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Is Religious Freedom Free?
By Terry Dashner, Fri Dec 9th
“Religious Freedom or Freedom from Religion?” by Terry Dashner,Senior Pastor Faith Fellowship Church…PO Box 1586…Broken Arrow,OK…74013…918-451-0270 I’m concerned about American citizens who take religiousliberties for granted. Every God-fearing American who isindifferent to his right of legal assembly, who’s indifferent tothe support of a church or synagogue by attendance and tithes,and who neglects to pray daily for the continuance of religiousfreedom is unwittingly placing America’s religious
liberties injeopardy. By his failure to participate actively in religion,he’s sending a message to American lawmakers, and to the worldat large, that worship by free expression and free assembly isnot very important. It’s interesting that most Americans claimto be Christian. If we are, then why aren’t our Churches andsynagogues reflecting these numbers of supporters? Americansmust use or we will lose our First Amendment right to religiousliberties. These precious rights are privileges, not mandates. (Article continued below)
There is a frightening spin manifesting now in other countriesthat claim religious tolerance. Religious tolerance for them isnot like America’s religious tolerance. Their tolerance is inname only. What they practice is tolerance for one-statereligion. All other religions must comply with thestate-preferred religion or suffer persecution. This is scarybecause it could happen in America if we don’t support ourreligious rights. If we don’t use our right to worship we willlose our right to worship. Cal Thomas, a leading American columnist, writes articles worthreading. I read one of his articles the other day that statedthe following information. The Institute for Religion andDemocracy (IRD) in Washington says Sharia law discriminatesagainst women and Iraq’s small (estimated at 2 percent)Christian population. In a statement, IRD says that if aChristian man converts to Islam, he could divorce his Christianwife and she might lose custody of her children, who would beofficially decreed Muslim. Anyone converting to another faithfrom Islam is considered an apostate and, under somecircumstances and interpretations of the Koran, could beexecuted. In his book, Islam, Muhammad and the Koran, Dr. Labib Mikhail,an Egyptian who moved to the United States in 1973, notes: ‘”TheKoran commands Muslims to fight non-Muslims until theyexterminate all religions so that Islam will be the world’s onlyreligion.’” In the Koran, Surat Al-Baqarah 2:193 says, ‘”Andfight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief andworshipping of others along with Allah) and (all and every kindof) worship is for Allah (alone). But if they cease, let therebe no transgression except against As-Zatimun (the polytheistsand wrongdoers).”’ To a devout Muslim, a polytheist is aChristian, who believes that God is three persons in one. While we are exploring this topic, we must not overlook thepersecution of Pentecostal congregations in many Europeancountries. France has many Catholics and Protestants, butFrance, as well as Germany and other European nations, is asecular society. France’s Revolution in the 18th century forcedthe religion of Enlightenment on the country and trivializedChristianity. Today, if you go to a secular European country tostart a Pentecostal mission, you won’t find religious tolerancefor the Pentecostal faith. Most likely you will be harassed andbadgered by the secularists to comply with the norm or you willbecome discouraged and probably leave the country on your own. America’s Constitution protects all religions throughout ourNation, even those that are different from mine. This is a greatliberty that many God-fearing Americans take for granted andignore through indifference. I’m concerned, and I know that youare too. That’s why I’m honored to network with you throughe-mail for encouragement and prayer for America. Please pray forthe Body of Christ around the world also. Will you continue yoursupport of religious assembly by supporting a church orsynagogue of your choice? Remember this, if you don’t exerciseyour right to worship, you may lose it. Someone might tell yousomeday by authority of law how or what to worship. May thisnever happen in America.
About the author:Pastors a small church in Broken Arrow, OK. 918-451-0270 | Sign In |
