WASHINGTON At a symposium hosted last week at Georgetown University by the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and the ecumenical Manhattan Declaration, Commission President Russell Moore explained his belief that Christians should fight for freedom for all religionsnot just their own.

Andrew Walker, director of policy studies for the ERLC, served as moderator for the event, and fielded questions from various individuals pertaining to the persecution of Christians and the need to speak out in support of religious freedom.

Are Christians at the forefront of religious freedom for all? Walker presented to the group. Do you understand the implications it must include our other?

Russell Moore, the president of the Commission, then answered the question by stating that he believes Christians are guilty of only supporting freedom for their own religion.

Well, thats the key question, and it must be the case, he stated. One of the mistakes that Christians have made in years past is this kind of majoritarian understanding [that] weve got to fight for our own rights here and maintain our own rights without being very diligent and making sure were fighting for religious liberty for all persons.

Moore explained that as a leader in evangelical Christianity, he doesnt see much support for the rights other religions, and opined that it raises concerns.

[T]hat hasnt been the case throughout all of American history, but in recent years I think thats been a problem, especially in my world of evangelical Protestantism, he stated. Its just a lack of attention to this. But when were talking about liberty of conscience and freedom of religion, were talking about this for all people, and thats becausenot because we believe anything less about the Gospel as Christians

Moore then provided the example of the building of mosques in American cities.

Evangelical Christians need to be the first peopleand Catholic Christians and others standing in any given communitysaying [that] we really dont want the mayor to have the power to keep a mosque out of here simply because its a mosque, he stated.

And not only because we know thats eventually going to be turned against us, but also because we believe there is something important about keeping the state within its bounds, not taking on the role of God, Moore said, [and that we would] be able to have that free and open dialogue that we must have.

Read the original:

Southern Baptist Commission President: Christians Must Fight for Freedom for Other Religions