A few years back, the ACLU’s posted on their website: “It is probably no accident that freedom of speech is the first freedom mentioned in the First Amendment.”  Is freedom of speech the first thing mentioned in the First Amendment? Absolutely not. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

The ACLU is so agenda driven that it often ignores the facts. Freedom of speech and the other freedoms listed in the Bill of Rights all flow from the understanding that an individual’s freedom is first and best expressed in freedom to worship God. Conventional wisdom thinks freedom leads to truth, but the Bible says, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Of course, freedom of religion continues to come under attack. All three branches of our government seem to be trying to remove any vestige of Christianity from the lives. I know this is disturbing and troubling to many of you, but let’s try to keep it all in perspective.

Christians should stop expecting the government to be the teacher of Christian values and morality. I think that is a big part of the problem. People thought that the government would always follow the teachings of the Bible and impose those beliefs on everyone. And because they believed that to be true, the followers of Jesus became lazy and complacent. But our nation’s laws are not based on the Bible. They are based on what the people say they want. When Christians were the majority of those in control, thinks went well for us. That is no longer the case. And what people want is constantly changing. We are seeing more and more that people are following their sinful nature and desires. They are looking for happiness and peace and contentment by pursuing lust and greed and sin, and they will come up empty. Going down that road will continue to bring disappointment.

We are witnessing people indulge in all kinds of depravity and having it be labeled as acceptable. We are right to pray, “The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide.” We know that God will remain with His people. But when people are not following God’s Word, Satan is there to fill the void. He promises pleasure and satisfaction, but brings pain, conflict, hatred and cruelty.

The message is not all doom and gloom. While it may not be what we would like to see, the government declaring yet another sin legal does not spell defeat for the followers of Jesus Christ. He is still risen from the dead and He is still in control. He has purchased us back from sin and death to give us forgiveness and life, and He wants only the best for us.

The government is not responsible for getting God’s Word out. You and I were given that task. It is our job – as the followers of Jesus Christ, those who know the truth – it is our job to proclaim the whole counsel of God to the world around us, those in far away lands and those living on our street. And the Word of God we have to share is more than Commandments, more than the Law of God, more than pronouncements of condemnation. You and I are called to share the precious, priceless Good News of Jesus Christ as Savior, the only hope for anyone to be saved from sin. You and I have in our possession and must share in our words and actions the message that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners, and He did that by living a perfect life and dying to pay for the sins of all men. You and I know that He rose again in triumph on the third day to open heaven for all who will believe in Him, and that is what we have been called to share with our neighbors. We are to announce the freedom that Christ brings. That is our job, not that of the government.

We rejoice that we live in a land that still has religious freedom, and we want to safeguard that freedom so that we can continue to worship God and share Him with others. But don’t confuse your freedom to worship and the government’s responsibility. The government grants you earthly freedom. Your job is to use that freedom to share Christ and the spiritual freedom He offers.