Living in the United States provides us with a special privilege that is often overlooked - the freedom of speech.
Our founding fathers valued the right to express oneself verbally and in writing so much that it was enshrined in the Bill of Rights as the First Amendment. They knew the dangers of a government with too much power and the suppression of ideas, having experienced it firsthand under the rule of the English King George lll, who they called a "tyrant."
The First Amendment gave every person in the United States the right to free speech, assembly, and worship without the fear of government censorship or retribution.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Governor Gavin Newsom of California implemented a policy restricting the freedom of assembly and speech. This policy prevented Californians from attending indoor religious services, even when restrictions were lifted, and some places of worship resumed services, singing and chanting were still forbidden for worshippers.
Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, there was uncertainty regarding its outcome. However, we must ask ourselves - Is it justified to sacrifice our First Amendment?
Freedom of speech and religion in America faces a new attack today. Paivi Rasanen's story is a prime example of this. As a former Minister of the Interior of Finland and a Christian, she was almost jailed for two years for expressing her beliefs regarding family and marriage between a husband and wife.
She received hate speech charges for authoring a book called "Male and Female He Created Them, Homosexual relationships challenge the Christian concept of humanity.” Additionally, criminal charges were filed against her for a tweet opposing the Finnish Lutheran Church's support of LGBT pride month.
Paivi faces a second trial despite her acquittal over a year ago, indicating an ongoing struggle for religious freedom in Finland. She acknowledges that Christians are subject to intense hatred, both domestically and internationally. Accusations of hate seem to be the most effective way to suppress the freedom of religion.
In the United States, Americans are facing the same issues as Paivi. If your speech does not align with the narrative of LGBTQ - you’re considered a bigot!
Christians are being silenced from exercising their right to free speech. The First Amendment guarantees the right to speak, express, assemble, and worship, but Christians are now hesitant to exercise this right due to the fear of being labeled as homophobic or a bigot.
As a passionate Christian, it is crucial to understand that the silence of Christians is not due to the LGBTQ+ community. The blame lies solely on the Christian for not standing up and speaking the truth of God's Word. We should not shy away from sharing our faith and beliefs just because they may be unpopular or controversial. Instead, we should embrace the opportunity to spread God's love and light in a world that needs it more than ever.
The words of Jesus Christ are a constant reminder to us as Christians that we have a mission to fulfill. He told his disciples in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Christians are called to proclaim Christ's love and grace. It may seem daunting to think about spreading the gospel to the whole world, but it starts with one person at a time. Whether through our actions or words, we can make a difference in someone's life by sharing the good news of Salvation. So let's take up this divine mandate with joy and enthusiasm, knowing that God will equip us with everything we need to fulfill it.
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