Hi Friend,

When religion and politics intersect it is often a disaster.  It is also inevitable.  Most Westerners don’t know that Freedom of Worship was permitted in the constitution of the former Soviet Union.  The USSR was officially an atheistic state, so it’s a bit shocking to learn this little-known piece of trivia.

Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, stated that “Freedom of worship was guaranteed in the Constitution of the former Soviet Union. You could go to church, if you could find one.”

Westerners don’t think of Josef Stalin as a man who would permit his citizens to worship God.  Cardinal George explains: “the church, however, could do nothing except conduct religious rites in places of worship—no schools, religious publications, health care institutions, organized charity, ministry for justice and the works of mercy that flow naturally from a living faith. All of these were co-opted by the government.”

The similarity of government between the old Soviet Union and the current government of the State of California is not lost on many Christians.  Citizens in California have the freedom to believe anything they want—they just aren’t allowed to practice their faith.  The State of California is the final arbiter of right and wrong.

Moses faced the same obstacle 3,500 years ago with Pharoah in Egypt.  The Israelites had the right to believe in God as long as they kept their mouths shut and worked seven days a week.  It was called slavery then, and the definition remains the same whether in Stalin’s Russia or 21st Century America.

God, as He is accustomed to do, confronted Pharaoh.  He told Moses to take the people of Israel for a three-day journey into the wilderness so they could worship without censure.  They could sacrifice whatever animal they chose in the desert—and probably sing hymns without being muffled by a mask.  Pharaoh couldn’t understand that concept—just like the governors of some states in our country.  “Why can’t you worship God in your own living room?” you can almost hear Pharaoh asking.  “What is so important about going out into the desert?”  Such people just never understand the importance of worshiping God.

Christians have always experienced such reactions from governments.  Early Christians were not persecuted for their “religion” but for being “enemies of the State.” They were charged with “odium humani generis” [hatred of the human race].

The Roman historian Tacitus wrote that Christians were persecuted for opposing the Roman practice of “primitive forms of abortion as well as ‘exposure,’ [the killing of unwanted newborns]” and the states move “to make [homosexual] relationships normative.”

The politically correct view of Christianity in America today may reflect the old-style Soviet Union.  As Christian symbols are being removed from state buildings, gay-pride and BLM flags are flying over military bases.

Freedom to worship God does not come without a fight against the state.  Moses stood toe to toe against Pharaoh even when threatened by an army that chased them to the Red Sea.

As the Apostle Peter lay sleeping in a jail cell, he was surrounded by sixteen soldiers.  An angel removed the chains that connected him to two guards, opened the jail door and then the city gate so Peter could return to the town square to preach to an assembly of those God called to worship.

Freedom of religion has always been the first priority for nations that are truly free.  God did not call followers to a life without conflict.  We are called to stand with the patriarchs who have always placed love of God over love of the state.

Until next time,

Jim O’Brien