The title of my blog post and video today is, preach the word – common sense in Whitechapel! In this post I want to respond to a viral clip shared online, showing a lone female police officer in Whitechapel calmly explaining something that should be obvious in a free society: if you do not want to listen to a preacher in a public place, you can move away. The preacher was not in anyone’s home. He was on a public street.
There is plenty to discuss about culture, policing, and public life in Britain, but I want to focus mainly on the biblical side of this. For Christians, the deeper issue is not ultimately politics. It is the call of God to proclaim truth, to love people, and to obey the Lord even when the message is unpopular.
What the clip reveals
In the clip, a crowd challenges the officer and speaks in terms of “our community” and “our streets.” The officer responds with basic clarity: public streets are not private property, and people do not have a right to demand that police enforce their religious sensitivities against others. Her advice is simple: if you don’t want to hear the message, don’t stand there listening to it.
This matters because it highlights a growing pressure point in the UK: what happens when Christian preaching is treated as “offensive” simply because it is Christian? If this theme interests you, I have written before about free speech and public Christianity in Britain:
- We Have Free Speech In The UK!!!
- The Cost of Speaking Truth in Britain Today
- Arrested for Preaching Jesus in the UK – A Sign of the Times?
Preaching is biblical
Whatever people think about street preaching, the Bible is clear that the Gospel is meant to be proclaimed. Christians are called to speak, to witness, to make disciples, and to declare what God has done in Christ.
2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV)
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
This verse is a reminder that truth is not always “in season.” There will be times when people welcome it, and times when they resist it. The calling remains the same: preach the Word with patience, with teaching, and with endurance.
Obedience to God comes first
One of the great pressures in modern Britain is the quiet expectation that Christians should keep their faith private. But the Book of Acts shows us that the early church did not treat obedience as optional. When authorities demanded silence, the apostles responded with a line that still matters today.
Acts 5:29 (NKJV)
“We ought to obey God rather than men.”
This does not mean Christians are rebellious by nature. It means there are moments when the commands of God are in direct conflict with the demands of man. In those moments, believers must choose faithfulness.
Do not be ashamed of the Gospel
It is easy to be bold when everyone approves. The real test is when the message costs you something. The Gospel is not “hate speech.” It is good news. It is the power of God to save, to forgive, and to give eternal life.
Romans 1:16 (NKJV)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
The Gospel does not merely win arguments. It raises the dead spiritually, it breaks bondage, it restores people. It brings sinners home to God.
Opposition is not new
If you speak truth publicly, some people will oppose you. That has been the story of God’s people throughout history. Jesus even told us how to interpret it.
Matthew 5:10–12 (NKJV)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
This does not give Christians permission to be rude, arrogant, or provocative. It is a call to faithfulness, and a reminder that God sees everything.
Our heart toward Muslims
Whitechapel has a strong Islamic presence, and it takes boldness to preach there. But let me be clear about the Christian heart: we are not called to hate Muslims. We are called to love them, we are called to pray for them, we are called to tell them the truth in love, because Jesus Christ is the only One who saves.
A simple reminder about Britain
Britain has deep Christian roots, and many of our freedoms have been shaped (directly or indirectly) by a biblical worldview. But our culture is changing fast. That is why Christians must remember who we are in Christ and what we are called to do.
And it is also why I find it encouraging when a public servant, in a tense moment, speaks calmly and plainly about basic liberties.
If you are not a Christian
If you are reading this and you are not yet a Christian, the most important issue is not Whitechapel. It is your relationship with God. Jesus died for our sins and rose again. He offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who will come to Him.
If you want a fuller explanation, please also read my post here: How To Accept Jesus Christ Today.
A simple prayer
“Dear Lord Jesus, I acknowledge You as Lord and Saviour of my life. I repent of all my sins, and I ask You today to take over complete control of every aspect of my life. Amen.”
If you prayed that sincerely, please let me know in the comments. And if you have thoughts on the wider issue of public preaching and free speech in Britain, feel free to share your perspective respectfully below.