The word “democracy” is thrown around a lot these days, but many left-leaning Americans have changed the original definition. Democracy usually refers to a society in which people have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and the freedom to assemble lawfully—as well as the right to vote.
But in today’s woke, upside-down world, democracy has evolved to mean a society where liberals are allowed to force their views on everyone else through censorship. We are seeing this one-sided version of “democracy” more and more:
— School officials promote pornographic books with LGBTQ+ themes in classrooms, yet parents are accused of “banning books” if they disagree.
— In schools, athletic organizations and some cities, biological men who “identify” as female are allowed access to women’s restrooms, locker rooms or women’s sporting events. If people disagree, they are accused of “hate speech”—even though these pro-transgender policies trample on women’s rights.
— The transgender craze has become more aggressive in Canada, where parents can lose custody of their grade-school children if they don’t affirm their “new” gender identity.
— A 2022 article in the Deseret News showed that Google—which controls 92% of internet searches—usually directs readers to liberal viewpoints on issues and censors conservative ideas on topics including abortion, gender and climate change.
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— Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg this week admitted that the White House pressured him to censor health information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zuckerberg says he now regrets his company’s actions. The tech magnate also admitted that Facebook should not have censored news stories about Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop—a story the Biden White House called “Russian disinformation” until it was proven that Biden’s son did in fact own the computer.
Government-sanctioned censorship isn’t new. It happened in ancient Babylon, when King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his citizens to bow down to a golden image. In ancient Rome, Christians were set on fire or thrown to lions if they violated political correctness by proclaiming, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” And since the communist revolution in Russia in 1917, dictators have imprisoned and killed millions of dissidents who refused to bow to their Marxist beliefs.
God calls us to stand up for our convictions, just as Daniel’s three brave friends refused to bow to the Babylonian idol. We must be willing to suffer when our faith is challenged. Don’t let the media, tech companies, corporate culture, university professors, Hollywood celebrities or friends turn your backbone into jelly. Grow a spine!
Of course we must use wisdom when we engage in conversation with people about our convictions. Our job is not to arrogantly beat people over the head with our Bibles. Evangelism must be tempered with sensitivity and soaked in love. Paul said: “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col. 4:6, NASB 1995).
But as we offer grace and love, we can’t compromise our convictions, soften our stance or water down God’s Word. I’ve made a list of biblical truths that are under attack today. I hope we will all keep the faith when modern Nebuchadnezzars pressure us to conform to their agenda:
1. God created the world. Atheists claim there’s no evidence for God’s existence, but nature itself provides more than enough wondrous evidence of an intelligent designer.
2. The traditional family was God’s idea. The world keeps inventing new family arrangements (including “polyamory,” which can include several men or women), but God invented marriage between one man and one woman so they could raise children in the most loving and protective environment possible.
3. Unborn life is sacred. Abortion is celebrated in today’s hedonistic culture—to the point that some states sanction the killing of a child in the third trimester, or even at the point of birth. But the killing of unborn babies degrades a society, hardens people’s hearts and destroys the next generation.
4. There are two genders. Current gender theory denies science by supposing that people can decide for themselves what sex they are, or by suggesting that they can be both male and female. Yet the very first chapter of the Bible clearly states what science also tells us—that gender is a fixed biological reality, not a state of mind.
5. All races are equal in God’s sight. It was never God’s will for people to be divided by skin color or ethnicity. We are all one race—the human race—and we were created to love our neighbors as ourselves. Today’s “critical race theory” actually divides people by race, perpetually fuels racial resentment and prevents reconciliation of past abuses.
6. God’s moral law is the foundation of society. God’s law guarantees private property, forbids stealing and gives people the right to justice. The current effort to “defund police” or to decriminalize stealing or other crimes actually makes society more vulnerable to violence.
It’s time for bold believers to arise. Don’t let the censors intimidate you. Don’t be afraid to stand up for your Christian convictions, even if everyone around you is bowing down.
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J. Lee Grady is an author, award-winning journalist and ordained minister. He served as a news writer and magazine editor for many years before launching into full-time ministry.
Lee is the author of six books, including “10 Lies the Church Tells Women,” “10 Lies Men Believe” and “Fearless Daughters of the Bible.” His years at Charisma magazine also gave him a unique perspective of the Spirit-filled church and led him to write “The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale” and “Set My Heart on Fire,” which is a Bible study on the work of the Holy Spirit.
