To some, this question may sound bizarre. What? Here in America? Lose our freedom of religion? No way! To others, the question may sound like a “conspiracy theory.” Just calm down, they may say. Don’t get bent out of shape just because of some minor differences of opinion on whether birth control and drugs that abort babies should be freely provided through medical insurance.
If you’ve been watching American trends, you will see two worldviews at odds. A secular naturalist worldview (which includes socialism, humanism, and atheism) diametrically opposes the Biblical worldview. Consider the following:
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The sanctity of human life has always been defended among people influenced by biblical thinking, but 30 plus years of legalized abortion in the Unites States has changed the way we view human life—in or out of the womb.
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Faithful marriage between one man and one woman has always been supported by any people influenced by biblical thinking, but U.S. courts are now ruling in favor of so-called “same-sex marriage.”
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Freedom of religion is the first freedom enshrined in the Bill of Rights written by founding fathers influenced by biblical thinking, but today we are told that “sexual freedom trumps religious freedom” and that while we may have freedom to “worship” (a private practice), we shouldn’t publicly practice our faith during the course of our everyday lives.
Are we in danger of losing the right to practice what we believe to be true? Think about it.
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Religious organizations who believe abortion does not please God have been told their health insurance providers must cover contraceptive use (including drugs known to end the life of a baby before birth) and, therefore, go against their faith and conscience.
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States like Iowa where the majority of citizens do not believe in “same-sex marriage” must recognize the “right” of two women or two men to “marry” and, in states like California, the majority vote in favor of traditional marriage was overturned by a judge in favor of “gay marriage.”
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Parents who believe that children are entrusted to them by God are being told to obey the “state” and let schools teach students that homosexuality and “gay marriage” are “normal” and, if anyone speaks otherwise, they may be guilty of “hate speech.” Are all of these things—and more—indicative that our religious liberties are being removed?
Followers of Jesus Christ have always—and will always—be different from the world. But, in order to “fit in” with the world, have Christians been silent? Compromised faith? Stopped putting their faith into practice? Atheists, humanists, and secularists all have a faith, too. It is faith in something other than the God “I Am;” in the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. They are passionate about their faith. They practice their faith wherever they are: in the schools, media, workplace, courts of law, and places within government.
Are Christians less passionate about their faith? Or, have we believed the lie that “your faith is a private matter between you and God”?
Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21).
We are to obey government except when it tells us to disobey God. Then, we must speak up and resist evil. We must use God’s Word to defend life, marriage, and family—the very foundation for civil society. When we are told to keep God’s Word “private” and not share it in the marketplace of ideas, then we have lost our freedom of religion. How, then, can we be “salt and light” (Matthew 5:13-16)?