"Since we have heard the word of salvation by Jesus Christ, we have been taught, as those that first trusted in Christ, to be obedient unto him both by word and deed; wherefore, if we be forced to your meeting, we shall declare our dissent from you both by word and gesture.” Dr. John Clarke
In the Massachusetts Bay Colony a law was passed by the General Court, November 12, 1644, banishing those who "refused to countenance infant baptism and the use of secular force in religious things."
Dr. Clarke, along with Obadiah Holmes and Mr. Crandall were arrested for holding an unauthorized meeting. They were to be forced to attend a Congregational meeting. The above quote was Dr. Clarke's response.
These three men were willing to endure the consequences of their dissent. Indeed, Obadiah Holmes received a whipping for it.
Almost 300 years later, we find our country in a similar struggle over freedom of religion. A Catholic priest declared that his faith, his conscience, would cause him to stand firm even unto death. Such is the power of convictions of faith.
Throughout the ages men and women died for their faith, standing firm that what they believed were right. Yet, in our day to not stand strong has become a virtue. To allow others to impose their ideologies upon us, making us accept theirs as superior to our own seems at times to be considered right. Our "national religion," therefore, becomes founded upon assimilation rather than freedom of conscience (the core of freedom of religion).
But true believers in Christ are exhorted to hold firm to the truth even when faced with persecution.
In the Massachusetts Bay Colony a law was passed by the General Court, November 12, 1644, banishing those who "refused to countenance infant baptism and the use of secular force in religious things."
Dr. Clarke, along with Obadiah Holmes and Mr. Crandall were arrested for holding an unauthorized meeting. They were to be forced to attend a Congregational meeting. The above quote was Dr. Clarke's response.
These three men were willing to endure the consequences of their dissent. Indeed, Obadiah Holmes received a whipping for it.
Almost 300 years later, we find our country in a similar struggle over freedom of religion. A Catholic priest declared that his faith, his conscience, would cause him to stand firm even unto death. Such is the power of convictions of faith.
Throughout the ages men and women died for their faith, standing firm that what they believed were right. Yet, in our day to not stand strong has become a virtue. To allow others to impose their ideologies upon us, making us accept theirs as superior to our own seems at times to be considered right. Our "national religion," therefore, becomes founded upon assimilation rather than freedom of conscience (the core of freedom of religion).
But true believers in Christ are exhorted to hold firm to the truth even when faced with persecution.
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.How will you respond when your faith is tested and your life or livelihood threatened? Will you hold to it, or will you succumb to the pressures of government, society, or friends?
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me." John 15:18-21
That is the challenge. Thank you for bringing this to the fore.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to see what will happen in consequence of our "tolerance" to the point of wimpiness, you might read "The Harbinger" by Jonathan Cahn.
Thank you, Judith. The Bible has a lot to say about what will happen to us. We have the example of Israel in the Old Testament. They began to incorporate worshiping other gods into their worship of God and it resulted in their captivity.
ReplyDeletePaul warned Timothy that a time would come when peple would turn away from truth and turn to fables.
And in Revelation, Christ's messages to the churches warn of what their tolerance of false doctrines, like that of the Nicolaitanes and of those that hold to the doctrines of Balaam and of the woman Jezebel.
But for those who stand strong, for the faithful, Christ gave wonderful promises. And in the end of the Book, those who are saved enter into eternity where there will be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Rev. 21:4)
We may endure persecution and even death for our faith, but for those who believe, death is a welcomed relief because with it comes eternity.
DeleteThe churches in the days of the apostles rejoiced at the opportunity to suffer for Christ's sake because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41).
When we are truly suffering for Christ's sake (and not for our pride and own sin), the Holy Spirit comforts and brings peace in a way you can never experience if you never suffer. That comfort and peace is what we miss out when we chose to NOT stand firm on what we believe.
For believers, we know the end of the book. We know who the Victor is and we have already partaken in the victory. We abide here, in this world to bring Him glory and honor and praise and to have blessing of seeing Him at work in our lives and in the world around us.
To God be all glory and honor and praise for giving us truth and eternal salvation, and for giving us the whole story, so that we can remain faithful and strong in the hope of eternity.
Thank you, Lynn. An encouraging reminder of the reason why we must stand fast until the end. Especially while things all around us are becoming more and more Anti-God and Anti-Christian.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to read this blog and look back -- to a time when God was a part of everyone's lives. Strange that we must look to the past to get strength for the future, but reading about the morals, principles, honor, and faith of our forefathers strengthens me!
ReplyDelete"How will you respond when your faith is tested and your life or livelihood threatened? Will you hold to it, or will you succumb to the pressures of government, society, or friends?"
ReplyDeleteWe may all know the answer to this sooner than we think!
Thank you for this post. It reminds us that we need to determine in our mind to stand firm in our faith so that when the days of trials come, we will not be swayed.
ReplyDelete