By Rev. Dr. Dawn Weaks
Pastor, Connection Christian Church
The topic of “school choice,” otherwise known as “vouchers” for public money going to private schools, is back in Texas politics, which means we need to think together prayerfully again about religious freedom.
In the Bible, they couldn’t have imagined a democracy. In Jesus’ time, the emperor of Rome was one of the gods required to be worshipped by the citizens; Jews received a special exclusion from that depending on whom the emperor was. Jesus’ message seems to be clear about the freedom we have to make choices – what theologians call “free will.”
In at least two stories, (Matthew 8 & 19) we are told of people who received the invitation “Follow Me” and choose not to do so. It’s as if the Bible wants us to know that we are free to make a real choice to follow Christ, not one even God has forced upon us, and certainly not one forced upon us by our government.
The Bible also makes clear that God is not interested in being honored in a strictly institutional, ceremonial way (read Isaiah 58:1-2,6-9). God doesn’t have much use for a nation that pledges to be “under God” but neglects its poor and elderly. God would just as soon we not talk the talk if we’re not going to walk the walk. So we are free to choose. God wants us to freely choose to receive Christ and to walk in his way. One might even say it seems that religious freedom is important to God.
What are we then to do with this sacred trust of free will? In Galatians 6:10, the apostle Paul points us this way: “Work for the good of all, and especially the household of faith.” This should be the litmus test for religious freedom. Do the laws and public policy stances we take promote an atmosphere in which each person can make a choice to worship God?
With vouchers we might ask: Is it for the good of all if a Buddhist family pays part of their taxes so that my daughter can go to a Protestant private school? How about if I pay taxes so their daughter can go to a private Buddhist school? I don’t mind as much when other people are forced to yield to MY way. But if I am forced to yield to YOUR way, I mind! As Christians living with such a great and historically rare privilege of religious freedom, we can use our freedom to not just help ourselves, but to ensure that every American has the opportunity to freely choose or not choose the way of Christ. Let’s keep thinking and talking about this.
