Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at
all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for
yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than
God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and
heard." (Acts 4:18-20)
In the time of the Apostles, all through history up to the present day there have been many nations that have had both established religions and prevented the free exercise of other religions. This includes Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, Communist, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and Jewish nations. The United States is one of very few nations that have true freedom and this is fading.
The point is not, "How can we export this freedom?" or even, "How can we keep it from fading in our country?", but "How do we act when we are prohibited from praying, preaching, and assembling?"
Are we ready and willing to obey God instead of the government and take the consequences?
Comments
Other professedly God-fearing churches forbid the use of wine in communion, for fear (at least in part) of laws against serving minors. They do not pass the cup, therefore, for fear of the board of health.