According to a lot of my friends, freedom of religion is something to be thankful for and worth defending (at high costs). Not many people would disagree with the main stance either. Given our society and history this is easy to understand.
I want to pose a question:
Is freedom of religion truly beneficial to the Christian church? Before you answer, give some room to the following truths.
• Since the conversion of Emperor Constantine, the Church has been affiliated with unholy wars, connected to unjust governments, and killed those who did not profess Christ as Lord. Before this, the Church was nonviolent, sought justice speaking against governments, and loved their enemies without exception.
• The Christian Church is declining in numbers in America where freedom of religion is promoted and fought for.
• The Christian Church was escalating in numbers during all it’s time in persecution. It is historically proven that the Church grows more when/where there are martyrs and Christians endure suffering.
• The Church suffers to hold onto it’s identity in a pluralist society. Like Israel, the Christian church often compromises its beliefs and forgets who she is to be because the rituals and beliefs of other faith systems have influenced her. The more influence; the higher the probability of compromise.
• Freedom of religion encourages a culture that regulates the behavior of faith communities in such a way that they are disallowed to speak against other faith systems. Truth becomes increasingly relative when more ideas are on the table and thus claiming absolute truth or claiming falsehood of ideas becomes socially unacceptable.
If the Church grows less, forgets who she is, is forced to become more “tame” and not proclaim truth, and compromises it’s original stances on issues such as war, violence, and government interaction, then is freedom of religion really a blessing or is it something that makes life appear easier but really makes life harder for those seeking to follow Jesus? It is somewhat nice to know that one probably won’t die if they profess Jesus Christ as Lord but it is disturbing how lax that makes believers. If you won’t have to carry a cross then the command to do so appears nullified.
If “
suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4) is it safe to assume that a lack of suffering won’t produce perseverance, character, and hope? Here are a few quotes and scriptures that give reason for Christians to not fight against oncoming persecution and to not fight for the freedom to praise G-D without danger.
Christianity is not a matter of persuasive words. It is a matter of true greatness as long as it is hated by the world. - Ignatius, Letter to the Romans, 110 A.D.
The Lord challenges us to suffer persecutions and to confess him. He wants those who belong to him to be brave and fearless. He himself shows how weakness of the flesh is overcome by courage of the Spirit. This is the testimony of the apostles and in particular of the representative, administrating Spirit. A Christian is fearless.
Yet do not even shepherds flee and forsake their flocks? If so, they are justly marked by the representative, administrating Spirit for what they are. They way is narrow. Few are chosen. Therefore the representative, administrating Spirit has come to call to martyrdom and to give strength. - Tertullian, On Flight in Persecution 9, cf. 10, 11.
1Peter 3:13-17 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
Second question: What purpose is there for Christians to seek out freedom of religion? Things I am not saying: 1. America is evil.
2. Freedom of any kind is not worth seizing.
3. We should seek out persecution.
4. I'm not thankful for being alive and able to spread the Gospel.
Comments (17)
@echois23 -
it's trite and laboured. it's the literary equivalent of wearing a 'wwjd' headband.Honestly I have to say I somewhat agree with you- but for a different reason than you may think. Freedom of Religion, being able to practice without persecution does to an extent harm the religion, but not because it's followers aren't suffering, but because it opens the door to the less devout. When a spiritual path is persecuted, only those who truly believe to the core of their very soul continue to follow it. When death or torture looms as a punishment, it deters many who would otherwise go along with the group because of fear. While you take these to mean that suffering is the best method to devoutness, I challenge your idea of a loving and forgiving God- How can he be if he wants the people who believe in him to be hated and to suffer torture and death to prove their belief- that is human sacrafice on the largest scale.Which throws the forgiving and kind image of Christ and God into a different light under which they can not be one in the same.
So I would ask myself if I truly wanted to follow a God that wants me to suffer- they say that God cares about the human race as a parent cares for their children- Well I am a parent and I wouldn't want under any circumstances for her to be hated to the point that some one would torture her and make her a martyr for being my child, if that were the way things were I would rather no one associate her with me so that she might be safe, not encourage her to yell it from the rooftops ensuring she would be hurt.
But the true point of martyrs is to use them as an example and ideal to exert control over larger masses. Freedom of religion does however open practices up and is in some sense determental to any spiritual path, because now you not only draw the devout and sincere, you get the mildly curious, the indifferent, and those that are psychotically obsessed, and deviant- you get all kinds which depending on each individual's actions can harm the whole. But that is where I think this issue stops because I don't think it is a testament of faith to allow yourself to be hurt and killed- in that way you are throwing away the gift of life that God gave you in the first place-and if God is asking for this then he doesn't think very much of it either and couldn't even begin to comprehend unconditional love for anything.
Just my thoughts do with them what you will
Brightest Blessings and Warmest Wishes
Rhiannon
@twotothefightingeighthpower - LOL I have one of those somewhere.... OK now you can sigh and say.."It figures"...
Q2: Seeking religious freedom would seem natural when believers are forced by rulership or law to disobey the commands of the Lord. Otherwise, it seems futile.
However, if that state religion is Christianity, I don't think the church ever benefits. It becomes too enthralled with power and status. If I had to choose, I would rather Christianity be illegal than for it to be the state religion.
@Rhiannon_DragonRaine - I don't think you'll find any words of G-D that give the idea "I am pleased that my children suffer." In fact, throughout scriptures G-D remembers his people and delivers them when they cry out. G-D knows his followers will suffer (John 15:18-27). It's just the way it is. The world doesn't accept the way of Jesus because it is contrary to what the world desires. If one is not willing to follow Jesus and accept that risk then they can't truly follow him (Luke 14:27).
"I don't think it is a testament of faith to allow yourself to be hurt and killed- in that way you are throwing away the gift of life that God gave you in the first place"
The martyrs and early church would fully disagree with this statement. Physical life is always a temporary gift. Early church brothers said Christians should desire martydom over death in their sleep or any other form. They didn't say to seek it out but to joyfully accept it because no greater love is there than someone laying down their life for their friends and Jesus calls us friend (John 15:13-15). I do not see how martyrdom can not be seen as a testament of faith, how allowing ones-self to be hurt and killed at times is not following the example and teaching of Jesus, or how being a martyr is insultingly throwing away a gift of G-D. I can't see these things in light of scripture or church history.
@TheBillion - But things are significantly different now in many ways. We are living in a post-age-of-enlightenment world. That has a big effect. I admit there were a lot of other beliefs surrounding Israel through all her history, which is why I mentioned the trend of Israels idolatrous and compromising behavior. I'm stating that America is a pluralist society and history tells us that makes for a compromised set of beliefs.
@Theophilus166 - Good points.
There are many who've been saying this for years. I agree, and I like your provisos. I think they are non-issues in this matter
@radicalramblings - I would say people in America baptize new believers also. I agree that western Christians tend to put too little emphasis on the miracle transformation power of the Spirit and too much emphasis on education. Education is VERY important. proper theology is needed, but it can be learned living da to day more than in a classroom (as Jesus proved with his disciples).
I admit, it's easy to talk about persecution when it isn't a reality but I don't think that disqualifies one's opinion on it.