Counsels on Social Issue

Counsel #2 — Religious Expression And Politics

Picture: Counsel #2 — Religious Expression And Politics CSI 45.1

It is the duty of civil government to preserve liberty to engage in all peaceful religious expression. This includes all forms of faith and practice whether by Christians or other religious groups. The state may only restrain or limit religious practices that threaten the peace and safety of the community, will cause physical harm or property damage, or will otherwise infringe the fundamental rights of others.^[82] CSI 45.2

In America, Roger Williams established the little state of Rhode Island as a safe place for the religiously oppressed. The fundamental principle of his governance was that every person should have liberty to worship God according to the light of his own conscience. CSI 45.3

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 NKJV CSI 45.4

“To compel men to unite with those of a different creed, [Roger Williams] regarded as an open violation of their natural rights; to drag to public worship the irreligious and the unwilling, seemed only like requiring hypocrisy…. ‘No one should be bound to worship, or,’ he added, ‘to maintain a worship, against his own consent.’” Ellen White in The Great Controversy, p. 294 CSI 45.5

Reflect: Roger Williams worked to preserve religious liberty at great personal sacrifice. What can you do? CSI 45.6