Religious Freedom Isn't Just For The Religious
I have a confession...I still spend quite a bit of time on web 2. And more specifically, Facebook. The reason why I do this, is that this is where the bulk of my offline friends reside. We don't do TikTok, very few on X, and even less here on chain...So when I'm keeping up with my friends and family, that's where I hang out.
And part of the discussions we have on FB sometimes center around...Faith!
My friends on Facebook vary on their political leanings but a lot might be what we call the 'religious right'. And part of their beliefs seem to want something that I find...Against scripture.
More on that in a second....
I want to share something with you from the bible, and it's in the book of Joshua:
This is one of my favorite bible verses not only on a personal level as it deals with family worship....But also the larger narrative of religious freedom.
That's a big topic in my church these days and something I truly believe in. You see, my God is a God of choice. He is a God of free will. He does not demand worship, He allows us as believers to come to Him on our own free will.
Who we choose to worship is literally....Up to us. God gives us that freedom. And whether you believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Or whether you believe in buddha. Maybe you believe in the hindu gods, or maybe....You believe in the flying spaghetti monster of atheism.
You are FREE to worship who and what you choose! And as a Christian, I believe that is your God given right. I don't have to agree with you, but I respect your will to choose.
Now let's come back to some of my religious right friends....
I got into a little debate today on Facebook about the separation between church and state.
This is again, something I believe in because....If you read up, I believe God gives us the free will to choose whom we will worship and serve. The problem with a marriage between church and state is....You get no choice.
The religion of the state would be law, and if you don't bow down....Guess what you are labeled as? Heretic!!!! Apostate!!!!
Want an example of what happens when church and state meet? Google the inquisition and the dark ages.
This is why I PROTEST the marriage and union of church and state and support every single human being on the planet who has the free will to decide whom they will worship.
Again, I don't have to agree with you. Or you with me. But I respect that right you have, to disagree with me and worship whom you choose, or not!
As for proponents of the church and state union, one of the verses they usually throw at you is found in the book of Romans;
The just means to obey the laws of the land and be good citizens....
Unless, it conflicts with the law of God!
We are to obey God rather then man, but this does not mean for us to raise up a fist to civil leaders. Remember what the character of the Christian should be...Meekness, filled with temperance. Be a citizen of the earth but remember of our promise is not of this world....Seek ye first the kingdom of God, as seen in Matthew 6 verse 33.
When it all comes down to it....I'm God first, government always after Him. Which is why there will be a serious problem with religious freedom in the future if a union of church and state happens.
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If every one sought first after the Rein of God, rather than the rules of men, and sought after the righteousness of God, rather than their own righteousness, then everything the world desired would be manifest.
Amen and amen!
I struggle with keeping one foot in the world and one with God. I pray my lukewarmness leaves soon.
Another thought-provoking post :-)
As a child in Sunday school, I had it drummed into me that god was a wonderful and benevolent creator of everything and that if I prayed hard enough my prayers would be answered...but if they weren't answered, it was because god had decided it was better for me if he didn't give me what I prayed for. There was actually a choice.
I was also informed that if I didn't worship and serve the lord, then I was a non-believer and when I died, I would burn in pain for all eternity in hell. Admittedly, that doesn't remove my choice but it certainly makes it difficult to make an informed choice as a small child. Threats always tend to do that.
This is what religion does. Says god gave you free will, but beats you with that free will if you don't do what religion dictates you should!
Religion is no more than a man-made form of control by threat and violence. Thus, there is no possible way to separate religion and state.
I have no religion or divine belief system. What do you honestly believe will happen to me when I die?
Great discussion man! And the god that you mentioned there, I cannot fund in the bible. Here's why:
God's will be done on earth. Which means, we can pray to make a million, we can pray for the health of our families, we can pray for the violence to end on the planet. Sometimes I think people forget a few things....It's always God's will. And this is Satan's planet. An enemy has done this....Is what Jesus said about why there is so much misery on earth. We are redeemed though! That is my great hope.
The 'never ending burning forever' is simply not biblical. There is one immortal being, God. We are given the gift of immortality. But what kind of god would allow saved people to exist for eternity in heaven, knowing some of their loved ones are burning in 'hell' forever. There is a judgement, there is an end to sin...But it's not an every burning hell. That would make sinners...Immortal.
We serve a loving God which means...He will not force you to worship Him. God will just give people what they want. Ceasing to exist. Death is a sleep and the second death for non believers would be death but not never ending torment. Just like you were before you existed, you choose not to love God, even though He offers it freely, He will put you back to how you were before you existed...You just cease to exist.
I think the bigger issue as well is these lies that the church made up to 'scare' people into worship. Do this or else!! That's simply not the God of the bible. That's the god of a certain church that has made it clear, it's above the bible.
!BBH
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At the end, we all need God
It is a blessing to anyone who wins souls for God
Amen to that!