Elections Have Consequences

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor safety.” Benjamin Franklin  

  Like you, I’m thankful things are opening up across the country from the pandemic. Yet, I’m cautiously optimistic. If you follow politics, then you know that politicians are driven by pragmatism and a desire to stay in power.  

  Most Americans have wearied of the mandates. With mid-term elections approaching, those who put in place many of the draconian mandates know voters have short memories. Elections have consequences. If Christians do not vote for those who understand the vital importance of religious liberty, if power-hungry leaders are re-elected, once November is past or if there’s another virus blip, it’s not unimaginable that those same leaders will again use their power to re-issue draconian mandates that impact the Church.

  It’s noteworthy that those most opposed to the beliefs of Christians consistently sought to shut down church assemblies. They’re very cognizant of the power of assembled believers. While they have little problem with Christians worshiping in the privacy of their own homes, they fear gathered assemblies and are opposed to the public expression of faith and religious freedom.

  Here are a few examples: A church in Nevada had to seek relief in federal court from the Governor’s executive order subjecting churches in the state to strict numerical limits on congregants at religious services while allowing casinos to operate at 50% capacity. Across the country, marijuana dispensaries, liquor stores, and abortion clinics were deemed essential while churches were not. These closures infringed on the 1^st Amendment as enumerated in the Bill of Rights, our right to the free exercise of religion.

  Ideology became very clear when the same politicians encouraged demonstrators and rioters to assemble with no social distancing and spotty mask-wearing. Using the pandemic as an excuse, officials threatened to permanently shut down synagogues, banned drive-in church services (even where worshippers remained in their own cars), and forbade singing or chanting in religious services, while decreeing that massive protests with screaming and singing were allowed. Ideology drove the double standard by which some rights were protected and others were not.

  Historically, religion and its adherents have been often oppressed by government. America has been singular in its dedication to preserving the freedom of its people to expect and experience religious freedom. Tragically, that’s rapidly changing, yet too many of us are unfamiliar with our history and the high price our ancestors paid to secure religious liberty.

  If one goes back to incidents such as the great flu pandemic in 1918 and 1919, lessons were learned and Christians took time to work through these things. Three important principles developed from that crisis.

  First, actions undertaken by the government should be temporary. Second, the actions should be rational. And third, they should be generally applicable.

  Yet, in the COVID pandemic, one by one, most governments violated one or more of those principles. In other words, a restriction handed down by the government in the name of something like a pandemic must be temporary, rational, and generally applicable.

  Generally applicable, in that it applies to everyone equally. It’s not targeted. It’s not targeted toward Jews or Baptists. It’s not targeted toward bakers or mechanics. There may be differences because of the particular circumstances but the law is to be generally applicable.

  Those were continually violated. Restrictions were put in place that put religious congregations at a distinct disadvantage when it came to gathering together. Over time, that very issue of a restriction of necessity being justified by it being generally applicable was violated repeatedly. But it’s the principle of such a restriction being temporary that perhaps has been most egregiously violated.

  Add to that the toxic comments of leading media outlets recklessly blaming religious groups for the spread of COVID, further polarizing people of faith from those who do not value faith or religious freedom or are anti-religious. Elites know that fear of things like Covid is a powerful motivation to manipulate public opinion toward a targeted group that they want to cancel out the influence of.

  This is vital! If we lose our religious freedoms in America, we are not the only ones to lose. If America loses its enthusiasm for defending religious liberty, what are the implications for religious believers now being horribly persecuted all over the world?

  Already diabolical harassment and murder of Christians are taking place in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, and China and it only increased during the pandemic. One factor unites all these stories and all the suffering endured by Christians persecuted for their faith across the globe — an almost total media silence in the mainstream media. Shockingly, that silence extends to the plight of the Uighurs in China. It’s beyond question that members of this Muslim ethnic group are being herded by Beijing into “reeducation” camps that employ torture and other grotesque methods to pressure Uighurs to abandon their religion and culture. 

  Too many Christians vote economically or along party lines or even for personal benefit. It’s time for Christians and the Church to vote first for Kingdom values. It’s a crucial moment for believers across the country to understand what’s at stake and shore up religious freedom at home and abroad. If America’s desperately important policy of defending religious freedom around the world is brushed aside, it’s great news for dictators, torturers, and sinister specialists in religious “re-education” everywhere. Yet, whether the Church will step into the breach is an open question.

  It’s time for the Church to be the Church, even in the voting booth. Elections have consequences. We must vote for those who understand the importance of religious freedom whether they’re evangelical, Jewish, Hindu or Muslim. Houses of worship must never again be indefinitely closed. Indefinite restrictions on religious freedom contradict the ideals on which our great country was founded. We must vote for and support those who understand our basic rights that God has blessed us with in America. 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Is politics too dirty for a Christian?

“Hey, Hey, LBJ!

How Many Kids Did You Kill Today?”

  Those words, part of a chant repeated over and over in protests during the 1960s has essentially been forgotten. Fifty years ago those words rang out across college campuses, fueled antiwar rallies and filled the air outside the White House piercing the soul of the man who lived there.

  The Vietnam War became “Lyndon Johnson’s war,” though it was Eisenhower, nearly a decade earlier who first involved the U.S. in Vietnam. Vietnam eventually wrecked Johnson’s presidency, ending his dream of founding a “Great Society,” free of everything war and violence birthed. Within five years of leaving office, he died a broken and disillusioned man.

  How would you feel? How would you feel if nearly every decision was second-guessed? How would you feel if you were constantly misquoted or your words taken out of context? How would you feel if you were called a “hack, extremist, idiot, thug, radical, shill” or worse? How would you feel if every time there was a traffic jam, a downturn in the economy, or even a pothole, you were blamed and it was somehow YOUR fault? How would you feel if you or your family were threatened with bodily harm or worse because of your position? How would you feel if you weren’t quite sure if your friends were really friends, or because you had some influence that benefited them?   

  If none of that would bother you, maybe you’re ready to run for public office…because that’s the price. While it’s true that some individuals seek public office to gain position or acquire power or money, it’s a small minority. Most seek public office, especially local ones, to work for their community or for a cause. They want to make a difference. Most begin pure in their ideology and motives. They truly, according to their worldview, desire to make their community and this world a better place.

  Yes, it’s easy to become jaundiced and forget you’re a public servant. Very few start that way and most still want to make a difference. They’re committed to the “greater good,” even though we may not agree with their definition of what that “greater good” is or their worldview.

  It’s common for Christians to quip, “I’m just not interested in politics.” Such a dismissive remark is frequently delivered with a veneer of piety implying that political engagement is somehow inherently defiled, occupying an arena unfit for anyone serious about the gospel. Yet, such an attitude denies the gospel and that Christ died for everyone including politicians, even those that we disagree with. The message of the gospel is that by grace through faith every sinner can be reconciled with God (Eph. 2:7-8). It’s only the gospel, not political power, that transforms individuals, nations and cultures.  

  Politics are unavoidable. Ask a pastor of an underground church or a missionary attempting to access a closed country if politics matter. Religious liberty, passports and visas are vital. In America and a post-Christian world, it’s politics that protect the blessing that God has given us, our 1^st amendment rights: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

  Politics then have real-world implications on our God-given mission of evangelism, missions and discipleship. God has given us a responsibility to care for those around us. It’s vital that we engage in the political process advocating for laws and policies that contribute to the good and flourishing of our fellow image-bearers of God. We are our “neighbor’s keeper.”

  God established and uses human government for His glory (Gen. 9:5-6; Rom. 13:1-5). Some of the greatest heroes in Scripture served the Lord by serving in anti-God governments (Joseph, Nehemiah, Esther and Daniel).

  One of the most evil kings of all time was gloriously saved Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4). It’s why we’re commanded to pray for our governmental leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-4). At Grace, we take that command seriously. It’s why we pray for an elected official each week. We want them to govern in a God-honoring way. More importantly, we want them to come to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

  Think what would happen if those in elected office came to Christ. Most of us are skeptical of that. Yet, that only shows our lack of faith and naïveté of God’s power. I’ve just finished reading, Born Again by Chuck Colson. Known as Nixon’s “hatchet man,” Chuck Colson was the last person many thought would ever come to Christ, but he did. Literally, millions in the corridors of power and in cells in some of the world’s worst prisons have been touched by the gospel because God gloriously saved Chuck Colson. I know that God has used him and his writings in my life.

  This weekend Jane and I are attending the Wilberforce Conference hosted by the organization Chuck Colson started, Prison Fellowship. Tomorrow we’ll be visiting the offices of our national representatives. Why? We have a biblical mandate – Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus was the friend of sinners and you and I are to be Jesus in our world.

  Throughout time God has placed believers in the corridors of power. As Christians, we have a common bond with brothers and sisters in Christ that is eternal, even if they’re from other political persuasions. Our common spiritual inheritance must have precedence over all political differences.   

  Jeremiah 29:7 says: “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Referring to the debauched city of Babylon, Jeremiah recognized even a pagan government serves a purpose in God’s plan. That’s still true. Our witness in the public square contributes transcendent moral values, yet our withdrawal opens the door to a moral vacuum. We are commanded to be salt and light…and that includes the political arena.

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Why Christians must fight for Muslims!

“Protection of religious freedom means considering the faiths and beliefs of everyone involved.”   Mike Quigley

  Summer officially ends this coming Thursday. There was an important summer story that, perhaps with all the other news stories, was overlooked. Worse, it didn’t garner the needed attention of the Christian community. Yet, it was very important and has far reaching implications for the Church in America, our 1^st Amendment rights and the future of religious freedom. Let me ask some “religious rights” questions. (Answer Yes or No.)

1. Should the Amish be allowed to drive buggies on public roads? 2. Should Muslims be allowed to have a public call for prayer? 3. Should we allow a mosque to be built in our community? 4. Should Jehovah’s Witnesses be allowed to proselyte door to door? 5. Should a teacher be allowed to have a Koran on her desk?

  How did you do? The answer to all of them are all “yes.” Please understand, and this is very important, it’s not the Bible that gives us these rights, it’s our United States Constitution. Most people, even most Christians, aren’t familiar with our 1^st Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” Most are more familiar with Thomas Jefferson’s often misinterpreted statement, “a wall of separation between church and state.” Many ignorantly believe that it’s part of the Constitution. It’s not!

  Unlike the United States, which historically has protected religious freedom, France does not. This religious freedom war is being waged on French beaches. Local police officers are storming French beaches to free women of their clothes. You’ll find pictures of armed cops standing over Muslim women until they take off enough clothes to make a secular French society happy. A mother of two was informed she’d been fined because she was wearing leggings, a tunic and a headscarf on the beach. Her ticket said she was not wearing “an outfit respecting good morals and secularism.”

  So we freed the French from the Nazis so they can violate Muslim women, forcing them to take off clothes so that they feel immodest according to Islam and violate their religious convictions. Sadly, because Muslims aren’t overly popular in the West, most media and worse and much more serious, most Christians have ignored this violation of religious rights! Why?

  Very few people want to stand up for Muslims, particularly in France…or in much of the world right now. Even as we’re told we have nothing to fear, it appears fear is exactly what keeps us silent. More importantly, France has a policy of secularization. France bans outward religious symbols in public, including burkas and Muslim swimwear, burkinis. Somehow, so far, nuns wearing habits have escaped punishment.

  In a country obsessed with the liberalization of women from oppression, burkinis are, to a secular French mind, a blatant symbol of marginalization, put in place to protect men from seeing the bodies of women. A culture committed to empowering women finds itself in a dilemma. Where is the oppression? Is the religion that states they must wear it in the wrong, or is it the government that forces them to remove it in the wrong?

  But it’s not about clothes, it’s really about the right to religious liberty. I’m so glad I’m an American, not French. That right is the very first one in our Constitution — in the 1^st Amendment — for a reason. Our histories and revolutions had very different outcomes which produced very different approaches to religion in our founding documents. Religious tolerance qualified by secularism is not religious tolerance. It’s religious tolerance as long as it conforms to the ideals of the secular state.

  Do we really want to strip Muslim women of their religious rights by making them remove their clothes? The pretext that burkini bans were put in place to prevent violent reactions from those offended by the modest bathing attire is idiotic. It’s based on the ludicrous premise that if you’re living according to your faith, and ignorant people who don’t like it act inappropriately, the person of faith is to blame. That’s the idiocy of the new French “religious police.” And religious liberty hangs in the balance.

  If you and I do not speak out for religious freedom, Muslims in France will not be the only ones stripped of their religious liberty. We can’t stand idly by today because it’s not “our” religious liberty. As secularism continues marching across the West, it will soon be us.

  Tragically, our own President doesn’t get it, though he swore to uphold the Constitution. Recently, President Obama said (and rightly so) that San Francisco 49er’s quarterback Colin Kaepernick is “exercising his constitutional right” not to stand for the national anthem. While I disagree with Kaepernick, our Constitution gives him that right. Yet, unbelievably, the President opposes those who want their Constitutionally protected religious liberty like Hobby Lobby or the Little Sisters. One can’t be selective in who has religious rights and who doesn’t, as long as it fits our values and worldview. Limited religious liberty soon means religious liberty for none.

  Do we really want Muslim women forced to strip off some of their clothes under the watchful eye of the police? Or, Catholic adoption agencies stripped of their participation in Massachusetts’ adoption system because of their views of marriage? Or, a baker stripped of her business because she did not want to participate in a wedding with which she disagrees? 

  This act on the shores of France is a beachhead of the new intolerance threatening the liberty of all who don’t march to the beat of the secularist drum. As Christians, we must speak up, even for those we disagree with in their religious beliefs, whether it’s a burkini or a mosque or an addition to the local Kingom Hall. Let them know they have your support. Let your local government officials know religious individuals/groups have your support. It may mean attending a government meeting or zoning hearing on their behalf. Because first they came for the Muslims in the burkinis…

Update: I learned from a missionary friend in France that the courts there have now struck this attack on religious liberty down. 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.