Liberty for All

1. Religious liberty is rooted in the kingdom of God and Christ's authority

"Jesus Christ is the king and judge over history."

Eschatological foundation. Religious liberty finds its deepest grounding in the reality of Christ's kingdom. Because Jesus is the ultimate judge of consciences, human institutions lack the authority to coerce belief or punish religious dissent. This eschatological perspective creates space for religious diversity in the present age, while affirming that all false belief will ultimately be judged by Christ alone.

Limited earthly authority. The kingdom of God subordinates all earthly rule to Christ's reign. This has profound implications for how Christians view state authority over religious matters. Governments are to administer justice in temporal affairs, not adjudicate theological disputes or enforce religious orthodoxy. Religious liberty thus stems from recognizing the state's limited jurisdiction and Christ's supreme authority over consciences.

2. The image of God in humanity forms the anthropological basis for religious freedom

"Humanity has profound dignity and worth because of its elevated creational status."

Inherent human dignity. The doctrine of the imago Dei establishes that all humans possess inherent dignity and worth as divine image-bearers. This provides a theological foundation for universal human rights, including religious freedom. Because humans are created to know and relate to God, they must have the liberty to seek truth and respond to divine claims without coercion.

Moral agency and reason. As image-bearers, humans are endowed with moral agency, reason, and conscience. These faculties enable individuals to apprehend truth and make free choices in matters of faith. Religious liberty protects the exercise of these God-given capacities, allowing for authentic belief and obedience to arise from personal conviction rather than external pressure.

3. Religious liberty is essential for authentic Christian mission and evangelism

"The gospel hinges on a free response."

Voluntary faith. The logic of the gospel requires that faith be voluntary and uncoerced. Authentic conversion and discipleship can only arise from a free response to Christ's call. Religious liberty creates the conditions for genuine evangelism and spiritual growth to occur.

Missiological imperative. Religious freedom is not just a political ideal but a missiological necessity. It allows the church to fulfill its God-given mandate to proclaim the gospel and make disciples. By advocating for religious liberty, Christians create space for the unhindered advance of God's kingdom through persuasion rather than force.

4. A Christian understanding of secularism promotes religious pluralism

"Secularism is a way to talk about the need to coordinate with non-Christian others the pursuit of the kingdom of God with pursuit of penultimate goods."

Penultimate secularity. A Christian doctrine of the secular recognizes that we live in a penultimate age where religious diversity is to be expected. This "contestable era" allows different truth claims to compete freely, trusting that God's truth will ultimately prevail. Secularism, rightly understood, is not the absence of religion but the creation of shared space for different beliefs.

Principled pluralism. Christians can embrace religious pluralism not out of relativism, but from confidence in God's sovereignty and Christ's ultimate triumph. This fosters a posture of "patient pluralism" that respects others' freedom while maintaining strong convictions. It rejects both theocracy and militant secularism in favor of a public square open to diverse voices.

5. Religious liberty serves the common good and fosters social stability

"Religious liberty is evidence of God's common grace toward humanity in allowing for a modicum of social stability to continue amid the multitude of diversity in society."

Social peace. Religious freedom contributes to civil peace by allowing diverse groups to coexist without resorting to violence or oppression. It fosters mutual respect and provides mechanisms for resolving deep disagreements through dialogue rather than force.

Flourishing society. A regime of religious liberty creates conditions for human flourishing by:

• Protecting conscience rights
• Fostering authentic belief
• Allowing diverse contributions to culture
• Limiting government overreach
• Promoting civic virtue and social cooperation

6. The church's moral witness requires religious freedom to be effective

"Christian moral witness is not a proclamation of rules but of standards of judgment and righteousness that reflect the holiness of God."

Public engagement. Religious liberty enables Christians to bring their moral convictions into public discourse. It allows the church to prophetically challenge injustice and advocate for the common good based on biblical principles. Without such freedom, Christian ethical witness is muted or confined to private spheres.

Persuasive power. The ability to make religious and moral arguments in the public square is essential for shaping culture. Religious liberty creates space for reasoned debate and moral suasion, trusting in the power of truth rather than coercion. This aligns with the biblical pattern of evangelism through persuasion and proclamation.

7. Liberal democracy, while imperfect, provides the best framework for religious liberty

"Liberal democracy affords the best framework available for the principles contained in this book."

Practical realism. While not biblically mandated, liberal democracy offers the most conducive political system for robust religious freedom. Its commitment to limited government, individual rights, and pluralism aligns well with Christian understandings of religious liberty. Christians can support liberal democracy as a pragmatic arrangement that allows for faithful witness.

Ongoing vigilance. However, liberal democracy is not self-sustaining and requires constant renewal. Christians must work to infuse it with transcendent values and resist secularizing impulses that would marginalize religion. The goal is a form of liberal democracy that respects religious diversity while remaining open to the formative influence of faith traditions.

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Last updated: August 8, 2024