Charges were dropped against a Sacramento-area youth pastor who was arrested while sharing his Christian faith one-on-one with shoppers at a mall.
Matthew Snatchko, who regularly takes a small group of youth from his church to the Galleria Mall in Roseville, Calif., said he was interrupted by a security guard May 8 while in the middle of a conversation.
Pointing out no one has ever complained of his activities at the mall, Snatchko told WND the guard demanded he leave because he was "walking around and talking to people."
The pastor, 23, said he "kind of laughed," insisting he wasn't doing anything wrong, because "everyone else was walking around and talking as well."
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Yes, Paul did appeal to higher courts, and he did seek to show his innocence before all. However, "to sue" has the idea of obtaining compensation for a wrong. If you are thrown into jail for spreading the gospel, then by all means you should not just roll over and play dead. That scenario would be the appropriate time to plead your cause, or rather the cause of Christ, before the courts. But I don't see it as scriptural to sue someone for damages or whatever. The apostles in Acts 5 certainly would have had everything going for them if they had sought compensation. They were peacefully in the temple when they were horrifically assaulted by the Jewish leaders. What did they do? Did they sue the Sanhedrin? Did they run to the Romans? No, they rejoiced in what had happened!
I'm beginning to smell the odor, stink, and stench of ANTI-SEMITISM; as per the post of "Alba Forcelin from Colorado".
NO, I AM NOT ACCUSING "Alba" of BEING AN ANTI-SEMITIC RACIST.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT IT IS EASY TO PIN THE BLAME ON THE "JEWS" BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ARE ABLE ADMINISTRATORS AND VERY PUBLIC IN THE BUSINESS WORLD; ESPECIALLY HERE IN U.S. COMMERCE.
AND NO, I HAVE NOT "Check(ed) the names of the owners of the mall, and most of the stores in the mall."
I HAVE, HOWEVER, CHECKED OUT THE NAME OF THE "Sacramento-area youth pastor who was arrested while sharing his (Judeo-)Christian faith one-on-one with shoppers at a mall."
MATTHEW SNATCHKO, I BELIEVE IS HIS NAME.
HIS FIRST NAME IS DEFINITELY OF JEWISH AND/OR HEBREW ORIGIN: AS IN THE FIRST GOSPEL OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. . . . . . .THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT "MATTHEW" (OR "LEVI").
THE NEW TESTAMENT STATES THUS OF "MATTHEWS'S" OR "LEVI'S" CALLING:
"AND AS HE {THE LORD JESUS] PASSED BY, HE SAW LEVI [MATTHEW] THE SON OF ALLPHEUS SITTING AT THE RECEIPT OF CUSTOM, AND SAID UNTO HIM [LEVI/MATTHEW], FOLLOW ME." MARK 2:14 (*SEE ALSO LUKE 5:27-28)
SO TECHNICALLY, ACCORDING TO JEWISH-NEW TESTAMENT NAMES; MATTHEW SNATCHKO IS ALSO "LEVI" SNATCHKO.
OH, BY THE WAY, "SNATCHKO" IS ALSO A "JEWISH" SURNAME.
Check the names of the owners of the mall, and most of the stores in the mall. You'll no doubt find out that the persecuors were of the same mold as those who persecuted the Apostles for evangelizing.
Satan at work in the Mall and any other public arena, to stop and prevent the Word of God being proclaimed.
Here in Britain we've observed police doing the same thing on the high street where preachers have been moved on.
It can only be perceived, that in these perilous days, the managers and administration of public officials are telling their staff to do this kind of thing against the Christian preachers.
Another sign of the times we live in, where the powers of darkness appear to have raised their profile, through the ungodly and wicked servants in society in the west. Anti-Christian ardour is increasing in the nations. Psalm 12 v1 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
v8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
Yes he can turn the other cheek if he was just thrown out of the place, and not seek to sue the mall, but if he was put in jail/convicted for the mere fact of talking to someone about Christian topics, then that becomes a different story, of which he should sue the state for being arrested not the mall as the state makes the laws, lawyers and judges merely interpret them as there is no absolute standard in worldly law.
Also PAUL the apostle threatened and talked back to government officials and plead his case before higher legal authorities when lower authorities were not judging him in the way he believed was just, so using legal methods and recourse has examples even in Christian historic figures like Paul.
Someone can be fined for tresspassing, but such a thing could never be prooven in an american high court as this was supposedly a public mall in normal working hours, not when it was closed when he would be trespassing. He could also be thrown out if a consistent amount of people complained they were being intimidated or harrassed by him, but that again is different then merely talking calmly without intimidating or getting in someone's face or way or forcing themselves upon people, which I seriously doubt this guy was doing. He was just probably keeping his distance and saying something calmly and non threatening like "excuse me sir may I tell you something about a person named Jesus"
Why does God let attorneys exist? I may not have worded this properly but let me explain.
We are a nation that still has laws. Why should we let anyone ignore the laws that we do have in our defense and illegally abuse us? Is Christ honored if we are a door mat?
Let attorney's fight the battle against abuses of the law and abuses of power and defeat these enemies of Christ and put an end to their harrassment whenever possible not because we are out for revenge or to uphold our pride but rather so others may have a greater freedom to share the gospel today and in the future and even more so that Christ may be honored and His people may rejoice.
Similar to the Islamic bullies who plot and repeatly attack those they hate are emboldened by cowards we should in no way help the enemies of the gospel to be emboldened in their assualts but cowering like a beaten puppy with its tail between its legs.
In cases like these may God use God fearing attorney to not just stand up for our rights but to defeat the enemy on his own turf.
Correct. I have experienced similar things on private property like, in the UK, shopping centres. It is not right to argue with security men, but to humbly accept the law. There are plenty of places to preach and give out tracts in England still. What will happen when and if preaching is made illegal everywhere remains to be seen. But we must stand up for the King, keeping to the law, so far as we are able. I am willing to go to prison, if necessary, and I only say that to encourage others who may have to face the same.
If the mall owners don't want him there, then technically he was trespassing, because in all probability, the mall is owned by a particular private company. Mr. Snatchko should rejoice that he was counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and not get entangled in a futile and God-dishonouring lawsuit or any such thing. When brethren from our church go out to pass out tracts we are warned that we will be arrested if we step a little off the sidewalk and into the grass that happens to be owned by a local mall. Mr. Snatchko should continue to proclaim the word of God in the highways and byways, but just make sure that he is on public property.
It is interesting to see how, when the society begins to attempt to suppress something, in this case the gospel of truth, the natural hatred in men's hearts toward God and His word comes out. These guards are, no doubt, Christ-haters from the get-go. This was a good opportunity to vent their anger on a man who desired to preach the truth. This is the way the Germans began with the Jews, by the by!
This is a serious problem first, because for in spite of any secular law we are to proclaim the gospel. We will be persecuted for that. I would think that the following would be appropriate verses.
2Timothy 3 12 And all indeed who desire to live piously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. John 15 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on account of this the world hates you. 20 Remember the word which I said unto you, The bondman is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep also yours.
In this country one does expect respect for freedom of speech. I do not see anywhere that this pastor pin anyone against the wall, so we had to hear the message. I would assume, especially in California, the same courtesy is already given to Moslems, Hindus, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses.
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James Lewis | 7/9/2008
COMMENTS | 
stever: "
therighthandoffellowship
'the secret handshake crowd' :confused:
..."
