The Erosion of the Freedom of Religion

I wanted to bring your attention to a recent article in Baptist Press that lists a number of recent instances where Christian freedoms and the free exercise of religion are under attack in the United States. When you see a list like this, it really wakes you up to the erosion of freedom of religion in this nation, and the increasing attacks on Christianity. AiG’s battle with the state of Kentucky over their blatant viewpoint discrimination in their ruling against AiG’s participation in a tourism tax incentive program is in this list.

The article begins with the following:

The freedom to live according to one's religious beliefs has been a fundamental right in America since its founding. As the culture changes and those opposed to biblical values become more vocal, it is becoming increasingly difficult to express religious beliefs without being socially ostracized or legally penalized.

The following compilation by SBCLIFE, the journal of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, lists many of the political and cultural junctures that have had an effect on religious liberty and biblical faith in America in recent years.The first section recaps various setbacks; the second section, various victories.

I do urge you to read this article and contemplate the list they have compiled.

Christian Freedoms Waning in the West

One event that won’t be on that list, since it happened in the UK, is another example of how Western culture is quickly abandoning the truth of God’s Word beginning in Genesis and continuing to do “what is right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

Reportedly, a Christian preacher is facing charges for teaching the truth about homosexuality from the Bible. Apparently, he used a Bible passage that the judge said “he should not have referenced.”

The article reports the following:

A Christian street preacher convicted and fined by a U.K. judge, who also serves with an Islamic Shariah court, is guilty of having breached the public order by his choice of Bible verses. . . . “I have been ordered to pay compensation for causing ‘emotional pain’ to someone who approached me aggressively demanding to debate the issue,” said Overd. “There was no harm, injury or theft, just a simple disagreement over theology which I have now been fined for.” District Judge Shamim Ahmed Qureshi told Overd he should not have referenced Leviticus chapter 20 in explaining the biblical view on homosexuality, but “clearly indicated that he could have used chapter 18 of the book,” reported Christian Concern.”

This article on the WND website is good to read and to contemplate how long it will be before we start to see this happening in the US. The way things are happening in this nation, this is only just around the corner.

I encourage you to read the entire article.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken