Baptists, Liberty, and Mandates

Religious liberty is gift from God.  Our civil government didn't grant us this right.  Our civil government cannot deny us this right.  God created us with what we have called "soul freedom."  Baptists were birthed amid battles to secure this freedom to follow Christ according to our own conscience.

Our country's founders recognized the foundational importance of religious liberty as they formulated the Constitution.  The Constitution does not grant religious liberty but secures it.  The first amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  This is the first and most fundamental of the rights stated in our "Bill of Rights."

Also, our Southern Baptist identity reflects the importance of protecting God-given religious liberty.  Our own guiding document speaks powerfully and clearly:

"God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. . . .  A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power."  (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000)

While our Great Commission mission remains the top priority for us, we still must pay attention to protecting our liberty.  There are times when the government so intrudes on our religious freedoms that followers of Christ must take a stand.  This is one of those times.  The US Department of Health and Human Services issued an enforceable legal mandate directing almost all employers to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception.  Baptist institutions will also be forced to provide these "services."

Our Catholic friends have taken the lead in voicing opposition to this HHS Mandate.  We should not let them stand alone.   Here's a couple of things we can do:

• Get informed on how this HHS Mandate affects you.
• Join with other defenders of religious liberty and publicly voice your view.  Attend a public event.  In Fresno area you can join others on Friday June 8 at Noon at St James Anglican Church on the corner of Cedar and Dakota. 

Richard Land frames the issue well, "This is not a Catholic issue -- it's not a Baptist issue.  It's an issue of freedom.  This is about religious freedom, not reproductive freedom.  This is about conscience, not contraception."

The voice of John Leland, Baptist pastor in Massachusetts in the 1800's, echoes, "Be always jealous of your liberty, your rights.  Nip the first bud of intrusion on your Constitution."

Some ideas are worth fighting for.  Religious freedom is one of them. 

For Christ,

Rich Johnstone

Self-Talk Should be Truth-Talk

China Graveyard Hill

"You can dominate this hill . . . you've run it dozens of times," I told myself.  This kind of self-talk was especially important when I was running up China Graveyard Hill.  By car, or even bicycle, the hill is not that intimidating; a 250ft elevation rise over a half mile.  However, running the hill at 100% capacity as part of a 5K workout, China Graveyard Hill is Mt. Everest.  The hill is just large enough for local runners to give this section of China Graveyard Road a name.  

I ran regularly with a great group of local guys over our lunch hour.  These runs were a perfect combination of friendly and competitive.  Group runs helped me beat my two main competitors, myself and China Graveyard Hill.

The laws of physics and biology are mercilessly constant.  On this hill, gravity is an anchor on every step.  Every breath is a searing fire. 

The laws of psychology are equally constant.  "Ease up.  Back off and the pain will go away."  Sometimes I did.  And it did.  Most times, though, I pressed through the pain and the fire. 

With experience comes understanding of capacity.  When my body screamed, "Stop," wisdom and experience answered back, saying:

• Keep running.  You know this hill, every curve, every grade.
• You've run this hill dozens of times.
• You've conquered this hill and have been conquered by it. 
• You know your capacity, and you can improve.
• You can beat your main competitor.

Even now, when I face daunting challenges in ministry, I often think of China Graveyard Hill.  It helps me press through the challenge.  Spirit-led self talk is really truth talk:  

• Keep serving!  You know Jesus Christ.
• The "battle" belongs to the Lord.
• He's given you victory over significant challenges.
• God is invested in the successful fulfillment of your calling to follow Christ.
• With God's strength, you can press through for the glory of Jesus.

Let your past wins inform and inspire your future successes.  Self-talk should be truth-talk.  Speak biblical truth, especially to yourself.  The truth of his Word will propel you.  God's truth is even more constant than the laws of physics. 

Rich Johnstone