Memorial Day and Pentecost landed beside each other this year. On Pentecost, men filled with the Holy Ghost publicly proclaimed Jesus Christ without fear. On Memorial Day, we remember those who died protecting the liberties that still allow Americans to publicly proclaim Jesus Christ today.
We are living in a nation filled with people who enjoy freedoms they neither understand nor appreciate. Every year Americans wave flags, grill hamburgers, and speak about patriotism while simultaneously surrendering the very liberties generations of patriots bled and died to preserve. The average citizen speaks about freedom the same way spoiled children speak about electricity, they only notice it once it is gone.
One of the great lies modern society pushes is the idea that government or society gives us our rights. It does not. Our rights are endowed by our Creator. Government merely recognizes liberties that already belong to man under God. That matters because whatever government gives, government can eventually remove. But rights rooted in God place government itself under accountability.
The early church understood this principle. When believers were filled with the Holy Ghost in Acts chapter 2, the result was not emotional chaos or bizarre behavior. The result was speaking the word of God boldly. They opened their mouths publicly concerning Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. And for doing so, many of them died.
Stephen was stoned. James was beheaded. The apostles were persecuted, imprisoned, and murdered across the known world. Tyrants have always feared bold men willing to speak truth openly.
That is why freedom of speech matters so deeply. Not because Americans need the liberty to be vulgar, immoral, or rebellious, but because truth must remain free to be proclaimed publicly without fear of government suppression. A society that suppresses speech under the banner of “safety” or “misinformation” eventually suppresses the Gospel as well.
And sadly, many Christians appear completely blind to this reality.
Modern societies often cheer for censorship so long as it targets people they dislike. They support government overreach when it appears politically useful. They have forgotten that the same power used against one group today can easily be turned against them tomorrow. History repeatedly demonstrates this pattern.
The COVID era exposed just how quickly Americans are willing to surrender liberty in exchange for the promise of security. Churches were closed by governors. Citizens were pressured into silence. Constitutional rights suddenly became “non-essential” depending on the emergency of the moment. And anyone who dared question the expanding authority of government was portrayed as reckless or dangerous.
What made that period so alarming was not merely government overreach itself, but how eagerly many citizens accepted it. Liberty only survives when people are willing to exercise it and defend it.
This is something Baptists historically understood better than most. Men like John Leland recognized the danger of unchecked state power and fought for protections like the First Amendment because they knew governments have a long history of persecuting those who refuse to conform. Religious liberty was not handed down out of governmental kindness. It was secured through conflict, resistance, sacrifice, and conviction.
But modern America has become soft. We have become so entertained, distracted, and comfortable that many people would gladly surrender freedom so long as they are promised convenience in return. A frightened population is easily controlled.
Christians should obey lawful authority. Scripture is clear about that. But there is a massive difference between respecting government and blindly trusting it. Fallen men do not suddenly become righteous because they hold office. Power still corrupts. Governments still overreach. And liberties surrendered today rarely return tomorrow.
Memorial Day should remind Americans that freedom is costly.
So preach Christ boldly.
And do not casually surrender liberties that others shed blood to preserve.
To watch more of my unscripted comments on this topic click HERE.
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Excellent
Thank you