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Your freedom is at risk and as each day passes, more and more people are calling for the government to step in and protect you-meaning your freedom is even more at risk. President George W. Bush told CNN that he had to abandon "free market" practices to save the economy. He said, "I've abandoned free-market principles to save the free market system." Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is calling for people to abandon listening to conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, joining those who would shut down Limbaugh and other conservative talk show hosts using the so-called "fairness doctrine" which would require equal time for those with opposing viewpoints.
Giving up the free market; Clamping down on free speech; Nationalizing the financial and industrial sectors of the economy-these are all frictionless steps on the slippery slope to giving up the Constitutional freedoms that made this nation strong and prosperous. When one takes the underpinnings of the economy and collapses them into the pit of socialism, freedom is the sacrificial lamb. As religious free speech is allowed to be branded as hate speech, and as Christian and conservative free speech, in particular, is considered hate speech, the freedom of any individual is at risk.
The First Amendment reads, "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." Yet the forces of darkness are saying that Biblical free speech, especially when it speaks against homosexuality, abortion, hell, sin, or Christ, it is hateful and should be limited. Under these conditions, those who will choose to even quote the Bible could be brought up on hate crimes. Once free speech is policed, it is no longer free speech. And once a free economy is nationalized, the people are no longer free.
This presents a unique challenge for Christians, who for over 400 years, have experienced unbridled freedom in this land to spread the gospel as it was written. The beacon of light to the world; the nation that sent the missionaries; the nation that sent the compassion in times of disaster; the nation clearly responsible for the freedom to evangelize, may soon find that its citizens must speak quietly on issues of political and Biblical import or face some sort of government-allowed persecution. The challenge will be whether Christians will stand as Christ commanded in Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," or if they will shrink back in self preservation. You may have to make a choice to stand sometime soon.
