Going straight to the Cross
 

Freedom From Religion

by Stan Mitchell

Montgomery, Alabama: Chief Justice Roy Moore has made the headlines for his insistence that the Ten Commandments be displayed in his courthouse. He says that the Biblical code is the foundation of law in America, and our society's efforts to remove them represent a dangerous collapse of morals and ethics in our country.

Moore, a Vietnam veteran, declared: "We've turned the Constitution and the First Amendment from a shield to protect us into a sword to deprive us of our civil and religious rights."

You know the story; you've seen it on the news. But what I want to comment on is a placard the TV cameras were showing. It said: "We Demand Freedom From Religion." I had to laugh at that. Of course the phrase should be Freedom of religion, not from religion. But it's not just the ACLU and the Coalition for the American Way that want freedom from religion. That's what every rebellious teenager wants, and every independent man who doesn't want to be "told what to do" wants -- freedom from religion! That's what couples living in sin want, and drunks too -- freedom from religion. That's what dishonest politicians want, and most of us, too -- freedom from religion.

We don't want to be responsible to a God who demands our obedience. We would just as soon not change bad habits. We don't want a preacher, or a judge, or the Bible telling us how to live! We want freedom from religion!

Perhaps that's why so many are trying to push the Ten Commandments -- and the rest of the Bible -- out of our public places, and out of our hearts. We want freedom from religion. But remember this. Worship of pleasure is a religion. Worshiping rap artists, and flashy new cars, and our own self indulgence -- all of these is a religion. We have simply switched our loyalty from God to idols. There is no freedom from religion. Only freedom in Christ!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).

      ... subscribe
   
Your Status
Menu
New Additions

Update on FMag


Forthright Magazine continues, more dynamic than ever! We have groups created for FMag on Facebook and the Churches of Christ Network. Announcement blog is up and going on Preachers Files. Email lists about FMag and FPress are available both on Yahoo and GoogleGroups. And, to top it all off, we're twittering for both on Twitter.com.
by randal @ 1/20/09, 11:55 AM

How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless


by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:24--47 How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless Yes, it is popular to say that we are not supposed to judge, but the truth is we all make judgments about many things daily. Otherwise, we would never succeed in life. The real question is what is our guide for judging. Why can we not simply follow the example of our Master and Lord? He said, 30 "I can of Myself ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:08 AM

Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name?


by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read First Chronicles 1--3 Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? Think on the manner, in which the Book of First Chronicles begins, 1 Adam, Seth, Enosh (1 Chr. 1:1). In this way begins the longest genealogy in the Bible. The names continue to the end of the ninth chapter! Were these just names? Adam; who is he? You know there is more in the Bible than the mere mention of his name in ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:05 AM
...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:1--23 Jesus healed a man. Praise God! However, Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. Uh oh. Some people were ready to kill Jesus for this perceived violation of the Sabbath Law. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath (Joh. 5:16). Jesus did a good thing. Yet, people criticized Him severely for it. And they were not people ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:03 AM

They Were His Servants


by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 24 and 25 They Were His Servants As the writer of Second Kings explains whom the Lord sent against Judah, the writer said that this was 2 ...according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets (2 Kin. 24:2). Those great men we have honored for centuries were nothing more than servants of the Lord God. What does that make us? Do you do something ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:01 AM
...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 4:30--54 The disciples went into a town to buy food while Jesus remained out of the town. There He engaged a woman in conversation. When the disciples returned, here is what happened, 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know" (Joh. 4:31, 32). As you read the Gospel According to John, watch ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:59 AM

Having a Tender Heart


by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 22 and 23 Having a Tender Heart When Josiah heard the word of God for the first time, he tore his clothes, knowing of the wrath that was upon Jerusalem for the idolatry of his forefathers. Therefore, he sent messengers to a prophetess to inquire of the Lord. He did have a message for Josiah. God said through the prophetess, 19 "...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before ... more ...
by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:56 AM
March 2024
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31
August
last updated: 8/25/12, 10:32 AM online for 8000 Days

RSS Feed

Made with Antville
powered by
Helma Object Publisher