Charges were dropped against two street preachers in mid-January who had been falsely accused of hate speech.
David Barker and Stephen Wan were questioned by the police under caution, after preaching the gospel on the High Street in Camberley, Surrey. As hecklers gathered, it was alleged the preachers said that ‘homosexuals are going to hell’ and ‘man cannot lie with man’. The preachers did not say either of these.
A wise response
Speaking first about the Good News and Christmas, John 3.16 was quoted. Stephen then continued to explain the true meaning of Christmas and that Jesus was called ‘Jesus’ because he would save his people from their sins. He explained that Jesus is the Saviour because he came into the world to atone for the sins of all mankind. One heckler then swore and accused him of preaching hate. The heckler then asked about homosexuality, so Stephen explained the Genesis Creation story and that marriage is an institution ordained by God for the purpose of procreation. Again, the heckler demanded to know what Stephen thought of homosexuality. Stephen then referred the heckler to the Bible. The police were then called.
