Today's Devotional
March 1, 2007
Subject: Freedom "From" Or Freedom "Of"
2 Thessalonians 3:2 - "And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith."
Joshua 24:15 - "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
All definitions of the word "religion" do not entail a belief in a supernatural power. In fact, one commonly used definition states this, "a personalized set or institutionalized system of attitudes, beliefs and practices," while another states, "a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith." These definitions are important today as The Supreme Court of the United States continues to hear arguments about whether or not the current administration can continue it's Faith-Based Initiatives Program.
A group called "The Freedom From Religion Foundation" is suing the President's program citing that it uses tax-payer dollars to promote religious activity. Of course this is not at all the case, but I'm really focusing on the name of that organization, "The Freedom From Religion?" That really does tell you what is going on in our country today.
See the 1st Amendment never guaranteed us the freedom "from" religion, because surely they knew that everyone would have some belief in something. Therefore the amendment guaranteed us the freedom "of" religion. America was to be a land where one was free to choose his or her own "system of attitudes, beliefs and practices." However, groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and others seem to imply that there should be no religion that believes in an eternal God. They believe that this removes all religion from government, which is their goal. In reality, it simply fosters a government that exempts actions and people who choose a religion with a supernatural being as the center, while supporting those who choose a religion that doesn't believe in an eternal God.
See in the end, it's all religion. It's just that there are many, many different beliefs, attitudes and practices out there. We have the freedom to choose and we understand as the scripture says, "all men have not faith," but even then they still have a religion. We will never be free "from" religion nor should we be.
Today understand that we have freedom "of" religion and not freedom "from" it. Choose ye this day whom you will serve.
