Should religious organizations support religious freedom? On the surface this question sounds like a no-brainer, of course they should. It is a foundational American value, and one of the first rights our Christian founding fathers built into the Constitution. But what if the religion being supported is opposed – often violently so – to Christianity? That is a question being evaluated by Southern Baptists and two of their organizations at present. The International Mission Board (IMB) and Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) are part of a larger consortium that are helping to remove unfair zoning requirements regarding the construction of mosque in Bernard, New Jersey.

At issue is the townships requirement that a new mosque have more parking spaces than was planned for by the construction team. The Southern Baptist organizations, and 16 other organizations filed against the city’s demands wondering why it should be required to have more parking than churches and a synagogue in the area. The Township of Bernard has explained their position, and it has nothing to do with religious discrimination, they say. Instead, they claim that since worship services are held on Friday evenings instead of weekends, that it is likely Muslims will show up after work or after picking up kids from school instead of arriving as families, necessitating more parking space. The city does not want overflow parking on the streets as it would congest an already busy traffic time.

This is not the first time the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) missions and legal arms have reached out to support Islamic causes. There is a relationship that has developed between the two religions, a quid pro quo of sorts, whereby Islamic organizations try to smooth the entry of Christian missionaries into countries that would otherwise oppose them. It is believed that by assisting to uphold religious freedom in America, greater religious freedoms may be exported to previously closed nations. The arrangement has seen results.

That said, some churches in the SBC are uncomfortable lending a helping hand to a religion that persecutes and kills hundreds of thousands of Christians every year in various places around the globe. The former head of the IMB apparently agrees with them, as he has resigned his post stating, “…if we defend the rights of people to construct places of false worship, are we not helping them speed down the highway to hell?” he said. “I want no part in supporting a false religion, even if it is in the name of religious freedom.”

What we have is the beginning framework for two sides of an argument. Should Christian’s, or their organizations, assist false (or even hostile) religions when they are unjustly treated under American law? We’ll examine some of the legal and Biblical arguments this week so we can learn how to think-biblically about this issue; in the meantime, it should be noted that a federal judge sided with the mosque and its defenders, and construction has proceeded. The question remains, is that a victory, or defeat?

Food for thought:

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. – Proverbs 21.3

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. – Proverbs 25.26