The case for actively preserving religious freedom

 

The case for actively preserving religious freedom - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com

 

Many Christians believe that socialism/communism is no problem to the Christian faith. Many support the current atmosphere of democratic socialism, progressivism, and liberal thought, believing it is in alignment with the principles of Christ. They cite Christ's nonviolence, the Apostle Paul's take on submitting to government, and Acts 2:44, "And all that believed were together and had (shared) all things in common," as Biblical justification. This is foolishness. Communism and its derivatives are anything but nonviolent. Submitting to evil is not what Paul meant. Early Christians lovingly had all things in common-they were not forced to do so by a government. The very nature of communism is against God.

 

A story by AP's Yanan Wang in China underscores the communist/socialist threat to Christianity. Wang writes: "Under President Xi Jinping, China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, believers are seeing their freedoms shrink dramatically even as the country undergoes a religious revival. Experts and activists say that as he consolidates his power, Xi is waging the most severe systematic suppression of Christianity in the country since religious freedom was written into the Chinese constitution in 1982. The crackdown on Christianity is part of a broader push by Xi to "Sinicize" all the nation's religions by infusing them with "Chinese characteristics" such as loyalty to the Communist Party."

 

Wang reports, "This spring, a five-year plan to "Sinicize" Christianity in particular was introduced, along with new rules on religious affairs. Over the last several months, local governments across the country have shut down hundreds of private Christian "house churches." A statement last week from 47 in Beijing alone said they had faced "unprecedented" harassment since February." Now, let's look at what is happening in America under the influence of socialist politicians and communistic advocacy groups. While it is not nearly as severe as in China, Christianity in the United States is under fire. Christians adhering to scriptural principles and faith values are considered extremists, bigots, homophobes and more.

 

Christians are ridiculed by the left. Moreover, Christians are hated and demonized by leftists. You see, the Communist Manifesto states: "...Communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion, and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis; it therefore acts in contradiction to all past historical experience." What can be more clear? When we look at what is occurring here in America, the visceral by the socialist left against anything suggesting a moral code, is there any doubt that electing more leftist will result in a continuation toward soft tyranny, and outright persecution of Christians? We have a say in this because we have a vote. Those in China do not because communism disenfranchises them. We need to pray for the persecuted church AND take action that our country preserves and defends religious freedom.