Free Speech vs Hate Speech and Celebrity Preachers Scam

Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink
Free Speech vs Hate Speech and Celebrity Preachers Scam
Tuesday 28th March 2023

Free Speech vs Hate Speech

POV. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one”. Titus 3:2 says, “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all people” and James 1:19-20 says, So then, my beloved brethren, let everyone be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God”.

The visit of Kelly-Jay Keen Minshull (aka Posie Parker) has certainly brought to the centre stage once again the very fine line between freedom of speech and hate speech. Presumably, in approving her visa, the Immigration Department wanted to uphold the principles of free speech - so fundamental to a free and open society, that they granted her permission to come and speak here as part of her ‘Let Women Speak Tour’. As we now know it turned out a pretty ugly scene on Saturday morning in down town Auckland. Posie never got to speak and the Sunday event in Wellington was cancelled. Violence by the protesters ensued. Posie’s safety was seriously compromised. Concern about the lack of police presence are now being raised particularly in the light of the fact that for the last week there was talk of violence from a number of people opposing her visit.

I thought Brooke van Velden, ACT deputy leader summed it up well. “in a civilized country you counter ideas you don't like with more speech and debate not violence and intimidation. Ironically the group who complained they were going to be the victims of violence ended up being the violent ones”.

I find this whole thing very challenging. I accept that everyone has personal choice. If a person wants to live differently to their biological sex then so be it. But how do we as Christians navigate these treacherous waters in the public square? We are entitled to our views, that biological sex and gender are binary. We are entitled to protect our children from this very harmful ‘trans’ ideology. We are free to protest against the new so called health curriculum being introduced in all schools and we have every right to teach and disseminate a Christian worldview in it’s place.

So how do we do this is the 64,000 dollar question? How do we do this in a secular age where the Bible is of no consequence anymore. How do we do ensure our speech is grace-filled yet speak to what is true? I would be very interested in your thoughts.

The Free Speech Union works in this space. Certainly worth your time and support.

Celebrity Preachers Scam

POV. If even half of what is currently being reported is true (which it looks like it is) then something terribly wrong has crept into the church. How is it beloved, that we even have a phrase called ‘celebrity preacher’? I accept entirely that the pastors of mega churches, because of there size, attract a certain amount of attention and even adulation. But surely, this must be resisted. Is this not one manifestations of the ‘pride of life’ that 1 John 2:16 says is not of the Father. “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world”? How can mega church pastors be more like Rick Warren and Nicky Gumbel?

According to a 44 page document MP Andrew Wilkie presented to the Australian Parliament two weeks ago, the scam works by a megachurch pastor inviting another megachurch pastor to speak at his church or event. The host church then “pays for business or first-class flights for the guest pastor, along with luxury accommodation, restaurant meals, gifts and green room comfort. The icing on the cake is the payment of a generous honorarium (around $10k to $20k or more) to the visiting celebrity pastor to preach a couple of 30 minute sermons.” The visiting pastor also sells his or her books and merchandise at the event for which the pastor receives royalties.

Sadly, this is no longer an isolated case of a rogue pastor or church somewhere. No it has been going on for a long time now including in NZ. And sadly it is now a story in the public domain and not looking like it is going away anytime soon. I for one am deeply troubled and incredibly sad about this new revelation. It feels like the bride of Christ has once again been violated.

Headlines Only

Hope For All – Goodness We Can Trust. On a much brighter note I want to highly commend this fabulous booklet that Shining Lights (Dave Mann) has produced. It is a superb read and deserving of distribution to every household in NZ this Easter. For more info go to HopeProject.co.nz

World Athletics announces ban on transgender athletes - The Christian Institute

Passengers is a superb 4 part documentary about the hardships and triumphs of some of Aotearoa's earliest Anglo Indian, Cook Island, Chinese & Bohemian settlers through the lens of their modern day descendants. I found this series fascinating and a wonderful window on our nation’s history.