One of the world’s favorite evangelicals (Rick Warren) will be visiting one of the world’s least favorite nations (North Korea) to meet with church and business leaders to prepare for a return visit to preach to some 15,000 people in March 2007. Soon after the announcement, the Web lit up with criticisms of Warren–that he was “condoning” and “legitimizing” the North Korean government by accepting the invitation to preach there … that Kim Jong il will use Warren as a shill to put a kinder, gentler face on the Asian dictatorship … that Warren’s arrival will draw Christians out of the woodwork, only to be persecuted once he leaves the scene.

Warren admits that this is a possibility (“I know they’re going to use me. So, I’m going to use them.”) But he defends his decision in his blog: “Regardless of politics, I will go anywhere I am invited to preach the Gospel. My hope is that these visits will promote religious freedom in a country where the practice of individual faith has been tightly controlled and virtually prohibited since 1945.”

This is not the first time an unusual door of opportunity has opened for a high profile leader to penetrate a “closed country” with the gospel. In 1984 Billy Graham was vilified for visiting the Soviet Union, because he was only allowed to preach in the state-sanctioned Russian Orthodox church–a “compromise” some felt should have precluded his visit. Now, 20 years later, as we observe how ineffective the Soviet Union was at snuffing out authentic Christianity, the criticisms against Graham seem irrelevant.

Is it suspicious that a notorious madman like Kim Jong il is considering allowing an evangelical pastor into his country for a crusade? Absolutely. But I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who has prayed that North Korea’s doors would eventually open to the outside world–if even a crack.

So, should we wait until North Korea is removed from the Axis of Evil before we pursue any opportunities to preach the gospel or bring encouragement to its persecuted citizens? Is our nation’s diplomatic approval a prerequisite for the fulfillment of the Great Commission? Of course not. Like its 20th-century predecessors, when the oppressive regime of North Korea finally topples, it won’t be because of the machinations of human governments. Whether in ancient Rome, 20th-century Moscow or (dare I say) 21st-century Beijing and Mecca, it is Kingdom yeast and martyr blood that are the ingredients of true revolution.

by Matt Green
from The Ministry Report
July 11, 2006

What religious group in America grew 1675 percent between 1990 and 2001? Wicca. Buried in an article about a “witch school” opening in small-town Illinois, we find this stat from the Religious Identification Survey citing the growing popularity of Wicca. According to InterVarsity’s Pocket Guide to World Religions, Wicca is …

… the Western religion of witchcraft. It does not endorse evil, let alone worship Satan, but instead attempts to draw on the spiritual powers in the universe to promote goodness and healing. Wicca recognizes many gods, including the supreme goddess, who is represented by the moon. It teaches that there are many invisible lines of spiritual power crisscrossing the world around us and that it is possible to tap into them for the sake of helping others. Wicca often likes to paint itself as the female alternative to male-dominated established religion. A membership figure of 50,000 is a highly speculative estimate since the practitioners meet in local covens with no unified headquarters.

The article notes that, although he opposed the arrival of the witch school, a baptist pastor in the area has “come to accept the school as a permanent fixture and moved on, even though he doesn’t approve of Wiccan beliefs.” Before we blame this preacher for giving up the fight, let’s consider some of the tough questions of religious liberty and pluralism this story brings to the surface.

Should Christians defend religious freedom for religions that compete with–and even oppose–Christianity?

I believe we should. We have nothing to fear from competing faiths, if we are effectively articulating, defending and applying our own. Biblical Christianity has been shown to thrive in any environment–whether open or oppressive.

But what about in the Old Testament, when idolaters and sorcerers were put to the sword?

Good point. But we’re not living under a theocracy–or even a monarchy–but a democratic republic, the founding principles of which do not demand that its citizens adhere to Christianity.

Are there certain religions that should be excluded from the benefits of religious freedom, such as fundamentalist Islam and Wicca?

I don’t think so. But there are practices common to certain religions and sects that should be outlawed, such as terrorism, polygamy, spousal abuse, animal sacrifice, female mutilation, etc.

If the majority of Americans were Christians, would it be a good idea to make the U.S. an officially “Christian nation” through the legislative process–and outlaw all false religions?

This is a great idea–in theory. However, there is no historical precedent of this working–whether in a representative government or in an authoritarian monarchy. In fact, it seems that whenever Christianity becomes a “majority religion” or a “state religion” of a nation, that nation soon slips into decline–both morally and politically.

Simply put, can we advocate religious freedom in places like Iraq, North Korea and China (for the benefit of Christianity) and not defend religious freedom here at home (for the benefit of Wiccans)? No. Like Paul–who lived and ministered in the pluralistic, idolatrous and oppressive context of the Roman Empire–we must recognize that there will come a time when “every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.” And that includes Wiccans. In the meantime, we depend on the winsomeness of our message and the conviction of the Holy Spirit–not the force of government–to carry out our Great Commission.

by Matt Green
from The Ministry Report
July 3, 2006