Allow church members to exercise freedom of speech!

We know that a particular religion has the custom of going around, visiting and talking to people from house to house, on the street and in other places. However, some church leaders have been telling their members that they must not talk to these visitors. Church leaders need to allow their members to exercise their own free will.

To church leaders I say: let your church members decide for themselves whom they wish to speak to. Dignify them. Do not have them under your control so much that they cannot exercise their freedom to have good Scriptural discussions with another religious group. (Galatians 6:5) Think, for instance, of the tragedy that took place between Owia and Fancy, resulting in fatalities. People generally tend to ask questions about matters like these. Examples: Why did this tragedy happen? (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Did God cause it to happen? (Job 34:10; James 1:13; 1 Peter 5:7) What comfort can be shared from the Scriptures with grieving surviving family members and relatives? (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4; Revelation 21:3-5)

When the religious group visits homes and elsewhere, then people can have their questions answered, as they are shown Scriptures that bear on the subject, such as those in the brackets above. How wise it is then when church leaders let their members and people in general converse with a visiting religious group. This is based solidly on the Scripture at Acts 28:22. That verse mentions what some community leaders said to the apostle Paul. They said: “But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” Those community leaders did not allow any religious leader to stop them from talking to the apostle Paul. They found out for THEMSELVES about the apostle Paul’s religion. In the same way, people must be allowed to find out for THEMSELVES about a religion and discuss Scriptural subjects also.

Church members must not be treated as though they are incompetent and cannot handle themselves well. So, I encourage all to make their own choice; feel free to speak to a religious group that visits you at home or elsewhere according to your OWN wish. Respect your religious leaders, but exercise your OWN right to freedom of opinion and speech.

Believer in freedom of opinion and speech