Christians should welcome Clive Johnston’s appeal against his conviction for preaching the gospel near Coleraine’s Causeway Hospital. His sermon was on John 3:16. He did not mention abortion, display placards, or harass anyone. Yet he was convicted under Northern Ireland’s abortion safe-access-zone legislation.
Some Christians, understandably, have reservations. Mr Johnston openly acknowledged that he wanted to test the limits of the law. Why deliberately put yourself in a position where you might be prosecuted? That is a fair question. Christians are commanded to obey lawful authority, not recklessly seek confrontation. But there are occasions when testing the boundaries of a law is precisely how unjust restrictions are exposed.
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