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 of this innovation the French are so proud of. Most forward thinking stopped in the early 20^th 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 allowed to be religious. 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 as more a freedom from religion than granting the freedom to worship according to one’s own conscience.  

In France, where Roman Catholicism was the official state religion for hundreds of years and the clergy held power and particular entitlements that the rest of the populace lacked, religion is seen as an oppressive force that must be reigned in. In contrast to the desires of many early American colonials who desired to establish a home in which they could be free to 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 way the established religious authority, the Roman Catholic Church, demanded and to do otherwise was punishable by law – oftentimes punishable by death. Unlike the neighboring Holy Roman Empire, the Protestant Reformation of the 15^th-16^th centuries barely touched 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 with 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, or laïque, nation, religious expression is limited 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 of 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 halal food 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 own part, my family has not personally felt the legal restrictions on religious speech to be too great a burden for us to bear. We frequently talk with our neighbors, shopkeepers, hairdressers, etc. about religion. 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 why we’re here is to make disciples and plant churches, it’s a no-brainer that our conversation is going to turn religious. We usually answer by saying that I am a Protestant pastor that is in France to start more Protestant churches, and in the meantime I regularly preach at the churches in our surrounding region. Their reaction notwithstanding, every conversation at least has the opportunity to immediately go in the direction of evangelism, so for that 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; and although there is the 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!