February 17 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
Based on the Bible and the First Amendment of Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution: “RELIGION is ‘the duty we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it.’ LIBERTY is ‘the state of being exempt from the domination of others, or from restricting circumstances.
In ethics and philosophy, the power in any rational agent to make his choices and decide his conduct for himself, spontaneously and voluntarily, in accordance with reasons or motives.’ RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, therefore, is man’s exemption from the domination of others, or from restricting circumstances: man’s freedom to make his choices and decide his conduct for himself, spontaneously and voluntarily: in his duty to his Creator, and in the manner of discharging that duty.’ Since God created man, in the nature of things the first of all relationships is that to God; and the first of all duties could be nothing but duty to God.” A.T. Jones, “Individuality in Religion,” Introduction, 5,6.