loudly, he might get in trouble. However that does not stop him from coming out to Planned Parenthood and being a voice for life and for the Gospel. He just keeps his voice quieter. But there are other preachers to take his place until justice is served.
Brian will soon be going to court, hopefully justice will prevail and the injunction will be dropped.
We hear of persecution in other countries, but America is different, right? But we are not exempt from persecution here in America. Our government that was founded on Christian beliefs is now trying to silence free speech. They pervert justice. They try to silence the preaching of the Gospel. And as we will see in later posts, they will even arrest Christians for preaching. America was once a land where we had liberty, but now the liberty to preach the Gospel is being taken away. But nothing will stop the spread of the Gospel in our land! Though they may be few, God will raise up preachers of righteousness who are willing to risk their freedom, who are willing to fight the legal battles to secure our rights, men who are willing to be arrested for preaching Christ and Him crucified for the sins of His elect! God will raise up men and women of faith who love Christ more than their own freedom, who love the lost more then their own comfort. Are you one of these people? Are you willing to sacrifice your time to take the Gospel to the lost people of our country even if it means you are threatened and maybe even arrested? Is the Gospel worth that to you?
Not everyone will have to face the persecution Brian is going through. But the question is, are you willing to face that kind of persecution for Christ? Because this is what our country is coming to. Christ is worthy of all of our lives. He has commanded to preach His Gospel and that is what we will do by His grace until our dying breath!
With love in the Lord,
Virginia
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