Life liberty and Christians
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Words from the United States Declaration of Independence.
Freedom, perhaps mankind’s most sought after ideal. But freedom is much more than to be free to do as you wish. Freedom is more than freedom from government oppression.
Freedom is the ability to let others do what they wish no matter how much you disagree with them. That is provided that is they are not harming anyone or restricting another persons freedoms. As it has been said,
“your freedom stops short of your fist hitting my face.”
Sadly many Christians especially here in North America don’t practice freedom that way. They operate under the delusion that the United States in particular is a Christian based county. One look at the satanic symbols on the back of the money tell you someone forgot to tell the designers of the bills that.
Still the United States is a still great country despite what a certain politician would have you think. America is great and I say that as someone who is not an American and does not live in the United States of America.
America has been responsible over the years of being a safe haven for Christians and other faiths. It has allowed Christianity in particular to grow and spread it’s message around the world.
Unfortunately too many calling themselves Christians have used their freedom to restrict the freedoms of others.
The United States like all democracies in the western world is a secular democracy. Yes it is based on many Christian principles. But that does not negate the fact it is a secular democracy that does its best to cater to people of all faiths, beliefs and lifestyles.
One of the freedoms God gave to the world was Freedom.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
That freedom also lets a person believe in God or not. It allows them to live a lifestyle that Christians and other religious groups may object to.
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans under the rule of the Emperor Nero who would eventually put him and the apostle Peter to death said this.
“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.” Romans 13:1,2.
Think about it Paul wrote this from Rome a society that had a myriad of Gods. That had beliefs and practices that were far from what God would want. Still the apostles and Christ never spoke out against Rome or anyone outside their faith.
In fact the apostle Paul wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
There are thousands of things if not millions of things that Christians do not like ethically or morally that secular governments allow. Such is the nature of a free and democratic secular governments.
We will not win favour with secular governments if we are protesting them or protesting against groups we disagree with. We do however stand the chance of turning them away from the most precious gift God has to offer, Salvation, eternal life with God, only Jesus Christ can give.
The American evangelist Tony Campolo speaking about abortion made an interesting point when he said,
“In short, I'm not sure that the abortion problem can be solved by legislation. I think it can only be solved through moral persuasion.” Tony Campolo.
You cannot legislate morality if prohibition on alcohol back in the nineteen twenties taught us one thing is that you cannot stop people doing what they want to do by passing a law.
Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
Here Jesus tells us to make disciples of all nations then he states,
“teaching them to obey everything I have commanded...”
If we as Christian can teach our beliefs to others, rather than protesting and trying restrict their freedoms in a secular democracy. We will do far better. And subsequently our society and the world will be far better off.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Simply put that means if you want others to respect and listen to you. You must be willing to do the same to them.
I believe each Christian must ask themselves, “ Am I treating others the way I want to be treated?”
Please think about it.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Words from the United States Declaration of Independence.
Freedom, perhaps mankind’s most sought after ideal. But freedom is much more than to be free to do as you wish. Freedom is more than freedom from government oppression.
Freedom is the ability to let others do what they wish no matter how much you disagree with them. That is provided that is they are not harming anyone or restricting another persons freedoms. As it has been said,
“your freedom stops short of your fist hitting my face.”
Sadly many Christians especially here in North America don’t practice freedom that way. They operate under the delusion that the United States in particular is a Christian based county. One look at the satanic symbols on the back of the money tell you someone forgot to tell the designers of the bills that.
Still the United States is a still great country despite what a certain politician would have you think. America is great and I say that as someone who is not an American and does not live in the United States of America.
America has been responsible over the years of being a safe haven for Christians and other faiths. It has allowed Christianity in particular to grow and spread it’s message around the world.
Unfortunately too many calling themselves Christians have used their freedom to restrict the freedoms of others.
The United States like all democracies in the western world is a secular democracy. Yes it is based on many Christian principles. But that does not negate the fact it is a secular democracy that does its best to cater to people of all faiths, beliefs and lifestyles.
One of the freedoms God gave to the world was Freedom.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
That freedom also lets a person believe in God or not. It allows them to live a lifestyle that Christians and other religious groups may object to.
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans under the rule of the Emperor Nero who would eventually put him and the apostle Peter to death said this.
“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.” Romans 13:1,2.
Think about it Paul wrote this from Rome a society that had a myriad of Gods. That had beliefs and practices that were far from what God would want. Still the apostles and Christ never spoke out against Rome or anyone outside their faith.
In fact the apostle Paul wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
There are thousands of things if not millions of things that Christians do not like ethically or morally that secular governments allow. Such is the nature of a free and democratic secular governments.
We will not win favour with secular governments if we are protesting them or protesting against groups we disagree with. We do however stand the chance of turning them away from the most precious gift God has to offer, Salvation, eternal life with God, only Jesus Christ can give.
The American evangelist Tony Campolo speaking about abortion made an interesting point when he said,
“In short, I'm not sure that the abortion problem can be solved by legislation. I think it can only be solved through moral persuasion.” Tony Campolo.
You cannot legislate morality if prohibition on alcohol back in the nineteen twenties taught us one thing is that you cannot stop people doing what they want to do by passing a law.
Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
Here Jesus tells us to make disciples of all nations then he states,
“teaching them to obey everything I have commanded...”
If we as Christian can teach our beliefs to others, rather than protesting and trying restrict their freedoms in a secular democracy. We will do far better. And subsequently our society and the world will be far better off.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Simply put that means if you want others to respect and listen to you. You must be willing to do the same to them.
I believe each Christian must ask themselves, “ Am I treating others the way I want to be treated?”
Please think about it.
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