GOD
& GOVERNMENT: Principle's for True Freedom
FREEDOM
| 1. |
In
the Bible freedom always means the liberty to obey God. It
is the freedom to know God’s will and to do it. Biblical
freedom is therefore within the safe boundaries of the Law of God.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father
who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 (John 8:32; Romans 8:2; Genesis
1:28.)
|
| 2. |
To
the Christian, freedom is more of a responsibility than a right.
This would involve doing unto others what we would want done to us.
“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use
your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another
in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command. ‘Love
your neighbour as yourself.’” Galatians 5:13-14
(1 Corinthians 8:9.) |
| 3. |
We
are warned to beware of those who promise freedom but are themselves
slaves of depravity. In the Bible God forbids state interference outside
of the realms of national defence, law and order and justice. For
example: The Word of God forbids any taxation over 10% and excludes
the taxation of property and inheritance.
“They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves
of depravity for a man is a slave whatever has mastered him.”
2 Peter 2:19 (John 8:34; Acts 8:23; Romans 6:16; 1 Samuel 8:15-18;
1 Kings 21:3.) |
| 4. |
True
freedom can only come where Jesus Christ is obeyed as Lord.
“Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17. |
| 5. |
Freedom
has to be based upon and in accordance with the Ten Commandments.
Adherence to the Ten Commandments would ensure true religious freedom
– freedom to worship and serve the only true God, the Creator
and sovereign Lord of the universe – the only source of freedom.
And it would protect worship, speech, time, families, life, love,
morality, property, truth, reputation and conscience.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes
of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Psalm
19:7 (Exodus 20:3-17.) |
| 6. |
It
is not acceptable to justify evil in the name of freedom. There
can be no freedom for blasphemy, perversion, sodomy, cruelty to animals,
rape and child abuse (such as occurs in Satanism) in any civilised
country. Nor can the murder of human life in the womb (abortion) or
the exploitation of women’s bodies for profit (pornography and/or
prostitution) be tolerated. We affirm the sanctity of human life from
conception to natural death.
“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 (Proverbs 6:16-19; Colossians 3:5-10.) |
| 7. |
Religious
freedom must include freedom for parents to educate their
children according to the Bible – whether through state schools,
independent Christian schools or home schooling.
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead, bring
them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians
6:4 (Deuteronomy 6:1-7; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 3:16; Colossians
2:8.) |
| 8.
|
Religious
freedom must include the freedom to proclaim the God of the Bible
to be the only true and living God, and to objectively point out
the errors in other religions.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
John 14:6 (Acts 4:12; 1 Tim 2:4,5; Deuteronomy 30; 1 Kings 18:21.) |
| 9. |
Any
attempt by the state to register or regulate churches, missions or
Christian organisations such as radio ministries would be an intolerable
breach of religious freedom. The proposal to establish a department
of religious affairs or the taxation of Christian ministries must
therefore be rejected as unacceptable interference by the state in
religious matters and as a step towards state control of the Church.
“Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey
God rather than men!” Acts 5:29 (1 Peter 2:13-16; Ezra 7:23-24.) |
| 10.
|
True
freedom comes from within. The foundation for a truly free nation
can only be laid in characters, hearts, minds, lives and families
changed by the grace of God.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God’s will is His good, pleasing and
perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (Proverbs 16:32; Matthew 15:19;
Psalm 1; Ezekiel 36:26; John 3:3.) |
This
Declaration on Freedom was adopted on 9 January 1994 by:
Christian delegates from all over South Africa, and from Ciskei, Zimbabwe,
Namibia, Germany and the United States of America gathered in Cape Town
for the Biblical Worldview Seminar.
For
further reading contact:
United Christian Action: PO Box 23632,Claremont 7735
Cape Town, South Africa. Tel: (021) 689-4481.
Fax: (021) 685-5884. E-mail: uca@global.co.za
and request other free publications and a resource list of books and tapes
for sale. Among the books we would highly recommend are:
The Sword, Ethics and God’s Law, The Christian Voice of Southern
Africa and Biblical Principles for Southern Africa.
|
For
more information and resources contact:
AFRICA CHRISTIAN ACTION
|
|
