The cost of obeying God is sometimes death. It sounds insane to think to obey God one might lose their life. Yet Jesus lost his life by obeying His Father in heaven. To teach God’s word comes with a price. A price of teaching what God says verses society. The king was sleeping with his sister in law. Sounds like the king came from West Virginia. John the Baptist said this was sin. And with that the king put John the baptist in prison, only to have to behead for his brother’s wife daughters request on her birthday, as instructed by her mother. The king feared God but not enough not to fear beheading a prophet of God.

Jesus disciples hear what happened and Jesus took his disciples to the desert only to have a crowd follow. The cost of teaching God’s word in a time when the world is against the message of God can lead to death. Can lead to persecution, or being outcasted. Yet the world will say the same about what they teach. When in opposition to religion is in power it can lead to death.

As two worlds often collide in society, the choice of freedom sounds the easiest. Saying you do what you want unless it infringes on my rights. Yet it not always that simple because some sin though it might not be sin to one culture is dangerous to the innocent children of the world. Who have no choice but to follow their leaders. To obey their leaders despite whether or not they agree with their leaders. Adults have to follow the rules as well or face consequences if caught, and yet what they do to themselves unless it effects others few care. Yet some get into situations of abuse that is not their choice. The King sister in law did not like the correction of God’s word or John the Baptist. Seeing him in jail was not enough for her. She wanted him dead. She cared little about the fact that she betrayed her husband. She care little about the ways of God. That fact is John offended the king, and it cost him his freedom. Offend the mistress it cost him his life. Had the knowledge cost the woman her husband. Had public knowledge caused abuse. Or did the correction from voice crying in the wilderness against sin, cause the heart to be pricked? No change was ever said to happen to this one caught in adultery. Yet we know her anger was enough o kill a man.

How angry do you have to be to cause someone’s death? How angry do you have to be go against God? For centuries the world has judge by who was in leadership. Whether it be godly or worldly leaders. In truth it needs to be stopped based on these things for the world to live in harmony. Freedom and choices of how religious law effects a person should be spiritual. Do believer love it when they have believers in office of course. Yet if we do not have a religious man in office are we going to be willing to allow his freedom of choice as long as it does not cause abuse of others or cause scandal in public eye. The truth is political world is often condemned by the church world, and upheld by the heathens of our land, unless it goes against their desire. And then heathens do what they want unless caught.

Can the religious right agree to have none religious leader as in the days of Jewish exile that does not trade their daughters or take them into the castle. Our times has changed and our laws are effected by these changes. The beheading of religious leaders is not necessary for the devil to walk the earth but the voiceof criticism will still be there. That is what it means today to live in a society not always governed by God’s laws. Though God’s laws are found within the laws of society. God is in control and the times of Christ are very different then the world today, yet persecution still happens because people are under the yoke of yesteryears. When the religious right catch up with liberals and meet in the middle the religious right will find their freedom to practice their faith applied to their life choice with the exception of freedom to the liberals and conservatives who practice as well. To obey the worlds laws is always in opposition in faith somewhere along the way. Yet to say I won’t do because of faith is to supercede the law no, but it means persecution. It means judgment from the world. And when the religious right is in power and the world under the law of religious reight the same things occurs. There is three public bathrooms in some places. One for the unisex, one for the women and one for the men. Does our nation need laws for religious right, the liberals, and non religious with standards in order to meet in the middle for peace?

As long as devil exist the devil is going to have some say in our laws. Is it laws religious right can handle or will it cost them persecution. One has to decide is this a law that only effects me, or effects the world. Does the law promote evil and evil intent? If it promotes evil then one better stand up and fight for right of good, because it not just about God anymore but the protection of all people’s freedoms. The scandal in the king’s palace was not a good thing for religious right to know, yet it was a good teaching tool that cost John’s life.

Dear Heavenly Father give us strength to obey your word in time of opposition and to preach against evil, knowing that our opposition to certain things will offend the world. In Jesus precious name, Amen.