Across Australia and ‘Across America today, there is a move to silence Christians.
There’s a massive effort on the part of social media, the biased news media, politicians and bureaucrats to silence Christians from speaking on moral issues, political issues, and even the truth about Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, many Christians are caving in and compromising, including pastors and church leaders.
Here are 6 things every Christian should know:
#1. Freedom of worship – today’s megatrend.
Freedom of worship is what President Biden and those hostile to evangelical Christians believe in.
This is in contrast to freedom of religion.
Freedom of worship means you can believe what you want, but you cannot share it.
This is what you find in many socialist and communist countries: you can believe in Jesus Christ, but you have to keep your beliefs to yourself.
This megatrend is based on the fact that they want a consensus that’s not offensive to anyone.
Don’t disagree with the culture…or the politicians and bureaucrats.
Don’t speak out about truth or your faith.
Don’t say anything that would offend anyone.
If what you say is “hurtful,” you need to be silent.
If what you say makes someone uncomfortable, you need to be silent.
If you want to share the gospel, you need to make sure it’s not offensive.
If it is, it’s disallowed.
In ancient Rome, in the early church, Christians were known as “haters.”
Why?
Not because they hated but because they were defined as haters by the government and by the average person.
Why? Because their beliefs were contrary to the cultural and political values of the day.
You see, the Christians – who are known by their love — were acknowledged for helping pick up babies set aside on the side of the road as a form of abortion — and adopting them.
Christians were the ones who started the hospitals, took care of the sick, and educated people.
Christians were known for helping one another and those around them.
But they were still “haters” because they were contrary to the culture.
That’s why the early church endured such tremendous persecution.
You can also see this in the book of Acts and in Paul’s writings.
I’m teaching a Bible study right now on the book of Philippians, and in Acts 16 you can see some of the persecution that Paul went through and that the church had to endure.
#2: Resist religious zealots who oppose biblical morality and who make good evil, and evil good.
“Religious” zealots – some who are secular, some who follow a false religion — are attacking Christians with moral superiority and great energy.
They are promoting the Equality Act.
They are using the media to try to force Christians into silence.
In the schools and in the community, they want to silence Christians.
They have replaced the true and living God with religious zealousness. They claim that they have the high moral ground, and that Christians are terrible people – deplorables.
#3. Many Christians are okay with cultural conformity.
This is not true – Christians being conformed to this world. “Conform to our culture…conform to the political establishment” is not what Christianity is about.
From the early church on, Christians have stood on a moral ground based upon biblical truth, not cultural acceptance.
The Philippians, for example, where at odds with the culture. The slave girl, the jailer, the wealthy Asian businesswoman, they and others in the church of Philipi accepted Christ, pitting themselves in contrast to the pagan society around them.
#4: Christians must have the courage to stand strong.
What’s interesting throughout the Bible is how we see Christians – people of God — being persecuted from the start to the end.
What we see over and over again in the New Testament is a declaration that Christians need to stand firm. Not to give in. Not to compromise. But to have courage to move forward.
There is a choice between compromise and just getting along.
We see this in Acts 5:28: “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” the high priest said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
And what was the response?
“On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.” Acts 5:24.
#5. What is a Christian?
A Christian is one who has been translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.
They have been born again.
They are salt and light. And we have the Great Commission to spread the gospel.
Our testimony requires not editing and watering down the gospel to please man.
Some pastors and church leaders seem to be okay with keeping their churches closed or compromised or not loving their flock. These are not being good shepherds to their people.
Those who are afraid about what the politicians, bureaucrats, media and others say — who wish to get along for political or economic favor — are not standing firm.
Some are afraid of losing influence or status. It’s something that we must resist.
#6: Finally…yes, there is sin and hell.
There are those who are silent about sin.
There are those who will want to deny hell.
They think talking about sin and hell is wrong.
They might not believe in electricity.
That doesn’t change the truth that electricity is real.
There is one prediction I feel confident making: you and every human born has sin and will die.
What happens at death?
Hebrews 9:27: Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.
The Bible is clear. 2 Corinthians 5:10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Our hope is in Jesus Christ alone.
He died on the cross for our sin.
He rose from the dead.
He provides those who believe in eternal life…and forgiveness of sins because of his death on the cross.
It’s all because of His grace and mercy.
We must stand firm.’https://mychristiandaily.com/freedom-of-worship-vs-freedom-of-religion-the-cultural-divide-you-need-to-be-aware-of/
