American Street Preacher Arrested in Britain for Declaring Homosexual Behavior a Sin

GLASGOW, April 1, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – An American street preacher has been arrested and fined £1000 in Glasgow for telling passersby, in answer to a direct question, that homosexual activity is a sin. Shawn Holes was kept in jail overnight on March 18, and in the morning pled guilty to charges that he had made “homophobic remarks…aggravated by religious prejudice.”

Holes, a 47 year-old former wedding photographer from Lake Placid, New York, was in Glasgow as part of a preaching tour of Britain with a group of British and American colleagues. He said, “I was talking generally about Christianity and sin.”

“I only talked about these other issues because I was specifically asked. There were homosexuals listening – around six or eight – who were kissing each other and cuddling, and asking ‘What do you think of this?’” A group of homosexuals approached police with a complaint. Holes later said that the situation seemed like a “set-up by gay campaigners.”

“When asked directly about homosexuality, I told them homosexuals risked the wrath of God unless they accepted Christ.”

The charge, under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, has angered freedom of speech advocates in Britain and has even been criticized by homosexualist campaigner Peter Tatchell who called the £1,000 “totally disproportionate.” Local Christians supporting the preaching ministry took up a collection and paid the fine.

Tatchell told the Daily Mail, “The price of freedom of speech is that we sometimes have to put up with opinions that are objectionable and offensive. Just as people should have the right to criticize religion, people of faith should have the right to criticize homosexuality. Only incitements to violence should be illegal.”

Holes relates that at the same time he had been asked for his views on Islam and had said he believed there is only one true Christian God and that the Prophet Mohammed is a “sinner like the rest of us.”

He said that two men who were listening spoke to police officers who approached him and said, “These people say you said homos are going to Hell.”

“I told them I would never say that, because I don't use the term homo. But I was arrested.”

Peter Kearney, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Glasgow told the Scotsman, “We supported [hate crime] legislation but it is very difficult to see how this man can be charged for expressing a religious conviction.

“The facts of this case show his statement was clearly his religious belief. Yes, it is strong language he has used, but it is obviously a religious conviction and not a form of discrimination.”

Gordon Macdonald, of Christian Action Research and Education for Scotland, said, “This is a concerning case. I will be writing to Chief Constable Stephen House of Strathclyde Police for clarification of the guidance given to police officers in these situations.”

In related news, a district judge has thrown out the case against another street preacher, Paul Shaw, who was arrested on February 19 in Colchester over comments he made about homosexual activity. Shaw, who did not plead guilty, said, “I’ve preached regularly for about three or four years without incident.

“In four years, I’ve only dealt with homosexuality about twice.” Shaw told the judge that he was obliged to act according to his conscience and that homosexuality was a significant issue in Britain today. The case was dismissed through lack of evidence and written testimony from complainants.

Shaw said, “My reasons were twofold. Firstly, there is a consequence for the country and society if society does not appreciate the difference between right and wrong, particularly noticeable by homosexuality.

“As a nation, we are coming under God’s judgment not very far away in the future and there will be terrible consequences for this if it is not made unlawful again. Secondly, on a personal level, as with all other sins, it needs to be repented of in order to enter the Kingdom of God.”

District Judge David Cooper told Shaw, “There are other sorts of ‘sins’. Do you think you could concentrate on those for a bit?”

Meanwhile, a new study conducted on behalf of religious think-tank Theos has shown that nearly 1/3 of British people think that Christians are being marginalized and religious freedom has been restricted. The report’s author Professor Roger Trigg, wrote, “A free society should never be in the business of muzzling religious voices, let alone in the name of democracy or feigned neutrality.”

“We also betray our heritage and make our present position precarious if we value freedom, but think that the Christian principles which have inspired the commitment of many to democratic ideals are somehow dispensable,” Professor Trigg said.

NIV 2 Thessalonians 2

1Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for [that day will not come] until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessnessa is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

5Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have

13But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose youb to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachingsc we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

16May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

The British and anyone else thart condones what they do had better start reading what God says about the Homosexuals..

What Does The BIBLE Say About Homosexuality . . .

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman.

It is an abomination.”

(Leviticus 18:22)

“If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman,

both of them have committed an abomination.

They shall surely be put to death.

Their blood shall be upon them.”

(Leviticus 20:13)
for all who do so are an abomination to the LORD your God.”

(Deuteronomy 22:5)

“Do you not know that the unrighteous

will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God”

Do not be deceived.

Neither fornicators, ...

nor adulterers,

nor homosexuals,

nor sodomites,

nor thieves, ...

will inherit the Kingdom of God.

And God warns all those who simply “approve of” these things . . .

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven

against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men . . .

For even their women exchanged the natural use

for what is against nature (lesbianism).

Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman,

burning in their lust for one another,

men with men committing what is shameful (homosexuality) . . .

that those who practice these things are worthy of death (Hell),

and not only those who do the same

but also those who approve of those who practice them!”

(Romans 1:18, 26, 27, 32)

(Note: Other offenses were also included which were not listed here.)

Here, God clearly warns all those who simply “tolerate” or “approve of “ these things with their great “open-mindedness” will be held just as accountable as those who actually do them. This applies to churches and pastors/ministers/priests/rabbis as well. If you are in a church or have a church leader who “approves of” and supports this activity, you might be interested in studying the prophecies on “corruption of churches” . . .

The Christian (a follower of Jesus-Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel) is commanded to ‘love others and treat them as we would want to be treated.’ According to the Bible, a person living in homosexual sin “will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven” and those who “approve of those who do such things” will be held just as guilty. Jesus-Yeshua, the Messiah’s first command was to ‘repent’ (turn away from those things which are in opposition to God’s Law) and then to trust in Him alone to save us from all our sins. He said He came to ‘save sinners’ ... lots of them ... both Jew and Gentile ... any who would believe and trust in Him. The Bible warns until we acknowledge we are sinners and we desperately need a Savior (to save us from our sins ... past, present, and future) we won’t be saved from Hell . . .

So, who loves the homosexual more? One who tells them it’s okay to continue in a sin the Bible warns will condemn them to an eternity in Hell, or someone who is willing to endure the anger, ridicule, and hate to warn them and to try to get them into Heaven as a neighbor? In Proverbs 27:6 God says, ‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend ... but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.’ Jesus-Yeshua said more about Hell than He did about Heaven ... and the true believing Christian will try to get as many boys, girls, men, and women into the Kingdom of Heaven as possible. If a Christian truly hated the homosexual (or anyone willfully sinning against God’s law) they would simply keep silent and let them suffer in the eternal darkness, loneliness, and torment of Hell. Yet, all believing Christians have had to come face-to-face with the fact we are all sinners and desperately need a ‘Savior’ to save us from our sins and from Hell. Jesus-Yeshua, the Messiah, commands us to ‘love our enemies’ ... and you can’t love someone without warning them when they are in great and grave danger ...

The preacher was in the right he was warning them of their sins.Now let them deal with God..He is watching and will do something one day..

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