FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION

I was watching FoxNews the evening commentator Brit Hume witnessed to his Christian faith. He did so while urging Tiger Woods to embrace Christianity because it offers him forgiveness, whereas Woods' Buddhist teachings do not. Hume was right - Buddhism does not offer forgiveness, whereas Christianity does. Of course, Hume has been severely criticized for what he said.

We live in a country that has always offered freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression, and the two freedoms are not exclusive. We can and should be able to speak freely of our religious beliefs. Those who would say one's faith must be kept out of the public arena do not understand freedom, and are usually saying this when it's about Christianity, not any other faith. Although no freedom is absolute (you cannot yell "Fire!" in a crowded building) many freedoms are basic human rights which should always be exercised for the common good.

Those who have been villifying Hume for exercising his constitutional rights are people who equate any public expression of Christian faith with intolerance and offense. For them, religion can be tolerated so long as it is kept entirely private, not just away from government and education, but also from TV or other media. That kind of tolerance is mere intolerance, a thinly masked way of quieting those with whom one disagrees.

Hume's comments stem partly from the tragic death of his son Sandy in 1998. He recently stated, "I want to pursue my [Christian] faith more ardently than I have done. I was kind of a nominal Christian for the longest time. When my son died, I came to Christ in a way that was very meaningful to me." There's another great witness which he also spoke publicly.

Brit Hume, or any Christian, should not be surprised at the reaction to public remarks about faith in Jesus. He tells us in His Holy Scripture, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Scripture also tells us, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15)

My prayer is twfold: that Tiger Woods takes Hume's words to heart, and that those against the public expression of faith would realize and repent of their intolerance.

Thanks be to God for those willing to testify publicly to their faith in Jesus, despite any expected criticism.