Pray for Street Preachers in Hendersonville NC who are being arrested

sermonindex Apr 4, 2007

We need prayer here in Western NC. Hendersonville (about 15 miles south of Asheville) is requiring street preachers to obtain permits (basically asking the city's permission) in order to exercise their Constitutional rights. Ordanances like this one have been struck down in GA and TN as being unconstitutional, but Hendersonville City Council is digging it's heels in.

Here's a link to one of the articles about it:

http://www.hendersonvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070323/NEWS/703230351

This is in my back yard folks. I'm not a street preacher... but if you dont hear from me for awhile, you'll know I just became one! Visit me in jail, ok?

Krispy

P

PreachParsly Apr 4, 2007

Yeah, I heard about ol' Billy Ball not too long ago. I hate seeing this type of thing. I'm glad that the police where I am at haven't troubled me too much about street preaching.

J

JaySaved Apr 4, 2007

Ball, a 46-year-old preacher from Primrose, Ga., received a citation from Hendersonville Police about 30 minutes after he appeared Thursday on the corner of Four Seasons Boulevard and Coolridge Street holding a sign that said: "Three gays rights: AIDS, hell, salvation." It's his second citation -- he also got one on Monday.

What was not reported was how every gay person who read this sign immediately repented of their immorality! I am being silly here, but I am disturbed by this type of spreading the "Good News".

While reading this I prayed about where the line is drawn between a Gospel preacher who is concerned about the salvation of unbelievers and a man who is looking for a fight with the wrong person at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Hear me out, I am not accusing this preacher of anything wrong, but I will not blindly accuse the police of doing anything wrong either. If the ordinance is a violation of free speech then it should be removed, I just don't see how a preacher getting citations glorifies God. What I am trying to say is that there must be a better way to get the ordinance removed than holding up a sign that says, "Three gays rights: AIDS, hell, salvation."

Let me state for the record that I believe the ordinance should be repealed, but I think it should be repealed in a way that does not involve a Christian breaking the law.

X

xMicahx Apr 4, 2007

Wow, thats pretty interesting and sad. I'll be driving through there tomorrow I'll make sure to pray. I also just want to say thank you to all you who do street preach...May God be glorified through all things.

V

vico Apr 4, 2007

I'll visit you brother!
should i come within the next few days??? ;-)

"...I was in prison and ye came unto me..."

W

wsbg Apr 4, 2007

Wow. I'm speechless. Stand for your freedom of religious expression brother! My prayers are with you.

sermonindex Apr 5, 2007

While reading this I prayed about where the line is drawn between a Gospel preacher who is concerned about the salvation of unbelievers and a man who is looking for a fight with the wrong person at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Sadly, your right.

I've seen this so many times, from my Brothers and Sisters in the LORD, they get yelling and screaming and boistrous in public places, they are not preaching, they want the world to know their opinion, while I am trying to calm them down, most times I have to walk away. I had to do this just the other night in a Subway restaurant. I told them, I love you but your being unreasonable, and then left.

S

Scaramouche Apr 5, 2007

Billy Ball says: ""We are going to prove that this ridiculous ordinance about free speech is exactly that. And if they give me a citation, I will go right back and preach again. If I am arrested, somebody else will be here to take my place."

Chris Norris, who pastors Fair Haven Baptist Church in Hendersonville, agreed. "

Jesus says: "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." Matthew 10:14

This is my biggest "beef" with America these days. Christian Americans can't seem to see the difference between being Christian and American. This Billy Ball and his entourage want to "fight for their rights" and I think they speak for a large portion of American Christians.

WHAT RIGHTS ???

Are these rights God given, that people HAVE to listen to us?
That we can stand on street corners and give a presentation and no one can tell us to move?
That we're gonna do what we want because we have God on our side and these people just better deal with that?

Is it any wonder why the Church in China is so strong and we're so weak???
They just carry out the Great Commission and we talk about it and argue about it and fight for our rights over it.
Man, this would really depress me if I didn't believe God's Word to be true that the apostasy HAS to come before the man of lawlessness is revealed.
When our rights are more impostant than our message, we are apostate.

With all due respect, Mr. Ball should stop talking about his rights and start preaching the Word. If they run him out, then let him shake the dust off his "sandals" and move on, knowing he did as the Lord wanted him to do and that the rest of the work is the Holy Spirits' and not to be decided through legislation.

Sorry this is so long. This is a pet peeve of mine and it just irks me what we've done to the Name of Christ for the sake of our comfort and freedom.

sermonindex Apr 5, 2007

Understand something... I dont agree with everything that Billy Ball does. I would not carry a sign like that. I dont think it brings anyone to repentence.

However, in this country we do have rights. Like it or not, we do. Do we deserve rights from God? No. But none the less, we have them. And if we dont do something to keep them, then we wont have them.

We can get all spiritual and say that we shouldnt worry about government, and the church in China is strong because of the oppression (which is true)... but the fact is America sends out more missions and relief work than any other country in the world. We wouldnt be able to do that if it were not for the freedom and liberties we enjoy.

I was in the military. I've been in combat zones. I've put my life on the line for people like Billy Ball, and every other person in this country who exercises there freedoms under the Constitution of the United States.

I support Billy Balls freedom of speech. I support a gay person when they exercise their freedom of speech. I support a Muslim when they exercise their freedom of speech (so long as their speech is protected under the Constitution, which advocating violence and treason is not protected speech).

Members of this forum who are American... you can post your opinions on this board because of those freedoms you enjoy.

So lets keep things in perspective. While it sounds very impressive to be spiritual and condemn Rev Ball for standing up for his rights... you're enjoying those rights when you write your condemnation of him on this forum!

Krispy

J

JaySaved Apr 5, 2007

Let me be clear. I support Billy Ball's right of free speech as protected by the Constitution, I just want Billy Ball and the rest of us to exercise wise speech, especially in front of the world.

R

repentcanada Apr 5, 2007

Thanks for this update krispy, we all know it's going to get worse. We need persecution to purge the church!

sermonindex Apr 5, 2007

I just want Billy Ball and the rest of us to exercise wise speech, especially in front of the world.

I agree 100%... but thats America. Freedom of speech is just that... freedom of speech. The Founding Fathers were well aware of the fact that our liberties would be abused by some, but the answer is not tyranny.

Now... I agree that the only right we have is hell. But thats not the point here. Paul had no problem invoking his rights as a Roman citizen when he was being held prisoner. Those who have a problem with us who invoke our rights as Americans conveniently ignore that part of Paul's ministry.

Krispy

sermonindex Apr 5, 2007

Krispy said:

I support Billy Balls freedom of speech. I support a gay person when they exercise their freedom of speech. I support a Muslim when they exercise their freedom of speech (so long as their speech is protected under the Constitution, which advocating violence and treason is not protected speech).

Well said Steven!!

I

InTheLight Apr 5, 2007

I support Billy Balls freedom of speech. I support a gay person when they exercise their freedom of speech. I support a Muslim when they exercise their freedom of speech (so long as their speech is protected under the Constitution, which advocating violence and treason is not protected speech).

I agree that this ordinance seems to run contrary to freedom of speech rights and it should definitely be brought before a court for review where it will most likely be struck down as unconstitutional.

However, as I was thinking about this matter I began to ponder whether or not this man should be purposefully violating this ordinance in the mean time. I do believe that there is a time when violating a law or ordinance might be the right thing to do but I don't think this is one of those times. I don't think it would be a violation of conscience for him to apply for the permit to speak in public until this ordinance is revoked. I'm thinking that by openly violating the ordinance he could lead those who are looking on to think that it is OK to disregard the law to further your own ends, possibly to much greater evil purposes than silencing public speech.

Just my thoughts.

In Christ,

Ron

J

JaySaved Apr 5, 2007

I began to ponder whether or not this man should be purposefully violating this ordinance in the mean time.

I agree. Well said.

W

WorthyisHe Apr 5, 2007

I think the last two entries on this board were well stated. I think the follow-up articles only serve to back these statements...

Has anyone read the latest update on this story?

http://www.hendersonvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070327/NEWS/703270328

J

JaySaved Apr 5, 2007

Reading this last article I ask myself, "How is God being glorified?"

sermonindex Apr 6, 2007

We must live in this world as if we don't have any rights.

Yes we have rights in North America, we are able to do what other Christians in other lands only dream of doing. However, we need to be quiet, sensible and have our wits about us and be wise as serpents and yet harmless as doves. If you need to scream your lungs out, rent a hall and yell till your voice gives way. But be absolutely certain that you are standing on that street corner by the operation of the holy Spirit and not on your own quest, as many have brought a reproach on the name of Jesus Christ already.

Zeal is good, Wisdom is better.

W

WorthyisHe Apr 6, 2007

I asked myself the same thing - how is Jesus being lifted up in all this? The attention is all shifted to man and not the message.

sermonindex Apr 9, 2007

I had the same questions, and I personally find Billy Ball to be somewhat obnoxious... however, in doing what he did he brought to light a law on the books that most believe is unconstitutional. This is an ordinance that the chief of police (who happens to be a believer) likes because it helps his police force know what is going on in the community. Not a bad thing. However, since the wording of the ordinance is not well defined, it leaves the issuing of the permits completely up to the opinion of the chief of police. If the chief was not a believer, and if he wanted to stop the Word of God from going forth... he would have that power. There are no checks and balances.

Not to mention that the law is unconstitutional anyway.

I question Billy Balls motives... but he has done more to unite the churches of this area than anyone has in a looong time. I've spoken with a pastor friend of mine this weekend, and pretty much at this point the pastors in area have agreed that violating the ordinance at this point in time will not serve any good. They are giving the mayor and the city council time to review the ordinance, and make any changes that the city lawyers feel they need to make. The Mayor has already stated that this will happen. If the changes are not made to the satisfaction of the preachers in the area, then legal action will commence, and it will involve organizations such as the ACLJ (American Center for Law & Justice), and other Christian law associations.

And I think that is proper.

Interesting to note that the ACLU is refusing to get involved. They'll stand up for those sick idiots who protest as soldiers' funerals, but wont come near a free speech issue when it involves the Gospel. What hypocrites.

By the way, many of the pastors mentioned in the article on Saturday I know personally, and will vouch for them that they are truly men seeking God's heart. Dont sit in judgement of these men, especially Randy Barton.

http://www.hendersonvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070407/NEWS/704070332&SearchID=73277530818108

Krispy