Core Value 13: Freedom of Religion

God has ordained civil government for the ordering of society in order to ensure the peaceful co-existence of all citizens irrespective of race or creed (Romans 13:1–7; 1 Timothy 2:1–4).

• Therefore we affirm the responsibility of government to ensure that citizens are free to practise and propagate religion according to their consciences.
• We deny that civil government has the right to prescribe or forbid any religion—be that religion Christianity, pluralism, secularism, or any other.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is the biblical relationship between government and religion?
2. Why is the freedom of conscience in religion a necessary thing?
3. In what ways might government “prescribe” a religion?
4. In what ways might government “forbid” a religion?
5. How does this value relate to the previous value on pluralism? Are they consistent or contradictory? Why?

THE CORE VALUES OF SOLA 5

• Core Value 1: God-Centredness
• Core Value 2: Logic and Reason
• Core Value 3: Authority
• Core Value 4: Sanctity of Life
• Core Value 5: Marriage and Sexuality
• Core Value 6: Discipline
• Core Value 7: Gender Roles
• Core Value 8: Vocation
• Core Value 9: Racial Harmony
• Core Value 10: Creation
• Core Value 11: Animals and the Environment
• Core Value 12: Pluralism
• Core Value 13: Freedom of Religion
• Core Value 14: Evangelism
• Core Value 15: Sufficiency of Scripture
• Core Value 16: Expository Preaching
• Core Value 17: Genuine Christianity
• Core Value 18: Personal Devotion to God
• Core Value 19: Good Works and Social Concern
• Core Value 20: Autonomy and Interdependency
• Core Value 21: The Unity of the Church
• Core Value 22: Liberty of Conscience
• Core Value 23: Hyper-Orthodoxy

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