Join the Freedom Fighters!

2010-02-06 11:46
Join the Freedom Fighters!

“No one likes to be muzzled. None of us like to be told to be quiet about what we believe,” says Sam Ericsson. He is the Founder & President of Advocates International (AI), a global network of 30 000 Christian lawyers in over 100 countries.

Sam and I both serve on the Global Council of Advocates International. He and I spent several hours together this week during the National Prayer Breakfast events in Washington D.C. We talked and strategized about local, national, regional and global issues and battles for freedom of expression.

Enclosed below are slightly revised excerpts from the Advocates International February newsletter. Please read and be encouraged and challenged. And join the freedom fighters!

MUZZLING JESUS FAILED: Muzzling believers is nothing new. In fact, the “powers-that-be” tried to muzzle Jesus. They failed miserably. They thought his crucifixion would be the ultimate muzzle. How wrong they were!!

MUZZLING THE DISCIPLES FAILED: The book of The Acts of the Apostles is a series of stories of Jesus’ followers who were told to stop sharing the Good News. They chose to be muzzle busters.

MUZZLING BELIEVERS HAS BACKFIRED: For 2,000 years, the Adversary tried to muzzle Christians. He’s failed. Persecution, hardship, discrimination and adversity simply added fuel the fire.

MUZZLING BIBLE PUBLISHING: On December 31, 2009, a court in Malaysia ruled that the Malay Bible could use the Malay word “Allah” as their word for “God”. Some religious extremists objected. In retaliation, they fire-bombed a dozen churches – including the one of Advocates Asia’s regional leader and AI Board member, Min Choon Lee. The decision is under review. Malaysia’s Christian lawyers are engaged to prevent muzzling the Gospel.

MUZZLING CONTRARIAN VIEWS: In Holland, a politician faces a criminal trial for violating the “Hate Speech Law.” He’s expressed concerns as to the threat to Holland and its culture by the huge influx of Muslim immigrants and their refusal to assimilate or embrace Dutch values. The Politically Correct mindset of many in Holland, and vocal elements within the Muslim community, want to muzzle contrarian views on Islam and immigration. AI is engaged.

MUZZLING CHRISTIAN FILMS FAILED: In January, 2010, our colleague, Latcho Popov, the director of Bulgaria’s Rule of Law Institute and President of Advocates Europe, won a major decision against the mayor of a city who had muzzled showing the Mary Magdalene film produced by Campus Crusade for Christ. Latcho has been fighting muzzlers since 1993.

MUZZLING SERMONS FAILED: Not long ago, Sweden’s Supreme Court ruled that Pastor Ake Green’s freedom of expression under European Conventions was violated when he was arrested, convicted and sentenced to jail for preaching a sermon to 50 Pentecostals on sexual morality. It offended a local prosecutor – and Sweden’s gay and lesbian community – who wanted all such sermons banned under Sweden’s 2002 “Hate Speech Law.” Muzzlers lost!

THE GREATEST THREAT: There is no greater threat to any dictator – political, social, or theocratic – than the freedom of expression. Speaking truth to power is always a threat to those who want a monopoly in the marketplace of ideas. They understand the power of Jesus’ statement, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Access to truth has brought down dictators throughout history. It brought down the Berlin Wall in 1989. It triggered the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

THANK GOD! In sum, the freedom of expression – weaving together the freedoms of conscience, religion, association and press – is a God-endowed gift that we often take for granted. Let’s thank God for the freedom – and for the advocates engaged in protecting it for now and future generations, while…

Living in His-Story,

Sam Ericsson
www.advocatesinternational.org

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