True Religious Liberty: Freedom from Below, Not Oppression from Above
Religious liberty is one of the most precious freedoms we have. It is not merely a political ideal but a deeply biblical principle—one that recognizes that faith must be freely chosen, never imposed. Yet, in recent years, the term “religious liberty” has sometimes been misused—not to defend freedom of conscience for all, but to justify religious privilege or even coercion.
True religious liberty, both in Scripture and in the U.S. Constitution, is freedom from below, not oppression from above. It is the right of individuals and communities to worship (or not) as their conscience dictates, without interference. It is notthe right of government or religious authorities to impose their beliefs on others.
Jesus Calls, He Does Not Coerce
The old hymn reminds us:
“Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me.”
Jesus calls—he does not force or browbeat. He never used political power to compel belief. Instead, he invited people into faith through love, truth, and grace. When he stood in the synagogue and proclaimed his mission, he spoke of freedom, not control:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19, NRSVUE)
Jesus’ mission was one of liberation—spiritual and social. He did not seek to enforce religious conformity through law or government power. His way was persuasion, not coercion.
The Apostles’ Resistance to Religious Coercion
The early church understood this principle well. When the authorities ordered them to stop preaching, Peter and the apostles responded:
“We must obey God rather than any human authority.” (Acts 5:29, NRSVUE)
This was a defense of their right to practice their faith freely, not an attempt to impose their beliefs on others. They were resisting religious oppression from above, not seeking to create a system where their faith would dominate society by force.
The U.S. Constitution: No Establishment from Above, Freedom from Below
The U.S. Constitution echoes this biblical understanding of religious liberty. The First Amendment ensures:
- No establishment of religion from above (government cannot impose or favor a religion).
- Free exercise of religion from below (individuals and communities can practice their faith without interference).
These two principles work together. When religious liberty is properly understood, it means that no religious group can use the government to enforce its beliefs, and no government authority can restrict the free practice of faith.
The Misuse of Religious Liberty: Oppression from Above
Today, some invoke “religious liberty” not to defend freedom, but to justify religious coercion. This happens when:
- Laws are designed to privilege one faith over others.
- Government officials use their power to impose religious practices in public institutions.
- Religious beliefs are used as a justification to limit the rights of others.
This is not religious liberty—it is religious establishment. When those in power seek to impose faith through law or government policy, they are violating the very principles that protect religious freedom for all.
True Religious Liberty: Protecting Conscience for All
If we are to be faithful to Christ’s mission, we must defend true religious liberty—the kind that protects everyone’s conscience, not just our own. That means resisting both government interference in religion and religious control of government.
Jesus’ vision was not one of dominance but of invitation. His followers, from the apostles to modern defenders of religious freedom, have carried forward that mission by standing for the rights of all people to worship freely. If we truly value religious liberty, we must ensure it remains a right for all, not a tool for some to wield power over others.
Jesus calls softly and tenderly—not through government mandates, not through forced prayers, and not through laws that favor one faith over another. True religious liberty lifts people up—it never forces them down.