Freedom and Christians

Freedom and Christians
Nelson Mandela said,
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
                                                     Nelson Mandela.
From the outset let me make things clear I am a Christian. I accepted Christ as my Saviour over forty years ago. I currently teach the adult midweek bible study at my church. Throughout the years I have done everything from ushering in the church to talking to people on the street about Christ and everything in the middle.
I however look with dismay at those calling themselves Christians who are protesting against gay marriage and gay rights in general, as well as anything else it seems they object to. Which lately seems to be a lot of things.
 This in a free and democratic society should not be.
Over the years, indeed over the centuries, men and women calling themselves Christians have used the Bible, WRONGLY, to support everything from the crusades, to slavery, to segregation to anti-Semitism.
Now people are using it again wrongly, against homosexuals and those in the transgendered community.
While some of those protesting against Gay rights and other things may be Christians by the slimmest of margins I believe they are wrong in protesting against anything.
The only thing I believe Christians should be protesting in a democracy is when an elected government tries to restrict the rights of Christians or any other group without good reason.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist made a good point when he said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
        Tony Campolo
As Christians we are called to love God, our neighbour, and even our enemy. If we attempt to restrict the freedom of even one person simply because we disagree with them it is wrong and not acting in love.
We live in a secular democracy quite similar in some ways to that of the Roman empire Jesus and the apostles lived in. I’m sure Paul and the other apostles saw a great many things they disagreed with in the society in which they lived. Yet they never spoke against the Roman government, laws or Roman society in general. In fact Paul wrote,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.” 
                                                                                                                                  Romans 13:1-3.
Here in North America and in western democracies elected secular governments set the laws. They, because they are secular, do their best to cater to everyone from every faith, race and lifestyle. This is the way it should be.
I as a Christian believe God gave man a free will to go his own way and do his own thing. That free will even gives him the right to believe in God or not.
It does not give anyone the right to restrict the rights of others who are living in peace and doing no harm to others.
It is my wish as a Christian that everyone irrespective of who they are or their lifestyle would come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Still I cannot and will not force my beliefs on them. Like I said, God has given each person the freedom to choose the direction of their life.
As for me I believe the words of Jesus when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                             Matthew 22:37-40.
I believe all men are my neighbours and I have the responsibility to give them the option Jesus gives all men when he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                        John 3:16-18
Please think about it.