"Free to Believe" (Luke W. Goodrich)

TITLE: Free to Believe: The Battle Over Religious Liberty in America
AUTHOR: Luke W. Goodrich
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah, 2019, (288 pages).

Religious Freedom is not something to be taken for granted. We see it in some communist countries where governments persecute religious people. We see it in secular states that continue to jettison matters of faith outside public circles. We are seeing religion being pushed to the margins in many parts of the world, including the traditionally religious West. With Western Europe mostly secular today, the issue of religious freedom is becoming more urgent each day. The interesting question is this: If the freedom of religion has already been enshrined in the constitution, why do we still need to battle over religious liberty? In order to deal with this question, author and senior counsel Luke Goodrich explains why this problem has become more acute over the years. Beginning with a real case of a Christian School Teacher suing the Church affiliated with the school over wrongful dismissal, we see how secular civil law meets with a Church claiming to follow religious instruction. Can a Church be sued for discrimination if she was just observing their religious obligations? What about gender selection that pits biblical obedience against secular laws? Then there is the baker refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. These are some of the examples of how religious freedom as we have known from the past is no longer the same in the present and the foreseeable future. In writing this book, the author aims to answer three key questions:

1. What is Religious Freedom?
2. What are the Most Serious Threats to Religious Freedom?
3. What Can We Do About It?

First off, Goodrich shows us how Christians misunderstand what religious freedom means. On the one hand, some believe that as "pilgrims" they have the right to using religion as a "founding principle" to be applied as a special privilege because of the Judeo-Christian heritage. This however is problematic because Scripture often reminds us that persecution, not privilege is the norm of faith. On the other hand, there are those on the other extreme who believe that Christians ought to be "martyrs" and thus give up any desire to even battle for any form of freedom. The problem however is that living as sitting ducks makes one's faith too shallow and passive. Still, there are many who see themselves as "beginners" who just don't know how to go about thinking or responding to issues regarding religious freedom. The author goes further to include arguments not only for Christians but also how religious freedom benefits non-believers! Religious freedom is important for all of society because it not only benefits society, it protects other rights such as limiting government interference and preserving fundamental human rights. One might not be a believer now, but what if he/she believes in the future? Thus, protecting religious freedom includes protecting the right of unbelievers now to freely believe in the future! It protects their freedom to change. So Goodrich gives us a broad definition of religious freedom, that: "the government, within reasonable limits, leaves religion alone as much as possible." This is important as it avoids both extremities of uncontrolled religious fanaticism or harsh religious oppression or persecution. Another important argument is the phrase "under God" which many atheists, secularists, and unbelievers have insisted on excluding. Goodrich argues powerfully that it is highly relevant for all of society to preserve that because it includes limiting governments by reminding them that they too are under Someone or Something higher than themselves, implying that they too do not have absolute right over their citizens. 

Second, he shows us the importance of limiting authorities from overstepping their boundaries. There is the issue of a Christian club being disqualified by the University because the club insisted on appointing only believers in its leadership. Then there is the age-old issue of abortions, the definition of marriage, and a secularized principles invading the religious space. The culture is also changing where traditional Christian beliefs are increasingly viewed as threats to the public space. Other issues include discrimination where "religious discrimination" arguments are increasingly pitted against other rights. For instance, can a Church limit hire to only persons of faith? Can a Catholic School hire a teacher who does not hold to the Catholic faith? What about gay rights overshadowing religious freedom? Should Christians care proactively about religious freedom for other religions? 

Third, Goodrich shows us that we ought to learn the way of wisdom instead of wanting always to win. In "Let Go of Winning," he shows us how to manage our emotions and not let them go out of control. The Bible is replete with references to patience and perseverance in the midst of suffering and persecution.  He gives us seven principles on how to deal with challenging situations today. 

My Thoughts

This is one of the most important books about learning how to weigh our passions against a backdrop of anti-Christian mood in our culture today. We need to stand up for the truth. We also need to learn how to do that legally and lovingly. We cannot take our freedom for granted. We need to get the best people in our communities to stand up against injustice and biased treatment against believers of all faiths. I have three thoughts about this book.

First, I am thankful for the author's contributions toward highlighting the need for a fresh look at what religious freedom is and what it is not. Many believers have taken the privilege of faith for granted. In a new world, what is accepted in the past is being challenged at present. What is not yet challenged would be in the future. Due to the lack of legal knowledge and confidence, many believers have taken the stance of silence to avoid conflict or confrontation.  This is a sad posture to take. We need to be reminded that Truth does not fear the volume of opposition. Truth is strong enough to stand on its own. If we believe the gospel is Truth and that God is sovereign, we should not fear being marginalized.

Second, Goodrich reminds us to learn to speak the language of the culture. What would ultimately convince the secular public are not our religious convictions but legal and arguments that prove we are fighting for the common good. As long as Christians remain in their enclave, immersed in self-focused agendas, they will be isolated and ignored. If they could champion common matters of interest and fight for the good of the general welfare of society, they would be seen in a more positive light. This does not mean we go around replacing our gospel with social justice matters. It simply means learning to serve society just like how Jesus served when He was on earth. I agree that the basic issue behind the fight for freedom and against discrimination is basically the perception of injustice and a desire to right that "wrong."

Finally, beware of power play. Politics and governments are formidable powers and principalities that the Church might come up against. Sometimes, governments might have good intentions but they could miss out on certain angles. We know that it is impossible to please everyone. Yet, governments are often expected to do just that. The Church and the Christian community ought to make their voices known not just as Church members but as voters and fellow citizens with fundamental rights. By regularly going back to the constitution and expressed principles of our founding fathers, we need to be vigilant against any effort to dilute these principles. When we battle against these principalities, we need to see beyond just Church, but to be ready to let Scripture guide our thoughts and actions. Pray for our leaders and lawyers who are Christian. Our world today needs the Church and Christians to be a voice for Christ, not necessarily in combative ways. We can guide governments and public opinion to see that when we fight, we are not fighting simply for our Churches or faith. We are standing up for the basic freedom to choose what we believe, how we believe, and who we believe in. That freedom is universal.

Luke Goodrich is Vice-President and Senior Counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, where he has won multiple Supreme Court victories for clients like the Little Sisters of the Poor and Hobby Lobby. He frequently discusses religious freedom on networks such as Fox News, CNN, ABC, and NPR, and in publications like the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Time magazine. Goodrich also teaches an advanced course in constitutional law at the University of Utah law school.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Multnomah Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.