In Paul’s great letter on freedom to the church at Galatia, he starts what we call chapter 5 with these words: “For freedom Christ has set us free: stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery...” “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom for an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love, become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”
This is the foundation we build on in our understanding of religious liberty. God will not coerce anyone to follow his way; and he will not bless a system that tries to force people to obey him and his ways. Jesus was repelled by all efforts to make him a ruler in order that he might force his kingdom on the world. In the Gospel of John (18:36), when Pilate was questioning Jesus about his authority, He told Pilate: “My kingship is not of this world. If it were, my supporters would have fought against my being turned over to the Jews. But my reign is not here.” Jesus brought no political message or program.
The above is an excerpt from the religious liberty sermon referred to in my March 16 entry.
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1 comment:
Terrific to have a fellow-believer in the blogswarm. Thanks much.
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