Freedom of Religion

Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). In or out of context with the surrounding verses, this statement is one that seems lost on one religion after another, from the early church, through the Middle Ages, the reformation, colonial Puritanism, right up to the present day. Freedom doesn’t seem to be something that’s easily given between human beings. This is especially so when those same humans are cloaked with a mantle of religious authority. It seems that freedom is something that individuals must take for themselves, for the ways of established religion can be well entrenched. No one wants to give up their power, their prestige, or their money. They’re certainly not willing to give up the ego-driven nature of humanity that demands we subjugate others. And lets face it, there are few things more satisfying than seeing someone bend to our will and our way of thinking.

In this day and age, it may surprise some to know that freedom of religion, guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States, is still something which must be struggled with for many. Not the fact that we have no choices; but rather that some of those choices quickly become a millstone around the necks of those who are seeking to please God as they understand him to be.

In the late 1700’s, Thomas Jefferson, a non Christian, sought to ease the burden of religious requirements for the common people. Depending on when and where you lived, you may not have been able to seek public office, own your own business, hold down a job, or attend a church service of the Baptists, Quakers, Catholics, or Jews. In some places in Colonial America, tithing was enforced by law. Punishment for defying your local church could range from a few hours in the stocks, to whippings, imprisonment, or even death. Jefferson, in 1779, decided the religious community had had its day as America’s thought police, and drafted what became known as the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom. So staid were the leaders of his day, it took 6 years, and a great deal of work with James Madison, to finally pass this legislation, the first of its kind in the independent colonies. Here is an excerpt from this ground breaking document.

“No man shall be compelled to support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever: nor shall be forced, restrained, molested or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief. But that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion: and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.”

-adopted by the Virginia Legislature December 16,1785

It took many years for this law to become accepted among the populace. Patrick Henry himself vigorously opposed it and was among those wishing to enforce donations at the altar. Those who had won freedom for themselves seemed reluctant to extend it to others. Even after the bill was adopted, resistance continued as bigotry and prejudice remained deep within the human psyche. Thirty five years later, an aging John Adams tried to have a similar amendment added to the Massachusetts new State Constitution, but it was defeated by what he called “the intolerant Christian community”.

Now, well over 200 years later, it behooves us to examine how much, or indeed, how little has changed. Certain modern Christian church denominations still often seek to control thier members, dishing out rules, formalities, rituals, dogma, ceremonies, doctrine, and all sorts of requirements, most of which cannot be found anywhere in the New Testament, in order to keep the membership in close conformity and under strict regulation. Now, to be fair, it can be pointed out that not all congregations are kept on such a tight leash. Perhaps its only a small minority. But we who have come out of the worst of them know how important it is to understand true Freedom of Religion.

In the days of Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, and Madison, this new freedom simply meant that it was now safe to walk the streets if you happened to be an unbeliever, or of a faith other than that officially sanctioned by the state. In New England it was the Congregationalists. In the South, the Church of England. Today things are much more subtle. Yes, we have the freedom to choose which temple in which to lay our offering. Or to not do so at all. But there are Christian religions extant that are far more intolerant than anything our old Mr. Adams encountered in 1820’s Boston. I speak of the Worldwide Church of God, founded by Herbert W. Armstrong, as it existed for 60 years from the mid thirties to the mid nineties. And I speak also of some of its off-shoots, like the “Philadelphia”, “Eternal” and the “Living” Churches of God.

I began attending the WCG in 1974. I stayed around until 1996, when I discovered that living as a follower of Christ was, to use one of Herb’s favorite phrases, diametrically opposite to what I had been taught as a loyal follower of the Armstrong way of life. I was never free as a member of the WCG. I became a willing slave to every dictum that came out of that wretched "headquarters" and its corrupt administration. I meekly submitted to every demand for more involvement, more fellowship, more study, more prayer, and most important, more money. I was the slave of Herbert Armstrong, son Garner Ted, and names like Meredith, Hoeh, and Cole. I was the slave of the local pastor, who signed men up for a public speaking venue, the Spokesman Club, whether they wanted to or not. I was the slave of the deacon’s wife, who ordered me to wear a jacket and tie while going through the motions of the Passover service, something I always detested. I was the slave of the ministerial trainee from Pasadena, who ordered everyone to attend Tuesday night Bible Study, IF they were truly converted.

And I became the slave of my own guilt. Who could possibly meet all the requirements of the WCG, without fail, and carry on with peace of mind and assurance of salvation? The lake of fire was always only one sin away, and I genuinely believed that God was watching me closely, just waiting for me to make one mistake so he could let loose some hideous unearthly punishment. There was no love. There was no peace. There was only fear. And I was its slave. My faith was not a refuge but a weapon to be used against me. Where was this freedom that Jesus spoke of? The pat answer from the WCG was that we would experience freedom from the slavery of sin. You can find that in the scriptures, it’s true. But by 1996 I no longer believed that that was the only application for that one phrase, “the truth shall make you free”. So I left the church that held me captive for 22 years.

For those who have departed the WCG, or any daughter church or other legalistic, controlling and manipulative organization, who wish to continue a pursuit of the spirituality to be found in Jesus, I have some good news. Yes, I could have physically walked away at any time. But it was not my body they held prisoner; it was my mind. They held me fast with a single erroneous idea, supported by numerous twisted and misquoted scriptures; that God has only "one true church". In a sense that may be true. That one church, if it must be called that, encompasses every one within whom resides the spirit of Christ, whether they know it or not and no matter what diverse opinions they may have.

For those who would still insist that God’s “work” on earth is carried on through only one group of people, I urge you to examine these: In John 10:16 we’re told that Jesus acknowledged that he had followers who were not part of the regular group. In Luke 9:49-50 we learn that someone the disciples didn’t even know was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. And in Acts chapter 8 we find a story of a man who was converted and baptized after only a short talk with Philip. This becoming a “true Christian” doesn’t sound like such a complex and exclusive club to me. In fact, if we read the rest of the story in Acts, it states very clearly that the ONLY requirement was to believe that Jesus is the son of God and died for one’s wrongdoings. Consider that the whole process was accomplished for centuries without any New Testaments, pamphlets, tracts, revival meetings, or bible camps.

It took me 8 years to come to grips with what I had experienced. Only by 2004 did I see the WCG as a dangerous cult. It may have lost some of its power to intimidate, but it still demanded at that time, that its precious ‘headquarters’ be the source of wisdom and guidance to the local minions. And as long as tithes and offerings are to be sent to a central location, instead of collected and utilized entirely at the local level for the local people as they see fit, then there remain freedoms to be won. Thankfully I no longer have to wage that battle. I’ve walked away, mind and body, and have no further desire to gather with other ‘believers’ anywhere or anytime.

Jefferson, in his latter years, did an in-depth study of the 4 gospels. He concluded that, although a non-Christian, he was in fact a follower of the precepts of Jesus. He had found the truth and the freedom. By refusing to bow before the traditions of clerics and institutions, he was set free long before his statute became law.

Jesus replaced all the Old Covenant laws, having fulfilled their requirements, with only two. Two brand new, fresh ideas. Love God, and love your neighbor. That’s all it takes. Every desired human behavior can be put under one of those two simple all-encompassing principles.

Therein rests the truth that will set you free.

Historical sources-

-John Adams, by David McCullough, Simon and Shuster, 2001

-American State Papers on Freedom in Religion, Review and Herald Publishing, 1943

-John Adams and the American Revolution, by Catherine Drinker Bowen, Little, Brown and Co. 1950