In recent years, the sedition and religious harmony acts have
been brought into sharp focus with sensitive remarks being made and
sensitive actions being taken in the public square.
What makes a speech or action, whether by an individual or
organisation, seditious and a cause of disharmony between religious
groups in the Singapore context?
What can preachers, Christians and Christian organisations do to
avoid offending sedition and religious harmony laws in their zeal
to proclaim the Gospel to one and all, and in private and public
settings?
"Act with common sense and prudence," says a professor of law at
the National University of Singapore (NUS).
"You want to persuade someone, not irritate them," adds Professor
Dr. Thio Li-ann, a leading Singapore constitutional scholar, in a
recent email interview with The Christian Post following a talk she
delivered late last month at the St. Andrew's Cathedral on
Christian engagement in the public square.
Since God will not force any person to believe in Him, Christians
"cannot coerce faith," she emphasises.
Elaborating on that point, Professor Dr. Thio says: "You should not
abuse your position e.g. with a captive audience, to tell someone
about your faith when they are disinterested. If they are, strike
up a conversation, not a monologue."
She had Christians consider what they would do if someone tried to
convert them.
Putting herself in the position of those being approached by people
trying to share their faith - Singaporeans have different religious
affiliations and non-affiliations - she reveals that she would
"politely but firmly say: 'Thank you. I am not interested, I am a
follower of Jesus Christ' and expect the person to be sensible
enough to stop at that point, though if she was in the mood for it,
she might engage in a discussion.
"The point is, be sensible," she says. "Don't compromise the
integrity of your mission, but do so in a winsome and persuasive
manner."
After all, agape or the unconditional love of Christ
requires such kindness, civility, compassion and respect.
"Remember, that freedom of religion, to practice your faith, also
includes freedom from religion," she cautions. "And that protects
all of us from having something we don't agree with imposed on
us."
This, she says, is not a question of the Rational Man who is
tolerant of all views because he values free enquiry but the
Emotional Man, who gets upset, hurt and offended.
In her observation, "Some people are very sensitive; some are more
able to be thick skinned and tolerant because they value free
speech and intellectual inquiry more." Her advice: Use
discretion.
So what are the rules governing evangelism in Singapore?
Specifically what can and cannot be done by churches and individual
Christians in street evangelism, if street evangelism is legal in
the first place.
Professor Dr. Thio, who is a Barrister (Gray's Inn), prefaced her
response by noting that "Evangelism is legal and in fact a
constitutional right" and that "It would in fact be intolerant to
ban this form of speech."
See read the rest of this 4-part article see http://sg.christianpost.com/dbase/society/1904/15%7C29%7C38%7C46%7C59/1.htm