Ministers: “Dual Citizens”

Ministers, as we live navigating our religious freedoms, we should understand our legal rights and responsibilities, both to God and as citizens of the US. We surely advocate for our own religious liberty and engage in interfaith dialogue as we promote understanding and respect, while sharing our beliefs.

First off, pun intended, we need to understand the First Amendment, which protects religious freedom from government interference. This includes the Establishment Clause (prohibiting government endorsement of religion) and the Free Exercise Clause (protecting the right to practice one's religion).

Secondly, the RFRA is a federal law that provides additional protections for religious freedom, particularly when a law burdens a person's religious beliefs. See, as citizens, we do have resources for our liberties in this wonderful country!  

But when we engage in public discourse, we must be careful to not abuse our platforms to speak out solely on social issues and advocate for policies, rather than obey the Great Commission and preach and teach the Word of God.

Look, we can certainly vote for laws that protect religious freedom and challenge those that infringe upon it. But just like our political affiliation is temporally based in this broken world system, so are our national laws and liberties. There is no USA or Mexico or Germany in Heaven. Heaven is its own kingdom, full of all kinds of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation, that will be under Gods sovereign monarchial rule as King of Kings. That is why Christianity is so embedded in the principle of living for God’s kingdom now, while we yet live on this side of heaven. That is why we have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us!      

We are navigating religious diversity only in this world, not the next. Heaven will be full of people who ALL believe in the same God, for there is only One.

So how do we engage in interfaith dialogue with people of other religions and demonstrate respect here and now? (Not in agreement or obedience or compromise.) We love inclusively as Jesus did and tell the truth in its exclusivity. We work to create welcoming and inclusive environments for people of all faiths and backgrounds as far as we should be full of the fruit of the Spirit and communicate God’s communicable attributes in His love.

We, for the sake of our own careers and affiliate church entities, must also be mindful of the principle of separation of church and state, ensuring that our religious beliefs do not interfere with the rights and freedoms of others, as this can get us in legal troubles.

I think Jesus said it best, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16.     

We must navigate the freedom the gospel gives us to please God and reach the lost, with the freedoms we (and others) have in the grand old’ USA.

Sometimes, the two do not meet in agreement.

Be free. Be wise. Be gentle. Be about our Father’s business.

Blessings,

~Steven Camara