By Sean Pasley, Missionary to France
France is an enigmatic place. Many Americans have a very one-dimensional view of France and either think only of bread, cheese, wine and architecture, or they revile it as the world’s premier hub of irreverent philosophers, the sexually promiscuous and libertines of all varieties. However, the French see themselves in quite the opposite respect. For my fellow countrymen, they view those controversial philosophers as pioneers of free speech and forward thinking, and the sexually liberated as being liberated from the oppressive mores of more ignorant times. They have moved past the need for stifling tradition in favor of more enlightened thinking on subjects such as morals, ethics and religion. The French view themselves as innovators and trailblazers in the realm of “culture.”
That said, it is tradition that informs all this innovation of which the French are so proud. Most forward-thinking stopped in the early 20th century when the last major revisions to the laws concerning the separation of Church and State were penned. These laws, drafted in 1901 and 1905, ultimately govern how French people are permitted to practice their religion. In theory, these laws permit the free expression of religious worship by all inhabitants of the Republic of France with no interference from the governing authorities, similar to the First Amendment of the United States’ own Constitution. In practice, however, France’s religious laws serve more as a freedom fromreligion than as a means of granting the freedom to worship according to one’s own conscience.
In France, where Roman Catholicism was the official state religion for centuries and the clergy possessed powers and privileges that the general populace did not, religion is viewed as an oppressive force that must be restrained. In contrast to the desires of many early American colonists who sought to establish a home where they could freely worship the Lord in the manner they were convinced Scripture demanded, the French people never had such privileges. All French were required to worship in the manner established by the religious authority, the Roman Catholic Church, and to do otherwise was punishable by law, often with death. Unlike the neighboring Holy Roman Empire, the Protestant Reformation of the 15th and 16th centuries barely affected France, and where it did, it was decidedly snuffed out.
Today, the hundreds of years of religious strife that accompanied the Reformation and Counter-Reformation still inform the laws concerning freedom of religious expression. Because of France’s long history of religious conflict, the authorities attempt to limit further problems by restricting religious speech. Although at first glance the laws may appear to be in favor of individual religious liberties, they are actually quite prohibitive. Citing France’s official position as a secular (laïque) nation, religious expression is confined to one’s home and formal place of worship. Proselytizing (evangelism) is prohibited in public spaces, and religious talk of any kind is forbidden in the workplace. Even religious iconography, such as crosses or other religious clothing, cannot be worn or displayed in government buildings. This obviously limits opportunities to share the gospel, but it in no way stops it!
We have several Christian friends who regularly have spiritual conversations with their coworkers. This is in large part due to the prevalence of Muslims in France, who don’t seem too bothered by the restrictions on public displays of religiosity and oftentimes make their displeasure with the system known. One friend has had several debates with Muslim colleagues that were prefaced by them voicing their displeasure with the lack of halalfood options in the cafeteria or the unwillingness of their employer to give them time off for Islamic holy days. This friend, who is unique in that she is not ashamed to be branded a Christian, often engages her Muslim coworkers in apologetic conversations defending the truth of the Bible and the incoherency of the Islamic worldview. If any of her coworkers complained, however, she would indeed face disciplinary action for bringing up religion in a secular workplace.
For our part, my family has not personally felt that the legal restrictions on religious speech are too great a burden for us to bear. We frequently discuss religion with our neighbors, shopkeepers, hairdressers and others. In fact, it’s generally the first thing people want to know about us! Since we don’t live in Paris, the world’s most visited city, the first question we’re asked when meeting someone new is, “Why are you here?” Since the reason we’re here is to make disciples and plant churches, it’s a no-brainer that our conversation will turn to religion. We usually answer by saying that I am a Protestant pastor in France to start more Protestant churches, and in the meantime, I regularly preach at churches in our surrounding region. Despite their reactions, every conversation at least has the opportunity to immediately move toward evangelism, for which we are incredibly grateful!
Despite the legal barriers in our new home country, there is always more we can do and always more we can say. Although there is a very real threat of legal repercussions, we will endeavor to clearly proclaim the saving gospel of Jesus Christ until He returns — no matter the consequences.
