The times are getting tough for evangelical Christians. As time passes a disgust for them seems to be growing. In part, it is due to how certain we are of what we believe in a time period when a person is thought to be pompous when they are certain. Another reason is that the morality of conservative evangelicals does not match up with the morality of our culture. And another reason is that we occasionally act in ways that we should not toward our culture. Y
Christians have long enjoyed a time of peace and in many ways majority here in America. That time is passing. We are in a time of transition. It is causing us to have to live and think in ways that we are not accustomed, but many Christians throughout the history of the Church have known quite well. In fact, most of them would probably think that we have it easy, and in comparison I think that we would all agree. It is possible to live your faith in a culture that does not agree with you. It is this that we must think through right now in this time of tumultuous transition.
Religious Freedom Is Not In The Bible
America has never been a Christian nation in the sense that it was theocratic. I believe that much of our country’s structure was based upon Christian values. Even the checks and balances system finds its foundation in Scripture. It was based upon the doctrine of Total Depravity. You can read the Federalist Papers #51 for yourself. Even though this is the case we are in the process of leaving a time period in which there was a “moral majority” to make laws that Conservative Christians agreed with. This time has passed. So, we have to consider how to live at this present time.
So, here I hold two things separate. One, Religious Freedom is guaranteed to me in the Bill of Rights. I think it would be helpful in light of all that is going on in our time to read what was written long ago guaranteeing this freedom.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
I think it is also helpful to note that this is not a freedom guaranteed to believers from Scripture. In fact, this is a picture of something polar opposite to what Scripture repeatedly says will happen to believers. Read what Paul wrote to Timothy,
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wide for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. – 2 Timothy 3:12-15 ESV
Other passages of Scripture also bear out the fact that believers will suffer. Here are a few of them.
- Matthew 5:12
- John 15:18-20
- Romans 8
- 1 Peter 4
I am pointing this out to say one simple thing. The Religious Freedom granted to us by the Constitution is something odd that happened for a short time. As believers who are sojourners and strangers in the land, we do not expect for government to be friendly forever. Simply put, the Freedom of Religion was a great blessing that God had given for a short time period, but things will go back to normal for this earth. And, as we can see, things are moving there at this moment.
Should We Defend Religious Freedom Since It Is Not In Scripture?
To me, this is a hard question to answer. Ultimately, I believe the answer is yes. There is however a caveat. I have to make sure and defend religious freedom as a citizen of this great country rather than from Christian conviction. The reason is simple. There isn’t anything in Scripture that would lead me to believe that Religious Freedom is something guaranteed to me from God. At the same time, the founders fought long and hard to give a freedom that would be passed down to us. The only way for this freedom to continue to exist is for us, as citizens, to defend it.
Here the words of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine are massively helpful.
After four months of secret deliberations the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia was finally over. A woman named Mrs. Powel approached Benjamin Franklin and asked what type of government these men had chosen for this country. Benjamin Franklin’s reply, “A republic, Madam – if you can keep it.” (Os Guiness, A Free People’s Suicide, IVP Books; 2012, p. 52)
“If you can keep it” are words that are quite interesting. We have deliberated over these past few months and ordered a republic for you, but it will only last as long as it is defended. This is similar to what Thomas Paine wrote,
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.” (Os Guiness, A Free People’s Suicide, IVP Books; 2012, p. 54)
Freedom is a great blessing that was won for us long ago, but we cannot expect for freedom to be trampled and it remain. So, as a concerned citizen, I believe it is good and right for me to do what I can to defend freedom from attacks from the outside and within.
Here is the second, and harder to swallow pill within this question. If I fight for my Religious Freedom then I must fight also for the freedom of other religions. Though it is true that America has a Christian quality to it, the freedom of religion is granted to all people. So, if I am going to be consistent as a citizen defending religious freedom then I need to defend Religious Freedom, not just Christian religious freedom. It is my conviction as a Christian that I am right, but that does not give me the right to silence them. I can work within the system of freedom to prove my point (discussion, debate, prayer, etc.), but I cannot silence them.
In sum, Religious Freedom is something granted to me by the government of the United States of America. As a concerned citizen I can and should work to maintain religious freedom in America. This freedom is beneficial and a great blessing to me.
Thinking About Our Behavior
Here is where I ultimately wanted to be with this post. Here is the meat of the issue at hand. I need to act wisely in this day and age. Jesus once said to His disciples words that are very applicable to believers in this time of tumultuous change.
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves – Matthew 10:16 ESV
In a culture that is unfriendly to our view point, we must be wise. We have to be wise and innocent in our dealings. If we choose to defend freedom granted to us by the Constitution, we have to do so in a manner that is innocent. We cannot condone a bigoted attitude toward other people. We have to treat everyone with the honor due to a person created in the image of God. We cannot condone a dislike for homosexuals at this time, it is just not consistent with what Scripture teaches. We have to walk in wise innocence in this time of transition and continue to do so as the times continue to change.
R. Dwain Minor
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