March 23, 2025
As citizens, Christians have a responsibility to participate in government.
Part of that participation includes protecting our God-given rights. Since we do not live in a monarchy, as did the 1st Century church, we can protect Christians from persecution. If we don't exercise our First Amendment constitutional rights to protect the free exercise of our faith, we will in essence become participants in Christians being persecuted because of our neglect.
You see, if we have a right and a responsibility to protect someone and we don't do it, we will bear the responsibility for what happens. The fact that we are not in a monarchy but rather a republic gives us a greater divine responsibility to participate in government.
We need to be reminded that government in general was God's idea, not man's idea. According to Romans 13, God is the one who designed government. And it functions at its best when it does so according to His intention.
Evangelism and missions are important in proclaiming and practicing the advancement of the gospel message. Matthew 28:19-20 is our commission from God on this priority.
One of the greatest ways that Jesus advanced the gospel message was not just by what he said but by the free exercise of what he did in ministering to people. It was not just his freedom of speech but the freedom of his actions that led people to put their faith and trust in Him alone for their salvation.
Our First Amendment rights in the United States not only help us to speak the truth of the gospel into the public square but also guarantee an opportunity to live out the life-changing power of the gospel in our lifestyle and in missions activities.
We need to be constantly reminded of what Benjamin Franklin said in 1787. While he was walking out of the convention hall, a woman approached him and asked him, “What have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A republic, madam - if you can keep it.”
You see, Benjamin Franklin's statement about being able to keep our republic also applies to our religious freedoms - if we can keep them! And, if we keep religious freedom at the level at which our founding fathers intended, we will continue to be a witness to our country and the world.
But, if we don't stand up for religious freedom, such as we have in the First Amendment, we're going to lose it. We are reminded in the Book of Revelation 2:5 that the Ephesians were told that if they did not repent and go back and do their first works, they were going to lose their “candlestick.” That means, if we as a nation do not go back to the original intent in both our actions and our attitude, we are going to lose our “national candlestick” as a witness for Christ.
This is why our First Amendment Rights must be protected now, more than ever. This is precisely why we need a Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) in every state, including Georgia!
We are living in a day when persecution is increasing against people of faith, particularly those who are “Biblically minded Christians.” The ultimate goal in persecuting Christians is to silence the gospel. And because we live in a republic, we cannot disengage from our responsibility to be a part of protecting religious freedom that will ultimately further the proclamation of the gospel through evangelism and missions.
If we, as Christians, do not fulfill our duty as citizens to protect our religious freedom, we actually become a part of the persecution! Dietrich Bonhoeffer has been credited for the influence of this statement:
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
This means that we as Christians are not going to be able to blame others for the loss of religious freedom in our time if we are not carrying out our God-given right to participate in government from a Biblical perspective! Watch this short video explaining RFRA.
It is interesting that at least 39 states have already enacted a Religious Freedom Restoration Act on a state level. And nowhere where this legislation has been enacted has it caused any discrimination. In fact, its purpose is to protect people of faith from being discriminated against because of their deeply held religious Beliefs.
I have heard it put this way that, “Today's complacency will lead to tomorrow's captivity.” Now is the time to stand in support of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act!
The Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) SB 36 has passed the Senate and is now in the House for a Judiciary Committee Hearing. Now is the time to contact your state Representative in the House and ask them to support RFRA! Find your House representative’s contact information here: https://www.legis.ga.gov/find-my-legislator.
___
Mike Griffin is the Public Affairs Representative of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.
