Practicing what we Preach

By way of example, I was fortunate to have an opinon published in the Lansing State Journal today (4/13/06), titled, "West must engage with Afghanistan." It deals with the thorny issues involved in last month's trial of Afghani exile Abdul Rahman for converting from Islam to Christianity.

The premise of my opinion is this: you cannot have political freedom without religious freedom, BUT you can have spiritual freedom regardless.

Here is how I worked biblical scripture into the 500-word opinion, starting in paragraph 9:

In the first century, the Christian writer Paul addressed the importance of our religious freedom when he wrote, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).

Jesus' offer of freedom attracts people like Abdul Rahman the world over. Fortunately for those living under repressive regimes, spiritual liberty can be accessed without the benefit of political reforms or leaving their homelands.

What's more, many seek this liberty expressly because their personal freedoms are repressed.
Read more >>

To draw the favor of the editors, I dealt with a timely issue, framed it as a issue of democratic freedom, and concluded it with a call to stay committed to democracy in Afghanistan. But I hope readers will see my fundemental throught that true freedom is found in Jesus.

Submitted by
Bruce Umpstead