REFOCUS:
Viewing Morality Through God’s Eyes
Part 8 – Preserving Our Freedom of Religion
(Psalm 126:2-3)
July 3, 2022 – God & Country Day
Dr. Mark S. Hartman, Lead Pastor
INTRODUCTION
A. God has disciplined us for our wrongs, but He has also amazingly blessed us for the good that has come from this nation.
B. Psalm 126:2-3 Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for US, and we are filled with joy.
C. Please read Abby McCloskey’s article in the Dallas Morning News about the church’s responsibility toward helping those impacted by the Supreme Court’s ruling. See resources at bottom of page.
1. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS VIEWED DIFFERENTLY BY THE TWO PRIMARY WORLDVIEWS.
A. The Christian worldview holds that human rights are provided by God, not the government.
1. “All men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” (Declaration of Independence)
2. The word “inalienable” means the something that cannot be taken away by anyone because they are given by God.
B. The Naturalistic worldview holds that human rights are provided by government and can be given or removed by the will of that government.
“I believe that there are no innate, intrinsic differences among a human being, a baboon or a grain of sand.” (Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.)
2. EVERY GENERATION GETS TO CHOOSE THE DIRECTION OF THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY.
A. Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
1. Freedom comes from Christ not the government.
2. Freedom does not come free. It requires a fight to keep it. You have to stand up for human rights and for your freedoms and oppose those who want to take them away.
3. If we refuse to stand up for our freedoms, the powers that be will enslave us. Live a Christ centered life. Become involved. Get registered to vote. Vote. Share the truths of God’s Word with others.
B. Where will our greatest challenges to our religious freedoms come from?
1. “A well-financed war is now being waged by the gay and lesbian community in the US and abroad on the faith of our ancestors. Furthermore, there are some who seek to criminalize our biblical texts as hate speech. Like Martin Luther King, Jr., we do not invite conflict. However, in cases where questions of conscience and religious freedom are at stake, we are prepared, for the sake of the gospel, to suffer the consequences of standing on our convictions.” (See Letter by 25 Black Pastors, November 1, 2016 in resources at bottom of page.)
2. On June 15, 2018, The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that LGBT rights supersede religious rights. The court decided that protecting the LGBT rights, even in religious schools, is more important that the right of religious freedom. See resources at bottom of page.
3. Read the information about Paivi Maria Rasanen’s case against Finland. See resources at bottom of page.
4. On June 14, 2022, a state of New York court ruled that an orthodox Jewish university in NYC does not have the religious rights to keep a pro-LGBT club from being a part of the university. (https://wng.org/roundups/ot-religious-enough-1655837267)
C. Let me end this message with these words from God’s Word:
1. Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation, whose God is the Lord.
2. Psalm 85:6-7 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in Thee? 7 Show us Thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us Thy rescue.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Dallas Morning News – OPINION A post-Roe movement must return to its roots.
https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=36e26604-9257-401b-bdf0-02a9ce448d9a
Letter by 25 Black Pastors, November 1, 2016
https://sugarcreek.net/docs/pastor/Black-Pastors-on-Moral-Issues.pdf
Canadian Supreme Court rules that LGBT rights are greater than religious freedom.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44501139
Päivi Maria Räsänen, politician in Finland tried for making statements that the homosexual lifestyle is sinful, according to the Bible.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A4ivi_R%C3%A4s%C3%A4nen#cite_note-29