Is street preaching opinionated lunacy or God’s gift?
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BORN-again Christian Kenneth MacDonald is a familiar figure on Inverness High Street, proclaiming his message of love and salvation.
Clutching his bible and carrying his placard, the former bricklayer is not only a visible feature but very much an audible presence — although his direct approach is not always appreciated by shoppers and passers-by, as he recently discovered.
For the 66-year-old recently found himself in the dock at Inverness Sheriff Court, accused of making offensive remarks and warning people they would "burn in hell" if they did not turn to God.
Having denied the charges, Mr MacDonald, of Lochiel Road, Hilton, was subsequently acquitted of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.
Although he admits the experience of going to court had been a strain, Mr MacDonald’s resolve to spread his message remains undiminished.
He has vowed to continue with his evangelical work — although he has promised to "turn down the volume".
So what motivates people such as Mr MacDonald to stand in the High Street and to subject themselves to potential ridicule, animosity — or even attack?
Mr MacDonald has a simple and unequivocal reply. "I go on the streets because God dramatically changed my life 33 years ago when I became a born again Christian," he declares.
"Ever since then, God has encouraged me to tell others that they can also be saved if they will believe in Jesus Christ and ask God for forgiveness. All I am trying to do is to encourage people to start to pray to God.
"The greatest privilege in my life is to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and tell as many people as I can of his love."
There is certainly no doubting the sincerity of Mr MacDonald who turned to Christianity while working as a bricklayer in Ontario, after listening to a Christian workmate. Since returning to the UK, he has preached on streets of various towns and cities, provoking varying reactions.
"I have been attacked four times," he reveals.
"I was preaching the gospel in Grimsby and a man took a running charge at me like a rugby tackle."
However, in true Christian spirit, Mr MacDonald showed forgiveness, shouting to his departing attacker, "Don’t forget, Jesus loves you".
He has never been attacked in Inverness, however. "I have been threatened — just verbal threats of harm," he said. "But I don’t retaliate."
Mr MacDonald, who takes to the High Street about four times a week in good weather, insists he does not intend to cause offence to anyone. He is driven by a sense of love and compassion.
He finds Fridays and Saturdays are the best days for street preaching because the city centre is at its busiest, while on Sundays he worships with the Inverness Christian Fellowship which meets at Millburn Academy.
"Every day I love to meet people," he said. "I ask them if they have heard the good news. Most say, ‘What good news?’ and then I tell them."
Delivering a sermon on the street inevitably demands a degree of courage but Mr MacDonald maintains he does not get anxious beforehand and nor has he ever lost his voice although he admits to having an occasional sore throat.
In fact, evangelists such as Mr MacDonald are continuing a long tradition of street preaching in Scotland.
Rev Dr Stuart Blythe, a lecturer and development officer at the Paisley-based Scottish Baptist College, has researched historical and contemporary street preaching and says the tradition extends to the Highlands.
As far back as the 1790s, James Haldane — a well-known touring preacher in his time — drew thousands as he visited towns and villages across the north, including Inverness. although not everyone approved of his preaching methods.
"He was very bold and on the side of the people," said Rev Blythe. "But some of the folk in the church were against him because he was not ordained."
Although radio and TV and the internet have inevitably led to a decline in numbers, Rev Blythe feels that street preachers have an important role to play in upholding free speech and democracy.
"My basic line is that the streets should be a place of ideas, debate and discussion — street preachers are part of that," he reflects.
"I think the streets are one of the most democratic places. You can shout back. You can walk away. You can heckle. You can turn your back.
"In the streets there is freedom of public debate which you don’t get in a building. There is lots of communication not only of religious ideas but also ideological and political ideas."
He cites recent events in places such as Egypt where the streets have been used effectively by the people to challenge politicians.
He acknowledges, however, that he would be uneasy about people using the streets to incite prejudice, hatred or even violence towards others.
"Ideally, such views would be challenged — but it is a grey area," he reflects. "I would always be worried that if I silence my opponents, I would restrict my own right to speak."
He also points that there are various styles of street preaching. "There is the stereotype of a person shouting," he explained. "But another group will take to the streets and tell stories around a sketch board. It is a very inoffensive style, not the megaphone approach.
"If people want to stop and listen, they do. If they don’t, they carry on walking."
The general reason for people with ideological commitment to go on to the streets, according to Rev Blythe, is because they want to make it accessible and take it into a public space.
"Outside of the church, or outside of a building not used for worship is part of the message — they feel this message belongs in the public arena, not just the church," he said.
While carrying out his research, he found anecdotally that the public are equally divided in their reaction to the presence of street preachers — about half believe they should not be there while half have no objection.
Rev Blythe believes that using the streets as a platform for debate and discussion can help to give town and city centres a sense of vibrancy.
Glasgow’s Buchanan Street on a Saturday, for instance, features a broad range of street entertainers, political groups and campaigners.
"The street is full of people communicating their views — street preachers are just one version of that," he said.
Ultimately, it seems the most important element is effective communication of the message people are trying to promote.
"To do it well, you have to be able to gather an audience," Rev Blythe said.
"Just standing and shouting in the street is a bad approach and bad communication. Good street preachers can gather a crowd and hold a crowd."
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What do you think? Join the discussion at The Inverness Courier website: www.inverness-courier.co.uk.
