Liberty of Conscience Threatened-Introduction.

Liberty of conscience is a very important topic to know and understand within Christendom.In fact,so much harm has resulted when liberty of conscience has been violated.What do I mean by liberty of conscience? "The freedom to follow one's religious or ethical beliefs."-Wikipedia

It's an important to protect this right or we will have a repetition of mass killings of Christians just because they will not yield or accept doctrines (mainly catholic ones) that are against the Bible.It doesn't end with Christianity.

I just read a story about a woman Asia Bibi.She was sentenced over 6 years ago because of refusing to convert to Islam.Sad isn't it?Her story is here.She will appear for hearing on the 13th of this month.Let's unite in prayer on her behalf and ask God's will to be done.Her story reminds me of Paul and Silas in prison.Through their presence there,many knew God.In fact,when you read about the life of Paul you see how mighty God is,His ability to overturn seemingly hopeless events to good and bring about the knowledge of Himself.


But back to this whole issue:liberty of conscience is what explains the government of God and who God is.In fact,when God created,He gave each created being the power to choose.That's how sin entered-one man chose,Satan,contrary to the will of God.Adam and Eve also chose.Because God wants obedience to be an outflow of love for Him,He does not coerce anyone.

Throughout the Scripture,we see instances where God has allowed mankind-created by Him-to choose.Now if God,the Creator of the Universe never coerces anyone,who are we to force people to do what we want?How dare we even threaten one who does not believe the same as we do!How pleased do you think God is,when those who represent him ( Christians,church leaders etc) force others to do what they deem is good-even according to God's standard?The honest truth is,God is not pleased because he lives by love-that's who He is (1 John 4:8).

Looking at Christ,who came to represent God on earth,a question is posed,

Was Christ ever known to consign men to the prison or the rack because they did not pay Him homage as the King of heaven? Was His voice heard condemning to death those who did not accept Him? When He was slighted by the people of a Samaritan village, the apostle John was filled with indignation, and inquired: "Lord, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?" Jesus looked with pity upon His disciple, and rebuked his harsh spirit, saying: "The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Luke 9:54, 56



On the contrary though,we see one who loves having people do what he wants,that he was even willing to defy authority-Satan.He likes having control-in fact he fell because of his love for rulership (Isaiah 14;Ezekiel 28).Unfortunately,he managed to deceive many (1/3 of angels in heaven) and he even managed to deceive those created by God-Adam and Eve.

In all of this,we see a man's desire to force people to do what he wants subtlety.When sin entered,love stopped being the ruling principle and self entered.Ever since this,man is prone to want people to do what he/she wants,because he seeks his/her views to be upheld.This becomes even dangerous when people are willing to even abuse to have people do this.

In fact,history shows that's how papacy works.But like Martin Luther put it,"I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals.I have within me the great pope,self." Until the Spirit of Christ dwells within us and restrain us,we also are a threat to liberty of conscience,because it's nice to have people do what you tell them and adapt to your views.

I know it too well.When self is given a throne,he reveals himself by the intolerance of those whose views we do not agree with,to the extent where,the desire to harm is thought of.In order to not threaten other people's liberty of conscience,we are in great need of the Holy Spirit within us,to uproot every evil and every desire to receive homage.

Consider these statements:


"Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years. In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendancy, and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence, there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground that, after all, we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome. The time was when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which had been so dearly purchased. They taught their children to abhor popery and held that to seek harmony with Rome would be disloyalty to God. But how widely different are the sentiments now expressed"-Gc,p.563

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
⁴ Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."-2 Thessalonians 2:3-4


Perhaps we can look at instances in the Bible where liberty of conscience was threatened.In fact,Cain is an example.There are many more.Then we'd move to the papacy etc.....still learning by the way..But in the meantime you can read the Great Controversy,Chapter 35.