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Verse:“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” —Joshua 24:15
Freedom is a human right we seem to value only when we lose it. Shortly after World War II (1939–1945) ended, important measures were taken in an effort to avoid the reoccurrence of such a catastrophe in the future.
The United Nations (UN) was created on October 24, 1945, as an intergovernmental organization promoting international cooperation.
On December 10, 1948, the UN General Assembly, convened in Paris, adopted the thirty-article “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” recognizing the dignity and worth inherent in the human person and affirming his or her human rights and fundamental freedoms. In regard to freedom of religion, Article 18 of the declaration affirms: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”28 Disregarding the content of this article, some fundamentalist religious groups still levy the death penalty on adherents who leave their ranks and on those who encouraged them to leave. Deeply concerned with manifestations of religious intolerance, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has traditionally promoted religious liberty and, more recently, organized several large festivals of religious freedom around the world.
Freedom of conscience and religion must be granted to all, not only to those in power. Joshua fully committed to “serve the LORD” and encouraged others to do the same. Yet, he also acknowledged that God has given humans free choice, and we may choose to follow our own path, despite negative consequences (Joshua 24:15).
We should be extremely thankful to the Lord and those who have paved the way for the religious liberty that is enjoyed today in many regions of the world.
But now that the banner of religious liberty is in our hands, let us pray and work to help those regions of the world without such freedom.