Freedom of Religion & Freedom of Worship

Today (06/30) the Supreme Court of the United States rendered a verdict in the case of Hobby Lobby et. al. While the decision was not comprehensive it did strike a blow for the Freedom of Religion.

 I want to distinguish between the Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Worship.

The Freedom of Religion, protected by the First Amendment, guarantees the free exercise of religious conviction in The Marketplace as well as in the privacy of a church, school or private home.

The Freedom of Worship is an entirely different matter. That simply means that the Market Place is off limits for such expressions. This language was used by Hitler and Stalin to suppress and deny the Freedom of Religion in Germany and Russia. Millions lost their lives as a result of the capitulation of such deception by Pastors and the church. The time to rise up against such distortion of language is at the first moment it is spoken.

Both the current occupant of the Oval Office and the former Secretary of State who wants to occupy that office use ‘Freedom of Worship’ in their speeches. Lies pure and simple.

I issue a call to all Pastors to rally against this distortion. Teach your people this distinction. Teach the historical consequences of acquiescence to such nonsense. Proclaim with all authority the Truth. Pray earnestly. Prepare to suffer. Never ever give up!

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

The Power of Purpose

Purpose brings focus. The absence of focus leads to petty conflicts and energy invested in activities that are utterly and absolutely unproductive. This leads to the establishment of territorial turf. Then the perpetrator must defend their territory out of a sense of 'duty to the Truth!'

How sad and descriptive of much of what passes for 'ministry' in local churches.

When everyone owns a purpose that is defined and developed by the mandates of Scripture the myriad of petty turf wars is diminished if not eliminated.

Purpose is characterized by:

1.  Unconditional surrender to Jesus Christ as LORD.

2.  Embracing as your 'first principle' the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

3.  Engaging each day with a passion to fulfill the tasks God has equipped you to accomplish.

4.  Understanding that the church is the Body of Christ.

5.  Living life "In Community", putting others before self.

6.  An objective Metric by which effectiveness is evaluated - you did or did not accomplish the tasks.

7.  An Integrated life. All aspects of life are fulfilled with excellence.

So - - do you have PURPOSE?