Christians Arrested for Preaching in New Orleans After Sunset; Police Vow to Target Churches Next
A pastor and five members of his ministry team were arrested Friday night in New Orleans, Louisiana for preaching on Bourbon Street after sunset.
Pastor Troy Bohn of RAVEN Ministries (Restoring a Vision and Evangelizing Nations) and his ministry associates were taken into custody as they were sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ after 10:00 p.m. with the many men and women who had gathered on the infamous street.
Bourbon Street is located in the French Quarter, and is most known for its preponderance of bars and strip clubs. It is the center of night life in the city and also a tourist attraction during events like Mardis Gras and the Southern Decadence Festival, which are known for featuring lewd acts in the streets. Bohn called the area his “mission field” as he has been preaching in the city since 1996. He said that he engages in evangelistic activity in New Orleans at least three times a week....
They've DONE The SAME THING On RUSH-DIVISION-STATE ST.'S Weekend RIOTOUS Night-Life On CHICAGO'S Near-North-Side !
I Remember Street-Preaching There A Few Years Ago With PASTOR HUFF & THE BRETHREN Of THE KING JAMES BAPTIST BIBLE CHURCH, Arlington Heights, IL !
The CHICAGO ALDERMAN At The Time, BURTON NATARUS (Who's 7th Cousin To My Former Employer & Personal Friend STUART ARONESTE [Italian/Jewish])--With THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPT.,--Slapped A "MIDNIGHT-CURFEW" On ALL STREET-PREACHERS & EVANGELISTS;
*Meaning, One COULDN'T Use A PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM On PUBLIC GROUND Past 12AM !
That "CURFEW" WASN'T Challenged & TODAY Street-Preaching On DIVISION Is NON-EXISTANT !
BUT STABBINGS ON DIVISION ARE NOTORIOUS:
"2 MEN STABBED, ANOTHER BEATEN IN DIVISION STREET FIGHT
By Peter Nickeas, Chicago Tribune Reporter
Two Men Were Stabbed, Another Badly Beaten And A Fourth Arrested Early Sunday (9-23-12) After A Fight On Division Street Spilled Onto State Street, Chicago Police Said.
An Officer Suffered Injuries That Didn't Require Hospitalization While Trying To Arrest A 24-Year-Old Man..."--CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Neil wrote: We have examples of both of those here at the Pima Air Museum.
I actually thought of you when I wrote my comment, knowing how close you are to Davis Monthan AFB, where they used to have HUNDREDS of those things. Only one I ever saw was at Wright-Patterson AFB museum. Very impressive.
Psalm 37: Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice in the noon day.
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. CEASE from ANGER and forsake WRATH. Do not fret it only causes harm.
For evil doers shall be cut off, but those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth and shall delight thenmselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plots against the just and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him. For He sees that HIS day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow to cast down the poor and needy to slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart and their bows shall be broken.
.... for the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. ... they shall not be ashamed in the evil time and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish and the enemies of the Lord like the splendor of the meadows shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.
Phoebe wrote: "I agree though, you can't wait for all those useless churches to be of any help in evangelising the poor sinner. But do try to think deeply about that."
We are the church and we each have different gifts and functions. My point is we shouldn't criticize the street preachers who often are ordained ministers who simply speak God's Word to the lost in public settings. And in America we have a history of open air Gospel preaching such as George Whitefield's ministry. This is a right we must defend and if it means getting arrested and challenging the arrest in court, then so be it. We are way past being silent on such matters... Those with a voice need to raise it now for future generations to have the same freedoms.
Tickled pink wrote: Words have meaning. The righteous are part of no rebellions, my dear twisted brother. May the Lord open your eyes. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! This applies to more than just words that mean happy.
Oh. Words means things. Really? Rebellion is opposition to authority or tradition. Like the Reformation.(sounds more pleastant than rebellion, doesn't it?) Rebellion itself is not evil, nor darkness, speaking of twisted. Depends what is being rebelled against. May the Lord open your eyes.
Phoebe wrote: For indeed there is no COMMAND to CHRISTIANS at this time to REBEL against the law in their RESPECTIVE countries.
Peter said that he would rather obey God rather than man. With all your comments you are saying that Swat team for Christ, BIBLE Baptist Church, Pastor Teesdale, Brother Lansing,and many others are wrong in going to the streets when they are told they can't? You want to know something if the brothers and sisters for BIBLE Baptist Church has listen to --your-- logic, the people who has to watch Dale get into the accident that killed him would never got the gospel. Email BIBLE Baptist Church of Deland and ask them about it. Question Phoebe, why are you complaining about these street preachers, why didn't you go after Teesdale when his news article came out?
2. Let your own conscience guide your actions. Don't be other peoples conscience by using scripture to IMPLY God has commanded OTHERS to
Phoebe Ahhhhh? You really were not practising what you are 'preaching'. You essentially called those in New Orleans fools. You (and you can fill in the blanks)
As to using Scripture, to rightly dividing the Holy Word of God, the Great Commission is there, has been since Jesus gave it to believers, and obedience to this Commission is important to Him, IMHO more important then whether or not men on this earth with the laws they make in rebelion against God are pleased or not (see Psalm 2) and would likewise be to those who love Him.
I don't expect it to be important to those who don't and especially to pretend Christians and those influenced and deceived by false teachers either that (ab)use the laws of man to justify their faithlessness to Christ.
For example the state NOT God makes legal the murder of children in the womb, so should a woman (ab)use this law to kill her own baby because it would inconvience her life?
It is important to be brave and valiant when open-air preaching. This is crucial for the testimony. We serve a risen Saviour, a real Person, a Real Omnipotent God, and we represent HIM. And he has promised, "I will be with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
When men make threats, we ignore them. When sinners offer advice as to how we should go about our service for the Lord, we ignore them and obey the commands of our Master. When threatened with imprisonment for obeying Christ, we flinch not.
It is good to observe the men and women in history who obeyed Christ, and who suffered for Christ, and take heart from their example.
Wycliffe was hated by the Roman Catholic Church (i.e. the devil) because he rebelled against the darkness and oppression of "the authorities" in England, and determined to begin translating the Bible into a language the people could understand.
Christians born twice will always be threatened by those born only once. It is all part of the battle between Satan and God, and it will not cease until Christ's second coming.
Witnessing involves sacrifice, but it is a shame when professing Christians censure those who are going out, judging them, and proudly saying, "I could do far better than that!"
O my soul, o my soul! I am pained in my heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, Because you have heard, O my soul The sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried For the whole land is plundered And my curtains in a moment How long will I see the standard And hear the sound of the trumpet? For My people are foolish They have not known Me They are silly children And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil But to do good they have no knowledge.
Mike wrote: Preaching the Bible does incite rebellion. Rebellion against sin, and rebellion of some against the preaching. What matters is which rebellion you are part of.
Words have meaning. The righteous are part of no rebellions, my dear twisted brother. May the Lord open your eyes.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
This applies to more than just words that mean happy.
I think you will notice three main points to my posts 1. Peace. 2. Let your own conscience guide your actions. Don't be other peoples conscience by using scripture to IMPLY God has commanded OTHERS to (fill in the blank)over matters that are NOT BLACK and WHITE in scripture but rely on taking a piece of scripture and making it FIT your OPINION. For indeed there is no COMMAND to CHRISTIANS at this time to REBEL against the law in their RESPECTIVE countries.
3. Don't use the Word of God to incite rebellion.
Dear Angela, do please forgive me for my misunderstanding. These things are bound to happen.
I agree though, you can't wait for all those useless churches to be of any help in evangelising the poor sinner. But do try to think deeply about that.
I mingle with sinners - like Christ did - I don't talk AT them with microphones in the street.
Dear Phoebe, As a matter of fact I have hit the streets many times and have even "preached" to sinners entering the local abortion mills to kill their inconvenient children. And you know what? I love doing that more than anything else. To God be the glory!
Phoebe wrote: To be perfectly honest I don't think any of you really care about what happens to other human beings on this planet, the only thing you seem to care about is being right and your supposed rights - but you don't pay too much attention to the rights of others. Using the bible to make it seem as if you care, when in fact all you care about are your rights, is sinful.
Phoebe I am thinking it is just possible you have actually heard of a Dutch lady named Corrie Ten Boom (spelling?).
Her pastor, didn't believe it was right for the Ten Boom family to break the law in their country and hide Jews in their home so the Nazis won't take them to concentration camps to murder them.
Now, please do listen.
One of the people the Lord Jesus Christ most used to convict me that I was a sinner, a sinner deserving the punishment of hell was:
a) a kind friendly church member who told me Jesus loved me and had a wonderful plan for my life?
b) a church member who liked sports and fishing and the same kind of TV and movies I liked at that time too?
c) an obnoxious street corner preacher, who preached against sin, who warned of hell and "interupted" our lunch hour over the objection of the people in downtown Knoxville, with his loud voice?
Phoebe wrote: To be perfectly honest I don't think any of you really care about what happens to other human beings on this planet...
Well that just goes to show how "thinking" can be so off-beam, not based on reality. It's the old man again, and I feel sorry for you.
"Rights"? We don't worry about "rights". Those who obey God are in the right.
Think about it. If men like Wycliffe and Tyndale had obeyed the (wretched Catholic) "authorities" of their day, you wouldn't even have had a Bible in English to learn about the Saviour, would you?
Phoebe, you really need to think more before you open your mouth.
But I will always defend your right to speak your tripe.
That is what this is all about. The freedom to express what you believe. Currently you believe a lot of tripe, and you need to get into scripture more, where you will find the truth of God. Then you can repent (if God gives it you) and trust in the Saviour, who alone can make you righteous before God. Don't forget the one in the Bible who "sought repentance with tears" but could never find it.
Jesus was the "Friend of Sinners". I recommend you try to be the same. Even on Bourbon Street after dark, with a megaphone!
To be perfectly honest I don't think any of you really care about what happens to other human beings on this planet, the only thing you seem to care about is being right and your supposed rights - but you don't pay too much attention to the rights of others. Using the bible to make it seem as if you care, when in fact all you care about are your rights, is sinful.
Phoebe wrote: 1. As you say John, Christian's have been fast asleep. Today they wake, but only because their rights are being infringed, and rush at the problems declaring their rights - based on scripture of course. 2. As for the violin sonata John .. People have been dying in your country and Angela's country for hundreds of years without Christ. Where were the preachers then?
1. I wish the churches were rushing about trying to protect their freedoms. But alas, they are far too asleep and self-concerned to worry about little things like that. Not all churches of course. There are some who still obey Christ despite the dangers and possibility of imprisonment.
2. Ahhhh ..... now you are talking my lingo. Where were/are the preachers? I don't mean those who preach at what I call "preaching stations", but those who obey the Lord, and Go, Go, Go.
3. David Platt set up a successful mission in the French Quarter of New Orleans until the hurricane. Now he is pastoring a disciple-making church in Birmingham, Alabama, teaching his flock to become Christ-centred and sacrificial. Maybe Pastor Bohn is continuing the good work in New Orleans. I can't comment on that without seeing it firsthand.
Phoebe wrote: The people preaching on Bourban St are not breaking any of Gods laws, they are being foolish.
Phoebe Aren't you glad/thankful Jesus tells those who believe in Him and love Him, those who are His disciples indeed, not just in empty words, to gently correct those who are in opposition, in this case to obedience to the very commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to go and preach the gospel.
As gently and humbly as I might I am reminded when Peter opposed Jesus going to the Cross, Jesus said to Him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.'
Dear Phoebe, what's the matter, doesn't open-air preaching meet with your approval? Does it make you embarressed that you don't have this kind of love for the One who was nailed to a cross for your sins? Are you blind to the reality that actions speak loudly, in this case a sinful silence speaks to sinners that Jesus isn't that important to those who play church
BUT a passionate pulblic pleading with them to repent and be saved from their sins because Jesus has died and willingly shed His blood for them is so much more in line with Jesus Christ is worthy to be loved and obeyed even if we die for Him.
So you haven't actually hit the streets yet Angela? I hope you do.
As you say John, Christian's have been fast asleep. Today they wake, but only because their rights are being infringed, and rush at the problems declaring their rights - based on scripture of course. As for the violin sonata John .. People have been dying in your country and Angela's country for hundreds of years without Christ. Where were the preachers then?
I am glad that we live in civilised countries where we may have opinions and express them. However, these freedoms are being eroded, and there is less freedom than we used to have. And the church has permitted this with hardly a peep.
Now as a Christian, I believe there is a law which transcends all other laws, and it is THIS law which needs to be obeyed wholeheartedly and unreservedly. You remember that Jesus talked about doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Apply that in this situation and in every other situation. Think. You are a lost, dead sinner, and you are drunk lying in a gutter in Bourbon Street, your liver is shot, and only a little while before you expire and go to meet God. What would you want God's men to do? Invite you to church on Sunday?!
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: James 2:8 KJV
This is the principle of Jesus Christ whom I serve. He is my Lord and Master. If I obey this royal law, I please God, even if it means upsetting a lot of people.
Apply this principle to evangelistic work, and JESUS will be there IN PERSON, ordering all things. If Pastor Bohn is doing this, I am with him all the way.
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Paul Fountain | 1/30/2009
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