Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty

God made us free and gave us the power to choose. With that choice comes the responsibility and the opportunity to make the best decisions regarding matters of conscience.

• “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15.
• “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden.” Matthew 11:28.
• “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.
• “If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not … The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:47, 48.

God’s Word teaches that Christ calls us, but He does not force us to accept His invitation. This truth is further emphasized in the clear and authoritative counsels contained in the Spirit of Prophecy:

“What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You can not change your heart, you can not of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him” (Steps to Christ, p. 52).

The above quote is God’s method. The next quote is Satan’s method. The contrast could not be greater:

“God never forces the—will or the conscience; but Satan’s – constant resort—to gain control of those whom he cannot otherwise seduce—is compulsion by cruelty. Through fear or force he endeavors to rule the conscience, and to secure homage to himself. To accomplish this, he works through both religious and secular authorities, moving them to the enforcement of human laws in defiance of the law of God” (Great Controversy, p. 591).

If Seventh-day Adventists understood and put into practice these principles of religious freedom as understood in the Bible and the Testimonies, we could never support the current total desecration of individual rights, responsibilities and charity towards all. Instead, we would find ourselves defending the words of our Master, Jesus Christ, whose words constitute the best religious-liberty text found in Scripture:

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” Matthew 7:12.

What are we facing today? The great conflict that has raged between good and evil, between Christ and Satan, since sin entered the earth will reach an intensity in these last days that will exceed anything the world has ever known. Every well-educated Seventh-day Adventist knows that as the end of time draws near, there will be more and more attempts to force the worship of the beast and its image on all men and women. The faithful children of God will be called to undergo suffering and to endure unparalleled persecution unequal to any previous generation.

One of the main architects who helped write the book on the great coming economic and social crisis (The Great Reset) was the globalist Klaus Schwab. He is the founder and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The name of his book is called “COVID-19: The Great Reset.” He is actually saying that Covid-19 will be used to bring about a new global change and “transform” every nation and business on the earth: He said:

“The world must act jointly and swiftly to revamp all aspects of our societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions. Every country, from the United States to China, must participate, and every industry, from oil and gas to tech, must be transformed. In short, we need a ‘Great Reset’ of capitalism.” [1]

The so-called Covid-19 Crisis is being used right now to impose restrictive and oppressive government mandates. Some globalists will not stop until they have all the power to impose their will on our lives. No one is safe. The end-game is the total and unconditional surrender. Check out some headlines about what’s happening in our world today:

• No shot, No proof, No service: NYC businesses begin Checks [2]
• French Retailers Puzzle over how to Keep Non-vaccinated Shoppers from Stores [3]
• No Shot, No Service: Abu Dhabi To Ban Unvaccinated People From Most Public Places [4]
• Scott Morrison Says Businesses Can Deny Service to Unvaccinated Customers [5]

These government health mandates that are restricting our buying and selling are being promoted by zealous globalists who are also pushing radical environmental policies. Rome is not idle during this time and is demanding changes to the climate crisis that are in line with the “Great Reset.” Notice the Pope’s message to the World Economic Forum:

“Starting with his encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si’,” Francis has been a prominent world leader in combating climate change and promoting sustainability centered on the human person. That message seemed to clash with the fleet of private jets that landed in Davos (World Economic Forum)  last year … This year, the gathering promises to be among the most eco-friendly events in the world — in an effort to rebrand what has been for the past 50 years a summit of the world’s most wealthy and influential individuals.” [6]

Brothers and Sisters of the Seventh-day Adventist faith, DECREES ARE BEING PASSED RIGHT NOW that “no man might buy or sell (Revelation 13:17).” Soon these Covid-19 mandates against buying and selling will translate to climate mandates and Sunday laws. Prophecy tells us that the day will come where it will not just be about buying and selling but “as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (Revelation 13:5).

If there has ever been a time when Seventh-day Adventists should rally to the banner of religious liberty, it is now. With this banner raised high before the world, with our eyes on our Commander, and with our marching orders in step with the Three Angels’ Message, may we work until we reach the heavenly kingdom. No other means of truth offers us a better opportunity to open the way to preach the everlasting gospel than the glorious teachings of religious liberty.

“To protect liberty of conscience is the duty of the State, and this is the limit of its authority in matters of religion. Every secular government that attempts to regulate or enforce religious observances by civil authority is sacrificing the very principle for which the evangelical Christians so nobly struggled” (Great Controversy, p. 201).

“The banner of truth and religious liberty held aloft by the founders of the gospel church and by God’s witnesses during the centuries that have passed since then, has, in this last conflict, been committed to our hands” (Acts of the Apostles, pp. 68, 69).

What a commission! What a solemn responsibility. This great truth of religious liberty, taught by the Founder of Christianity and sustained by his faithful witnesses throughout all ages, has been given to us. This solemn duty has been placed in our hands to share with the whole world in this time of darkness that precedes the coming of Christ. We often speak of the truth, but this statement refers to truth and religious freedom. Apparently, there was a danger that we would forget. We, as God’s last day people must do more than oppose the enactment of laws that would adversely affect us.

A Sunday law enacted by a civil power is wrong, even for reasons of saving the environment, because it is an attempt by the state to regulate a religious observance in opposition to the Law of God, the Fourth Commandment. If we do not fulfill our duty, if we do not adhere to the principles of religious freedom and help save men and women from being forced to participate in diabolical schemes created by man and if we do not denounce the violators of civil and religious liberty, then all freedom-loving people and believers will continue to witness open attacks on liberty of conscience.

Tragically, the religious liberty leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church are absolutely neutral; no, worse still, they side with the violators of freedom. In fact, this is very concerning. While most Seventh-day Adventists are silent about all of this, there will be a small remnant among God’s people and even many non-Adventists who will defend freedom and liberty. As civil and religious liberties are being suppressed, as governors and mayors rewrite the laws of the land, and as the seventh-day Sabbath, Saturday, is under attack in some parts of the world, may we be found doing what we must do by the grace of God. The crisis hour is not over, it is only beginning:

“Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government. Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law will present from the pulpit the duty of yielding obedience to the civil authorities as ordained of God. In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment-keepers will be misrepresented and condemned. A false coloring will be given to their words; the worst construction will be put upon their motives. . . . Liberty of conscience, which has cost so great a sacrifice, will no longer be respected” (Great Controversy, p. 592).

Sources

[1] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/now-is-the-time-for-a-great-reset/

[2] https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-0c94e94960b9150668e37599aed3872f

[3] https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/french-retailers-puzzle-over-how-keep-non-vaccinated-shoppers-stores-2021-07-13/

[4] https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/06/28/no-shot-no-service-abu-dhabi-to-ban-unvaccinated-people-from-most-public-places/?sh=5795c2d83424

[5] https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/scott-morrison-says-businesses-can-deny-service-to-unvaccinated-customers-c-3782027

[6] https://religionnews.com/2020/01/21/pope-francis-tells-the-powerful-at-davos-to-focus-on-humanity-not-power-profit/