Last Sunday, we were continuing to think about how we share the gospel with the world around us. I distributed the booklet “Speak Up: A summary guide to the law and your gospel freedoms” which is written by the Lawyers Christian Fellowship and Evangelical Alliance. It helps clarify the freedom we have to share our faith with others. This link will lead you to the on-line version   https://greatcommission.co.uk/act/speak-up-a-summary-guide : you will see on this page there is also a fuller 40-page version if you would like to go a bit deeper.

Even if we were not free to share our faith, it would still be right to share it in appropriate ways. Peter and John reply to the authorities telling them to shut up about the gospel, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God,” Acts 4v18-20. This contrasts with the strange case of a couple in Australia who have refused to pay taxes in recent years because they consider that God forbids it. I have not found why the couple believe this, but the judge seems to be closer to the truth with his declaration of what the Bible says and doesn’t say! Jesus answers some questioners in Matthew 22v21, “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s” – in other words, pay your taxes and give to God’s work. Paul also says, “The authorities that exist have been established by God … this is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants …” Romans 13v1-7.

May God give us wisdom and discernment to follow God’s way in every situation

With much blessing,

Roland