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 First Amendment
The First Amendment is unmistakably clear, yet the onslaught against these freedoms has heightened. Free speech and free exercise of religion are targets for liberals, extreme Islamists, homosexuals, and politically correct people in general. It goes against the grain of what the United States of America stands for and, barring reforming voices willing to stand up for the First Amendment, we could lose its provisions and the freedom that goes with them.
“For decades we have been watching the precious religious liberties and freedoms our founding forefathers gave their blood to protect being eroded,” says Mike Johnson, senior legal counsel of the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the truth. “Truth can prevail when it is presented, but the reason prayer was removed from schools and abortion was legalized is because truth wasn’t presented. We have to wake up.”
Attacks on Free Speech Escalating
The ADF often goes head to head with the American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, on First Amendment issues. The ADF won a victory against the ACLU’s push to have a painting of Jesus removed from the Slidell city courthouse in New Orleans. Other battles are still brewing. Consider Erica Corder, a high school valedictorian from Colorado. The school district forced her to publicly apologize for declaring her Christian faith and sharing the Gospel message in her graduation speech. In fact, Lewis-Palmer High School refused to give its valedictorian a diploma until she did.
On a different front, pro-life demonstrators in Kansas City, Mo. still await justice. They were arrested three years ago for carrying signs depicting an aborted unborn child. Meanwhile, Susan Mendelson filed suit against a Long Island town for standing in the way of her Gospel-preaching efforts. The Jews for Jesus member was recently ticketed for proselytizing and handing out religious materials in a public park. Police escorted her off the property. And in Florida, two Gideon International members, Anthony Mirto and Ernest Simpson, were arrested earlier this year for handing out Bibles on a public sidewalk. When the judge dismissed the trespassing charges, authorities filed new charges under an ordinance that bans people from being within 500 feet of school property. The arresting officer verbally assaulted the men, who suffered wrist injuries, according to police filings. Not last and not least, two 70-plus-year-old grandmas were arrested in Philadelphia for spreading the Gospel. Under a hate crimes law there, they faced up to 47 years in jail.
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Kudos to Erica Corder for sharing the Gospel with her graduating class! God made her the smartest one in the whole school; and she was smart enough to know that Jesus is the only one who can keep you from going to hell. Hats off to the Pro-Life demonstrators in Kansas City with the sign depicting the aborted unborn baby…God says that thou shalt not murder; to Susan Mendelson who filed the lawsuit because they tried to hinder her First Amendment rights…You go, Girl; to the Jews For Jesus group who were bold in their handing out Christian literature…Hang in there, Gang; to the Gideon International members who passed out Bibles in public being unashamed…Way to go, Guys; and to the 70 year old grandmas who boldly got arrested for sharing the Gospel in Pennsylvania…Who’s better than you, Grandmas? May God forever bless you all and keep his hedge of protection around you as you continue not being ashamed of the Gpsoel.
However, long before the song was sung, “Mama said, Mama said, There will be days like this” … Jesus said it first in Matt 10. He told us to beware of men, for they would deliver us up before councils, and that we would be brought before governors and kings for His sake; but we should not worry, for we would be given what to say in that hour; and that we would be hated by all men for His name’s sake. However, we should not fear those who can kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. But rather, FEAR Him who is able to cast or destroy BOTH soul and body in hell.
So you see, those brave soldiers ran towards the battle, not away from it. And even though they were all interfered with, the word was still presented anyway. And the enemy was not able to stop them or silence them completey. Our Helper, The Holy Spirit, sent from God by Jesus Christ, was in charge of their sharing the message of salvation with others at that time in their own way. Somebody still did get to hear about our Lord, Jesus Christ.
In Matt 10, Jesus also teaches us that if any man confesses Him before men, then He will confess us before the Father. But if we deny Him before men, He will also deny us before the Father who is in heaven. Again, KUDOS to all you brave soldiers! God has not forgotten you, He does, indeed, know your names… Blessings to the Father & God bless you all for your efforts, and I pray for your endurance in Jesus’ name.