Acts 4:18-20 (ESV) – “So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.’”

In the land where the wind of freedom has long blown, where the banner of liberty has been upheld, there arises a whisper of change – a subtle shift that raises concerns for those who seek to share the life-transforming Gospel. As believers in the United States, we have been blessed with the privilege of openly proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ. However, let us not forget that even in a nation founded on principles of religious freedom, history has shown that no guarantee is absolute. What if the winds were to shift, and the breeze of freedom were to wane?

Consider the early disciples, those fervent followers of the risen Christ who walked through a world hostile to their message. The risks they faced were great – imprisonment, persecution, even death. The authorities of their time sought to silence them, just as there may come a day when challenges to our freedom arise. Yet, like the apostles, we are called to a higher purpose, a divine commission to share the Gospel with a world in desperate need.

The disciples did not let the threats deter them. They understood that the message they carried was of eternal significance, a message that offered hope, forgiveness, and salvation. They had encountered the risen Christ, witnessed His miracles, and heard His teachings. Their encounters with Jesus compelled them to overcome fear and boldly proclaim His name. The risks were significant, but the potential rewards far outweighed any temporal consequences.

About 20 years ago, I was approached by my HR department with a complaint that they had received from one of my employees.  The employee complained that I was a Christian, and she was not, and that I was pushing my beliefs on her.  My HR manager said she complained that I prayed out loud when I was at a restaurant with my team, that I had a bible on my desk, that I wore a cross every day and that I played Christian music in my office.

The HR manager had called a meeting with me to discuss the complaint and to instruct me to remove all Christian paraphernalia from my office and my person, to tell me that I could no longer play music or pray over my meal at lunch when out with my team.  I quickly responded that they were violating my freedoms and I would not comply.  I said that the emploee was nor forced to eat lunch with me, read my bible nor listen to my music (which played ever so softly in my office)  I did commit that when she came in my office to turn the music off.  I  stressed that the honkey tonk country music the company blasted over the entire office offended me so unless they removed that music I refused to turned mine off.

Should we ever find ourselves in a climate where our freedom to share the Gospel is restricted, let us take heart from the example of the early disciples. Just as they chose to obey God rather than man, we too must stand firm in our faith and commitment to Christ. While we should always seek to maintain the freedoms we enjoy, we must also remember that our ultimate allegiance is to our heavenly Father and His mission.

Taking away our right as Christians started a long time ago. School prayer used to be the beginning of the day along with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.  When my kids were in school it became if you did not want to participate in the pledge or prayer, you could go out into the hallway to now we can’t do either in school.

What if we chose to say no like I did??

Embracing the cost of sharing the Gospel may mean facing opposition, ridicule, or even legal consequences. But in doing so, we align ourselves with the legacy of those who have come before us, who risked everything to spread the good news of Jesus. When we prioritize the eternal impact of our message over our present comfort, we discover a renewed sense of purpose and significance in our calling.

We should pray for Gods help. We live in a world that is constantly changing, we need to God for wisdom and help to remain faithful to His call to share the Gospel, regardless of the circumstances around us. Let ask God to grant us the courage to stand firm in our convictions, just as the disciples did, and empower us to proclaim His truth with boldness and love. May we be a light in the darkness, shining forth the hope of Christ to all who are in need. In Jesus’ name, amen.

**Questions:**

1. How might we respond if our freedoms to share the Gospel were limited or challenged in our current context?

2. What lessons can we learn from the early disciples’ commitment to sharing the Gospel despite the risks?

3. How can we cultivate a perspective that values eternal impact over present comfort when it comes to sharing the message of Jesus?