Imagine living in a country where you were not free to speak about your faith. How important is religious freedom? In seventeen years, over forty Baptist preachers were put in jail for preaching. Where? In Virginia, USA. Between 1760 and 1777, these preachers were jailed for preaching the good news about Jesus. Pastor James Ireland preached through prison bars to those outside the jail who would listen. No wonder these early Baptists asked James Madison and other authorities to include the free exercise of religion in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution.
In Jerusalem, too, the first-century disciples were persecuted and put in jail. Moved by jealousy, the Sadducees in the religious establishment jailed the apostles. But the Lord had another idea, sending an angel to release them. The angel told them to go and preach in the temple courts. Notice their message: “Tell all about this new life.” Their message was to be comprehensive and life-giving.
Around the world today, the free expression of religion is often curtailed. How would we respond if someone tried to take away our freedom to proclaim salvation through Jesus Christ? Would we obey the laws of God or the laws of the government? We obey God first. Today we thank God for our freedom and we refuse to take it for granted. How will you use your freedom to talk about Jesus today?
