Religious Liberty

Religious freedom is under attack in the United States and Christianity is the bullseye! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this series we’ve seen that:

• Religious freedom in the United States is under attack.
• Christians are the primary target of this hostile culture.
• Persecution of Christians is likely.
• Some churches will surrender to the culture (some already have) and will even take part in the attack.
• Churches committed to Christ will resist the coming persecution, but the churches co-opted by the world continue in their apostasy.
• Christ’s letters to the Seven churches of Revelation provide insights for Christians facing a time of persecution.

In this last post of the series, we will consider five practical ways to prepare for the coming persecution.

Prepare Your Church

If you are a pastor, elder, or lay leader in your congregation, endeavor to prepare your flock for the coming troubles. Begin by warning your flock about the attack on religious freedom.

Make sure your ministry has the broadest religious liberty protections under the law.

A helpful resource is Protecting Your Ministry by the Alliance Defending Freedom.

• While initially prepared for a Bible-believing Lutheran denomination, its contents apply to all churches.
• It provides guidelines for the church, Christian Schools, and other Christian ministries.
• These guidelines address the importance of a.
  • Statement of Belief
  • Defined Religious Employment Criteria
  • Facility Use Policy
  • Formal Membership Policy
  • Marriage Policy, and more

Inform your members on contemporary issues that affect the church.

• Don’t allow the culture to intimidate you. For example, abortion is not only a political issue but also a moral issue that the church needs to address.
• Speak the truth.
• Speak out. Do not be afraid to address the cultural decay undermining biblical values.

Prepare Yourself & Your Family

 Dig into God’s Word

• Hear (Romans 10:17). Sunday worship readings and preaching.
• Read (Revelation 1:3). Establish a daily discipline or reading in the Bible.
• Meditate (Psalm 1:2-3). Prayerfully dwell on a passage of Scripture every day.
• Study (Acts 17:11). Be involved in group and individual Bible studies.
• Memorize (Psalm 119:9-11). Committing key passages to memory makes them available when your Bible is not close at hand.
• Apply (James 1:22). The more you hear, read, meditate on, study, and memorize God’s Word, the better able you are to live according to it.

Pay attention to what is happening in the culture.

An excellent way to do this is to read selected blogs and articles on websites. Here are two I recommend:

• Albert Mohler: Cultural Commentary from a Biblical Perspective
• Culture Watch: Bill Muehlenberg’s Commentary of issues of the Day

Be Active in Your Church

• Attend worship regularly.
• Give of your time, talents, and treasures.
• Volunteer, serve.
• Don’t wait to be asked to serve. Be proactive.

Share the Gospel

• You don’t need to be a gifted evangelist or grab people by the collar shouting, “are you saved?”
• Let your life be a witness. St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times and, when necessary, use words.”
• Know what you believe, and why you believe it.
• Here are a couple of recent books that will help any believer become confident in sharing Christ with others.
  • Creedal Apologetics by Nancy A. Almodovar.
  • Faith that Engages the Culture by Alfonso Espinosa.

Pray

• Take time each day to pray for your family, friends, your church, the nation, governmental leaders, for unbelievers you know.
• Pray as a family.
• Join with other Christians for times of prayer and fellowship.

Conclusion

Religious freedom is under attack in the United States and biblical Christianity is the primary target. But rather than allow this to engender fear, see this is an opportunity to strengthen our witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We can trust God to care for His people during these times.

⁹ “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. ¹¹ And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13:9–11 ESV)

But we also have a responsibility to be informed and prepared.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10–13 ESV)

Finally, take to heart these words of the Apostle Paul:

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4–7 ESV)