But speaking of which, while it is possible, we ought to be using the “neon signs.”
Getting all bent when a city hall won’t put a creche up without a Santa Claus is perhaps, a little besides the point if you can put that same creche up on a billboard. OK, it’ll require some more spending, but up it will go and get even more attention.
God got pretty irked at the Israelites who started whining at the slightest challenge. “You idiot Moses! We can’t drink this water! Damn you! We oughtta be in Egypt!” When all it would have taken was “Dear Lord, You have delivered us thus far, and believe You will continue to do so. Please provide us with the water we need.”
This kind of provision has been seen in all segments of Christendom when it has been sincerely prayed for and believed in, with an attitude of leaning on the Lord and proclaiming His goodness.
"Speaks to my condition," as the Quakers say.
We organized a Religious Liberty rally here in Johnson City TN 5 years ago. One of our speakers, a young lawyer who does pro-bono work for a religious liberty org, noted that if we don't actually *exercise* our religious liberty --- if we don't pro-actively, individually and as churches, stand up and do stuff--- speak, write, publish, display, give, train, organize, initiate, every kind of activity that manifests our faith by word and deed --- we are unfit for "liberty," whatever the law says.
We should do everything that's legal. Everything that goes right up to the line, And everything that goes just a bit over the line, just to maintain muscle tone. (I'm not talking about crime, or egregious defiance for no reason. I'm talking about stuff like: organizing at weekly Pray at the Flag Pole student gathering at the High School. Handing out paperback New Testaments at the graduation banquet!!)
And the authorities have to know that there will be a swift, certain, and unified response to all oppressions, e.h. laws that say pharmacists must sell contraceptives and abortifacients or lose their licenses.
It's ridiculous t think we can get good laws, or that any manner of laws would "protect" us, if we're basically not "exercising" that "Free Exercise".
She was absolutely right.
And that was five years ago. There hasn't been another Religious Liberty rally here since then.
Why? Is there a law against it?
Or is it maybe because of our cowardice and sloth?