When the Gospel Becomes a Weapon: The church, blackmail and the abuse of faith

As a Christian who believes in Jesus Christ and the preaching of His gospel, I am troubled by certain pastors' reactions to new restrictions on preaching and hawking in moving vehicles. My faith compels me to question the conduct of religious leaders, but it also requires me to examine myself and distinguish between the Word of God and the personal interests of those who claim to represent Him.

While the government's intention might be to promote public safety, order, and the use of public spaces, not every regulation targeting a religious activity should be considered an attack on Christianity. Not every government policy inconveniencing a pastor can be read as persecution. The gospel may be sacred, but not every activity carried out in its name is beyond question.

Regulation 141 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026, prohibits preaching and hawking inside public or commercial vehicles while in motion. This applies to everyone, not just religious leaders, and it does not restrict preaching in churches or other public spaces. The enforcement of this regulation has been swift, with some pastors claiming it is an attempt to silence the church.

However, the President clarified that it is not true – no one, regardless of faith, may preach or sell in a moving vehicle, but they may do so when it is stationary.

When discussing religious freedom, it is essential to consider order and the rights of others. God values order, and we should also consider how our actions affect the safety, business, and public spaces of drivers, passengers, pedestrians, traders, workers, and residents. When evaluating whether a law is reasonable, lawful, proportional, and necessary, we should focus on the issue at hand rather than automatically perceiving it as persecution against Christianity.