Video of a Police officer telling me I can’t preach because it’s “dangerous and causing distractions”
A team of evangelists were on the inside perimeter of a heavily populated location. They were handing out Gospel tracts, and witnessing to people. I later went to the outer perimeter, to open-air preach with moderate amplification.
The security officer told me to leave the area, but I respectfully told him that I will remain in the streets to preach. He advised the police were enroute.
While I sat in my vehicle (to pray,) three police units arrive. My video camera was laying on my seat, but you can still hear the audio of this unedited police encounter.
This police officer was not enforcing the law. He made it clear that he did not want me to preach in public, even without amplification. He told me that Christmas was not the time to share Christ. When I told him that he too would “perish in hell,” he transitioned into what police call the ‘position of tactical advantage.’
As Paul said we are to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2
As I’ve said many times before. “There’s a lot of crooks and convicts that are going to heaven (that were saved / repented.) And there’s a lot of cops that are going to hell.”
Jesus said, “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Mark 13:9-13
To view a more positive encounter with the police, click here.
Bill open-air preaching in Shreveport Louisiana, 2013
Video Preaching Christ at store on Christmas Eve Day
Evangelized the 2018 Annual LAPD Memorial Ceremony, Los Angeles Police Academy
About The Author
Bill Rhetts
An ordinary sinner saved by an Extraordinary Savior. Radically saved, and radically changed, by a Radical God. For more details, see the above 'About me' tab.
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Had another believer on another Facebook wall accuse me of “drawing attention to myself,” and of “defying authorities.’ Below is my response to the person. Frankly after examining his FB wall, I could have been more harsh in my below response – his wall was Godless. I don’t normally respond to these folks. But did this one.
Jim (last name removed) this is an unbiblical judgment of the intent and motive of my heart. You have many videos on your wall of zip lining. How would you feel if I chimed in with my opinion, judging your heart of posting those many videos, with your intent of “drawing attention to yourself?” That would be Biblically wrong for me to do so.
Jim my videotaping these have many reasons.
1. It protect us from false accusations, as happened in this video (Satan is the father of lies & the accuser of the brethren.)
2. They become training tools for ourselves and others.
3. The Lord uses them to edify the body of Christ.
4. They further the Gospel on the internet (except this one video has no Gospel in it).
5. They make great evidence in court, when the many open-air preachers do get arrested.
6. They hold me accountable regarding the way I respond to hecklers / scoffers, and re my doctrine.
You also accused me of “defying authority in the process.” Jim I was respectfully and Biblically challenging a security guard, and later a police officer, whom were using their authority to lie about what I was doing. To lie about the law, and lie what I could do, or not do.
There are many Biblical accounts of the Apostles doing the same thing, even to their deaths. Yes there can be a time to biblically ‘defy’ authorities. When the Apostles kept getting arrested for preaching Christ, they continued to Biblically defy those authorities. Peter had enough and said in Acts 5:29, “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Jim I can only praise the Lord for this. But I’ve had others personally message me, or comment to videos advising how the LORD used them to encourage them to ‘go out’ and use the gifts that the Lord has giving them. There was a time when I was only using my gift of ‘preaching and teaching,’ inside a church building. But after watching a few other open-air preachers’ videos, the Lord convicted me to ‘go out’ and use that gift. I am thankful that they posted their videos.
Besides my own pastor, I listen to many other pastors’ sermons online. I am so very thankful that we have these resources, whether they be audio or video. These are the ender of the end times my brother. Therefore unless I’m teaching false doctrine, I say let’s not major on minors i.e. styles, or methodologies.