Religious Freedom

Through the ages, terrible atrocities have been committed in the name of religion.

During the first few centuries after Christ, Christians were severely persecuted by pagans and Jews. But Jesus taught His followers to love their enemies and to do good to those who hate them (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27,35).

From the seventh to the eleventh century, by force of arms, Muslims spread their religion around the Mediterranean from Asia Minor, along the northern coast of Africa, and into Spain. Church buildings were destroyed, church leaders were murdered, and Christianity was exterminated where Muslims came to power.

The Koran commands: "And if they turn back from the faith, take them and kill them wherever you find them" (Chapter 4). With regard to anyone who "shall oppose Ala and his apostle" (Mohammed) the charge is given: "Therefore strike off their heads, and strike off all the ends of their fingers" (Chapter 8). When a treaty with non-Muslims expires, the following is commanded: "And when the months wherein you are not allowed to attack them shall be past, kill the idolaters wheresoever you shall find them, and take them prisoners, and besiege them, and lay wait for them in every convenient place" (Chapter 9).

Fortunately, many Muslims in our time do not apply these teachings, and try to explain them away or soften them in various ways. But it cannot be denied that through the centuries, and even at the present time, these passages in the Koran have resulted in much religious persecution, war and terrorism.

From the eleventh through the thirteenth centuries, Crusades were organized in Europe in an attempt to conquer Jerusalem by force of arms. This was done by apostates who were not following the teachings of Christ. Thousands of Muslims were murdered and their villages were destroyed.

At the time of the Reformation, the Roman Catholic Church used the Inquisition to murder those who opposed its authority. It was a capital crime to read the Bible without the permission of the Church. In 1536 William Tyndale was burned to death at Vilvoorde, Belgium by Catholic authorities. His crime? Publishing the Bible in English and exposing false doctrines of the Roman Church.

When Protestants came to power in certain countries, they persecuted Catholics and other Protestants who did not agree with them. On October 27, 1553, Michael Servetus was burned to death at Geneva, Switzerland at the instigation of John Calvin. His crime? Teaching doctrines Calvin considered heretical.

In our own century, millions of Jews have been exterminated in gas chambers and millions of Muslims have been evicted from their homes in Palestine and forced to spend their lives in camps of poverty in the desert. During our own decade, religious and ethnic conflicts in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Indonesia have cost the lives of millions of innocent people. Countless believers of all faiths have been persecuted and murdered under communism in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

All such persecution is contrary to the doctrine of Christ. Jesus teaches religious tolerance and freedom.

Although apostasy is to be forcefully refuted and apostate teachers are to be expelled from the church, Christians are not to persecute others or use coercion to prevent others from practicing their religion.

Once when Jesus and His disciples were traveling to Jerusalem, they were refused lodging in a Samaritan village. "And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, 'Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?' But He turned and rebuked them, and said, 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.' And they went to another village" (Luke 9:54-56). One may not use Old Testament examples to justify violence. The teaching of Jesus is on a higher plain, is of a different spirit.

Not only does Jesus teach against persecuting others, we are not even to forbid them: "Then John answered and said, 'Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.' But Jesus said to him, 'Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us'" (Luke 9:49,50 //Mark 9:38-40).

Some have misapplied this passage to teach that we should fellowship false teachers. But Jesus did not condone what this person was doing. He simply taught religious freedom. We are not to 'forbid' others.

Paul explains: "Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice" (Philippians 1:15-18).

Some who are now Christians in Belgium, first started studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. Others who are now Christians, first studied the Bible with Mormons. As they continued studying the Scriptures, however, they rejected the errors of these groups, and learned the truth of the gospel.

Although false teachers are not to be permitted to teach in the church, it is not our task as Christians to prevent them from proclaiming their beliefs in general. It is our task, however, to refute their false doctrine. Religious freedom does not mean that we must remain silent in the face of religious error.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Christians combat false doctrine by preaching the truth. We refute false arguments and capture the thoughts of men by preaching the Word of God. Rather than being overcome by evil, we overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

Although one can sympathize with oppressed peoples who mistakenly think force of arms can set them free, it does not work. Jesus said: "Put away your sword, for all who draw the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). You cannot overcome evil with evil. An attempt to do so only multiplies evil.

Jesus taught us how to overcome evil with good by going to the cross and rising victorious from the grave to become King of kings and Lord of lords. He tells us to take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24).

The most powerful weapons on earth are not guns and bombs, but words. If you want to have influence for good, learn to speak and write well. And the most powerful words of all are the words of God.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Christians are proponents and defenders of religious freedom. Our weapon is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Apostasy is to be refuted, but followers of Christ do not persecute others or prevent them from practicing their religion.

Roy Davison


Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)