The ability to practice one’s faith openly and without fear of persecution or government interference is a freedom many Christians have enjoyed over the years. Unfortunately, this kind of religious freedom is historically rare. It is also denied to millions of Christ’s followers around the world even today.
But how important is religious freedom to a free society? Is religious liberty essential to the success and survival of the church? Should its preservation be the primary objective of the church in the last days?
To answer those questions, Christians of every age must thoughtfully and prayerfully consider what the Bible has to say about religious freedom and the role of the church, whether it operates freely in society or not.
Is Religious Freedom Biblical?
In most countries, religious freedom refers to an individual’s right to practice whatever religion they choose, publicly and without government interference or restriction. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, for example, stipulates that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Many nations have similar laws designed to protect the rights of their citizens from adherence to any form of government-mandated religion or laws that interfere with the way they live, speak, and act in accordance with their beliefs. Many of these laws are being challenged, reduced, or removed in once free nations around the world.
But what is the inspiration for religious freedom, and is the concept of freedom of religion biblical?
If we start with the Old Testament, religious freedom, at least the way we understand it today, was not part of God’s plan for ancient Israel. Unlike most contemporary nations, Israel functioned as a theocracy, which submitted itself to God as the sovereign ruler and authority over the nation. Human kings and civic leaders were to lead as God divinely directed. Many did not.
Following the Exodus from Egypt, God spoke through Moses to establish the civic and religious laws that would govern the nation of Israel. When it came to religion, God strictly forbade the worship of other gods and idols, which He expressly outlined in the first of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-6).
Israel was called to be “holy, “separate”, and “set apart” from the nations (Leviticus 20:24); and God’s people were to stay away from the pagan practices, customs, and religion of their neighbors (Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Jeremiah 10:2-4). Adopting the beliefs, practices, and idols of other nations was the ultimate sign of Israel turning away from God. God did not encourage His people to practice whatever religion they wanted.
The nation of Israel was not, therefore, the civic model of religious liberty and tolerance that future nations would emulate. That theocratic form of government was unique to Israel.
Nevertheless, the Bible does provide a moral framework for religious liberty that many nations would adopt in time. That is because, at the beginning of creation, God gave humanity free will (Genesis 2:15-17). We can choose to obey His commands or not. We can choose to worship Him or not. God’s offer to the Israelites was clear: “choose this day who you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Moses’ successor Joshua made his choice: “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
To those who choose Him, God promises life (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Romans 6:23; John 1:12-13). To those who reject Him, the Bible promises they will “reap what they sow” (Galatians 6:7-9). And yet, all of Christ’s followers must choose Him freely. In the words of a third-century church father, “it is assuredly no part of religion to compel religion.” Mandated religion and compulsory professions of faith and piety deny individuals made in the image of God their God-given free will. As author Eric Metaxas puts it, “every son of Adam and daughter of Eve should enjoy the freedom to follow Him. Or not.”
According to the Bible, God’s will is for all to know Him and come to repentance and salvation (2 Peter 3:9). Christ desires to gather all His children to Him. Many, however, are unwilling (Matthew 23:37). Christ calls but does not force anyone to follow Him. Neither should human government.
Religious conformity at the hands of government, civic leaders, or even church leaders rarely produces genuine repentance. Rather, compulsory religion has historically been a recipe for tyranny, corruption, and false faith. In fact, some of the darkest moments of church history occurred when the state took control of the church and mandated Christianity under threat of punishment, imprisonment, or death. To some, this is regarded as the age of apostasy.
In the end, it is the Holy Spirit who changes hearts, not governments.
Religious freedom, therefore, preserves God’s design for humanity by allowing us to freely follow Him or not. It prevents governments from mandating religion as much as it prevents leaders from interfering in the faith and practice of believers. It also defines and upholds the separate jurisdictions of the church and the state as ordained by God in Scripture (see 2 Chronicles 26:16; Romans 13:1-4).
Freedom of religion is not a man-made invention. It has biblical precedent as a right that precedes and even supersedes human government. Humanity is endowed with religious freedom by its creator. And if religious liberty is not supplied by human hands, it should not be infringed upon by men. This is why the American Founders made sure that religious freedom was the first freedom outlined in the American Bill of Rights. It’s that important to a free society.
Are Christians Called to Tolerate and Accept Other Religions?
Does this mean that Christians should openly embrace all religions under the guise of religious freedom? Certainly not.
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). This must be the clear and resounding message of the church, no matter how controversial, offensive, or unpopular it may be. Even in societies that grant individuals the right to worship freely, Christian theology will be at odds with the teachings of other religions.
That does not mean that Christians are to be hostile to people of other faiths. We have a responsibility to uphold the religious liberty of our neighbors, even those we disagree with. The Bible reminds us that our battle as Christians is ultimately spiritual (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). God’s Word also calls us to “love our neighbors” (Mark 12:30-31) and seek to “live at peace with all men” (Romans 12:18).
Does that mean we must live in silence or accept all religions, worldviews, and philosophies as equal, valid, and praiseworthy? No. Christians must contend for the faith, oppose false teaching, and advocate for a biblical worldview in all aspects of society.
In many nations where religious freedom is prioritized, freedom of speech is not far behind. And in a society where the church has a voice, Christians have the freedom to share the gospel, contend for the faith, and challenge any doctrine that seeks to deceive, distract, or distance people from the truth and knowledge of God. According to Russell Moore, “we seek to persuade people, not to threaten or subjugate them. We can define religious liberty as a determination to give people the freedom to be persuaded.”
Should Christians Advocate for Religious Freedom?
Freedom of religion is one of the hallmarks of any free society. According to Eric Metaxas, “Religious liberty, commonly known as the ‘first freedom,’ is absolutely at the heart of our republic, and without it, we lose everything.”
However, many Christians today question whether the church should labor to defend religious freedom or let it go. Is the energy of the church best served pushing back against government overreach, or does God have another plan for the church altogether?
The Bible makes clear that most Christians will not operate with full religious freedom in the world. In fact, the apostle Paul wrote that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Hostility from the world and its governing authorities is not the exception; it is the norm (Matthew 5:11; 2 Timothy 3:12; Revelation 2:10; 1 Peter 2:19-20; 4:12-16).
Jesus also warned His followers that “if the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you… if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:18-20; emphasis added).
Considering the many saints who died for the sake of the gospel, no Christian should take for granted the freedom to worship God openly. If anything, religious freedom should motivate the church to move swiftly to advance the kingdom of God. However, the mission of the church and commission of individual believers remains the same whether we enjoy religious freedom or not.
For some Christians, religious freedom can encourage complacency when their faith remains unchallenged and untested (James 1:2-4). In contrast, the Bible and church history provide many examples of faithful individuals willing to face the consequences of serving God and following Christ in societies that did not protect their religious freedom (see Daniel 3). Like Peter and the apostles in the book of Acts, their response was the same: “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Furthermore, religious liberty does not guarantee that a free society will pursue righteousness. During the framing of the American Constitution, John Adams asserted that “our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The church must be the conscience of the nation and the “salt and light” of the world, regardless of its legal protections.
Religious liberty, therefore, cannot be the sole objective of the church, whose mission is to seek and save the lost.
Nevertheless, the church cannot be passive or flippant when it comes to religious liberty either. While it is true that Christians are called to submit to government authority (Titus 3:1; Romans 13:1-6; 1 Peter 2:13), the state is not the head of the church. It does not have jurisdiction over what God has ordained for His bride.
Secular societies will always seek to silence Christians and marginalize or eradicate the church wherever possible. The church cannot surrender, submit, or retreat so easily.
Religious freedom does not just mean freedom to worship behind closed doors or solely within the walls of the church. According to Troy Lacey, “freedom of religion without freedom to practice or voice your faith according to conscience is not freedom at all; rather it is merely a façade of civic freedom.”
In the words of author Os Guinness, “freedom requires virtue, and virtue requires faith, and that faith requires freedom.” It is one reason why religious freedom is still worth defending.
Much like the apostle Paul, Christians have a responsibility to assert their legal rights whenever they are wrongfully threatened, not out of fear or selfishness, but to ensure that the church maintains the freedom to proclaim the gospel and operate openly in society (see Acts 16; 21:30-22:28). Rights that are not defended can be swiftly lost, taken, or surrendered if the church is not vigilant.
However, Christians must accept that they may still be persecuted for their faith, even in a free society (see 1 Corinthians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). We must commit to worship God in all situations and act in accordance with our faith whether it is safe to do so or not.
Our ultimate hope is not in religious freedom or legal protection. Our ultimate joy is not in religious liberty. We praise and thank God when both are available. However, we rejoice in the freedom we have in Jesus Christ and in the joy of our salvation, which cannot be taken or infringed upon by anyone. In this joy we labor faithfully until the coming of our Lord, Savior, and King. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen!
Further Reading
Religious Freedom in Retreat
Does Advocating Religious Liberty Hurt Religious Freedom?
Why Restricting Religious Freedom Endangers All Freedoms
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