Falling In Line
By Lili Richey Willard |
Posted 2:28 pm on February 12, 2012
'This is what the LORD says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.' Jeremiah 6:16
The controversy continues. The government, aka President Obama, is mandating that religious institutions provide birth control to all their employees, as part of their benefit package, despite the evident fact that the very premise of this goes against their teachings and beliefs. Yes, the President has 'compromised' for their sake, but only in who is paying for this coverage. Now it is the insurance companies, who in turn are bound to raise premiums to cover their costs.
But what I see here is not just the obvious violation of our freedom of religious rights, guaranteed by the First Amendment in our Constitution. It is also about expecting Christians, and, very likely, other religions as well, to cave, if you will, to the governments mandates. Because this is not something that was decided by a majority. This is not a voting issue we had a choice in. This is not a command that is for the better good. It is, very simply, another freedom that is in the process of being eliminated by a very few who have the power to do so, even though they do not have the legal right.
Christians are being told to 'fall in line'. I heard this from the mouth of a political pundit just a few moments ago on a news program. President Obama, it was said, is simply waiting for the Christian leaders and institutions to 'fall in line' so that his ideas and plans for our country may be fulfilled. It is his beliefs, and the beliefs of those who support him, that are taking a hardline tack to achieve change in many areas of our government, and our lives.
Our founding fathers, I am sure, never intended this to happen. They wrote a Constitution that they felt would protect American's rights for all the ages to come. Future generations were to have the same basic protections, under the law, under the power of the document. However, this intent has been hijacked and now Christians are seeing their rights to freedom of religion, and to standing up for these rights, slowly being snuffed out.
I don't know about you, but I believe in freedom. This is what this country was all about in the beginning, and should be today. Those of us who truly understand what God wants of us know that we should never 'cave' to the forces from government to do, say, or accept those things which are contrary to the teachings of Jesus. We have military and other citizens putting their lives and welfare on the line every single day, all over the world. If we cave, we make their efforts seem to be in vain.
So, let's make a decision to not 'fall in line'. Let's stand up, as many are doing, and speak our minds, and God's truths. Lets make wise and sound decisions, and meet the enemy head on. Because that's where this is all coming from...our enemy, satan. He uses what he can to cause confusion. It's all over the place, on our TV screens, our radio programs, our newspapers, and yes, even in our homes and churches.
Let's not let confusion be in our minds and hearts, and let's definitely not appease those who would have us to 'fall in line'. This is not what the will of God is for His people, His land.
Tags: freedom, government, religion
I write the 'Rosebuds of Faith Devotional Series' on my personal blog, Ohiolilisview.blogspot.com/, and Angelwing Devotionals at angelwingdevotionals.wordpress.com. Currently working on a devotional e-book, I love to write about what God has done in my life and the lives of others. I am also available to speak to women about God and what He is to them, and what they are to Him! I am active in my church, and monitor a Ladies Prayer-Care-Share email site for the ladies of my church family. I am happily married, and though a born Yankee, I currently reside in the south, and love it! I believe God is just waiting to bless each of us...but it is up to us to see the blessing and to receive it...and then to give Him thanks!
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