第45节：SUMMER夏(14)

　　The most curious fact about Christianity is that when it is legal
and allowed, it diminishes. But when the Christians are persecuted, it
thrives. Now it is democracy in America, no persecution. It is hard for
Christianity. People are free, so they don’t need God to yell the“freedom”
slogan out for them again and again. Ironically, people do desire for
more freedom, people want abortion, want gay marriage and want religious
freedom. Can you imagine this kind of “free” and“equal ” idea actually
came from Bible? The political system is changing. People say:“I am not
sure that is really the role for Christians in politics. I think the goal
should be to make sure there is freedom in the country. ” This perspective
explains the question really well —why in this used-to-be Christian nation,
which is 85% of Christians—is permitting abortion, banning prayer in
public schools and even trying to protect the people who believe in the
wrong things in Christians’ eyes. When Smith was doing research for the
purpose in involving in politics for Christians, he found out that a lot
of people believe Christians should be in politics, but don ’t know the
goal. People seems more against the idea to make the government run in
a Christian manner (Smith 100). “‘This is a free country. You get into
politics and you cannot help but let your beliefs influence your decisions.
And therefore you are trying to influence a lot of people by your beliefs,
not by what you think is the best for running the country or for getting
a particular problem solved ’” (Smith 95). Now the question has come
to us: which one should be more important? To have more people believe
in different things or to make people be Christian and make this country
more Christian? You may have your answer, but God says in the Bible:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age.“(NIV Matthew 28:18-20) It is obvious that God wants
people to choose the latter. But people now seem to choose the first one.
On the surface, the majority thinks Christians should be involved in politics,
they gave out three reasons: 1. Christians can hold different political
views, religion and politics can separate.2. Christian is also one of
the religions; they need someone to represent the whole Christian group.
3. Most people think the majority should rule. But these reasons do not
stand still. The true Christianity does not fit this world now. In the
past, it gave people freedom, now; it restrains people and takes away
their freedom.“‘Quite often Christianity thrived in the most hateful
of governments. And I didn’t see Jesus go out. ’”(Smith 125) a Christian
said. The dilemma happened even at the very beginning of the country’
s history. The religious freedom part in the first Amendment was based
on a Bible principle: “[God] who desires all men to be saved and to come
to the knowledge of the truth ” (NIV 1Tim: 1). this means that everyone
has the right to become a Christian, and God wants everyone to“lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence ” (NIV 1 Tim:
2). But based on this Biblical principle, the first Amendment ’s religious
freedom actually means the freedom of all religion. Christianity in Roman
times was a protection for the persecuted people, telling them that there
was only one benevolent God and giving them hope by telling them there
is a heaven and an eternal life. But God says:“You shall have no other
gods before me. ” And when the Declaration and Constitution really addressed
this, people felt restrained; people want more freedom than this in a
free society. That is what really happened. When we set our eyes all over
the world, we can see what kind of places are full of faithful Christians.
China, the country where I came from, has the biggest growing speed of
underground churches. The first time I heard of this statement was in
America, and I did not really believe it. I lived in Beijing; a big, modern
and capitalized city, where the government has the eyes of the world set
on. Yes, we are dictatorship, but it is a good one in Beijing, we have
nearly all the freedom to do whatever we want. But down in the country,
in the villages, where the government has a lot of corruption, and bullies
the people—Christianity thrives. When I was in Beijing, I saw the beautiful
Catholic Church every time I pass the down town area. But in the village
where my father ’s grandparents lived—a small and poor village, where
government is corrupted and take things away arbitrarily from people—
almost everyone are Christians.

　　　　　　　　　　　　

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