Is the Christian Commanded to Preach in Public? Is This Integral to Their Faith?

Songdove Books - Author's Bible open to Psalm119-9
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Dangerous precedents against God’s people are trickling into the courts of our land! Today a human rights tribunal here in BC made a callous “observation”, either because of the defendant’s lack of reference to what I will share next, or in defiance of what the Bible does indeed command of God’s followers to declare, to expose, to defend, to preach and to do so publicly.

“Glebov alleged FIC terminated his employment because of videos posted on YouTube of him preaching his Christian views.

“I find Mr. Glebov has no reasonable prospect of proving that he has a sincerely held religious belief or practice that requires him to publicly share his views on the subjects at issue,” Etmanski said in her Jan. 26 decision.”

“Prior to each academic semester, Glebov and FIC entered into an employment agreement, part of which included a provision of a “staff pack.”

Under the heading, harassment in the workplace, the pack said, “FIC expects you to behave in a manner that will not intimidate or be offensive to the community. Harassment can be defined as any unwelcome or offensive comment or action concerning race, colour, marital status, language, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, political or religious conviction.”

Complaint to school
In November 2019, a student sent FIC’s principal links to Glebov’s YouTube videos.”

“Termination
On Dec. 9, 2019, Glebov met with the school director who told him the video comments went against school polices, and that his teaching duties would finish that day.

Glebov said the videos had no connection to his employment with FIC. He said FIC arbitrarily broadened the scope of the term “workplace” to videos posted in his personal capacity.

Glebov said the director arbitrarily characterized his views as hateful and offensive, without providing any basis for the subjective criteria it applied.

While Glebov claimed religious discrimination, FIC told the tribunal that Glebov would not be able to establish that his YouTube conduct arose from a sincerely held practice or belief that has a direct connection with religion.

“I agree,” Etmanski said. “ I find that Mr. Glebov has not taken out of the realm of conjecture that he sincerely believes he must publicly disseminate the views set out above as part of his Christian faith.”

She said he would have to prove how posting YouTube videos of his views are connected with his religion and required by it.”

“However, said Etmanski, “Glebov has not provided any basis for saying that publicly disseminating his views is related to the tenets of his faith or that his ability to practice his religion would be compromised if he were unable to do so.”

Added Etmanski, Glebov provided no “evidence that he had a religious duty to spread his views, or that he manifests his religious beliefs through activism.””

https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/470382/Religious-freedom-not-compromised-in-B-C-teacher-s-YouTube-related-firing-tribunal-rules

About that. . . Take a pause now, go make yourself your favourite beverage and snack plate, come back here, then sit down, put your feet up, maybe put on some soothing worship music, and read.

Scripture is literally FULL of exhortation to speak of our faith in public, in family gatherings, in the marketplace, on the street corner, on the highways and byways, in the seat of council and government, to other nations, around the world! The verses and passages here are not exhaustive of the many places in the Old and New Testament where these admonitions are given, but they are examples. In some cases, they are examples of what the defendant was talking about as well.

Not everyone who preaches what God loves and hates, will do so in a way that is tactful or ‘pleasing to the ear”, and some would say the wording shared in the above article was crass and even unfeeling or uncaring. Whether he actually said those phrases, or that’s what the student claimed he said is moot to the discussion, because people will reword what they hear regardless, and it will be reworded according to how they heard it and how it affected them. I fear that this kind of lynching will take place more and more, as the secular public tries to shut down God’s voice through His people as it becomes more and more offensive to them regardless of how careful or loving a discourse may set out to be.

Without further adieu, here is that sampling of directives in Scripture, to take what God shares to the public square:

Psalms 82:3-4  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.  4  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

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Ecclesiastes 5:8  If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

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Isaiah 61:1-3  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;  2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;  3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

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Jeremiah 11:6  Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.

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1 Chronicles 16:23-36  Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.  24  Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.  25  For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.  26  For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.  27  Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.  28  Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.  29  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.  30  Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.  31  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.  32  Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.  33  Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.  34  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.  35  And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.  36  Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

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Psalms 9:11  Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

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Psalms 96:1-13  O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.  2  Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.  3  Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.  4  For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.  5  For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.  6  Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.  7  Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.  8  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.  9  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.  10  Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.  11  Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.  12  Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice  13  Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

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Psalms 145:3-4  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.  4  One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

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Isaiah 21:5-6  Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.  6  For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

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Jeremiah 31:10  Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

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Jeremiah 50:2  Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.

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Acts 13:32  And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

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Acts 17:22-23  Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.  23  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

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1 John 1:3-5  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.  4  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.  5  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

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Jonah 3:2  Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

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Matthew 10:5-8  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:  6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

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Matthew 10:14-28  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.  15  Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.  16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;  18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.  19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.  22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.  23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.  24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.  25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?  26  Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.  27  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.  28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

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Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

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Acts 5:40-42  And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  41  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.  42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

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Acts 10:42-43  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  43  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

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Romans 10:8-11  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

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Romans 10:13-18  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  18  But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

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1 Corinthians 1:18-31  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.  20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.  22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:  23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;  24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.  25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;  28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:  29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.  30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

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Galatians 1:7-10  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

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Colossians 1:25-29  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;  26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:  27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:  29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

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