In case you haven’t heard, a church in Colchester is appealing against a Community Protection Notice that could criminalise members for lawful street preaching. The Notice relates to various aspects of street preaching by members of the Bread of Life Community Church in Essex. It limits the use of amplification and, more significantly, the content of its message – particularly references to hell.
At the time of writing, this remains a developing story, and it is only right to acknowledge that further facts may yet emerge which cast a different light on events in Colchester. Caution is therefore necessary. Yet, on the face of what has been reported so far, this case raises deeply troubling questions for Christians and for the wider health of free expression in our nation.
We should begin where many would agree. There is a legitimate place for public authorities to ensure that noise levels are reasonable and that public spaces are shared considerately. If a council asks that amplification be turned down, or even turned off, that is not in itself an assault on the gospel. Christians, like all citizens, are called to love their neighbours and to act with wisdom and sensitivity in public settings. But that is not the heart of the issue here.
What is far more concerning is the suggestion that local officials have taken it upon themselves to ‘educate’ Christians about what they may or may not say in their preaching. Specifically, that certain themes such as judgement and hell are deemed unacceptable in public proclamation. If accurately reported, this marks a significant and dangerous shift: from regulating how something is said, to regulating what is said. And that is a line the state has no business crossing.
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