Sermon - Jeff Raines - Unchained: The Necessity of Choice [Matthew 28:16-20]

Christians around the world face significant challenges and persecutions to gather and worship.  Today, we’re looking at the Freedom Path of the Baptist World Alliance’s 2033 Movement.  

In the USA, we live with a remarkable amount of religious freedom- so much so that we can take it for granted.  But just because we don’t experience religious persecution here doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care about it for Christians around the world.  

Almost 4.9 billion people live in countries with serious or very serious violations of religious freedom (21wilberforce.org).

We can pray!  The Baptist World Alliance has a petition to sign:  https://acts2movement.org/covenant/

Religious liberty is a sacred right endowed by God.  

Matthew 28:16-20 - the account of Jesus giving the disciples the Great Commission - includes the phrase “and some doubted.”  
In this moment of doubt, Jesus didn’t coerce them or force anything.  Instead it says that Jesus came to them.  The Jesus model is to go to people in love.  

“Forced worship stinks in God’s nostrils.”  Roger Williams 

Jesus SAID.  Jesus invited.  He made following him a choice.  This is the path that Jesus has given us: showing up, sharing the story, allowing people to choose.  When we become persecutors of others, we leave the way of Jesus.  

We need freedom of belief.  Our job is the Great Commission and we pray for changed hearts that will change the world.