Speaking truth to power is as ancient as Moses going before Pharoah or John confronting Herod. God’s people are to bear a testimony of truth to those in power. “The banner of truth and religious liberty held aloft by the founders of the gospel church and by God's witnesses during the centuries that have passed since then, has, in this last conflict, been committed to our hands” (Ellen White, Acts of the Apostles, 68).

The Seventh-day Adventist ministry of public affairs and religious liberty had its origins in a period better known for the conflict over righteousness by faith. In 1888, the National Reform Movement battled moral decline by attempting to “Christianize America.” They sponsored a Constitutional amendment, introduced by Massachusetts Senator H.W. Blair, to enforce “observance of Sunday as a day of rest and worship in all federal territories.”

Some Adventists welcomed these developments as an inevitable fulfillment of prophecy, to be quickly followed by the return of Christ. Ellen White rejected such studied apathy and urged action: “We need now to pray for strength from heaven, to press back this movement that is being made in our country, and we should do everything on our part to preserve our liberties, and our right to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience” (Ellen White, “David’s Prayer.” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Dec. 18, 1888).

She also insisted that defending religious liberty was an essential part of the third angel’s message. Professor A.T. Jones heeded Ellen White’s counsel and testified forcefully before the U.S. Senate in opposition to the bill, which was narrowly defeated.

This experience awakened Adventists to the spiritual significance of religious liberty ministry. In his preaching, A.T. Jones demonstrated that the everlasting gospel and religious freedom were intertwined. Before the Senate, Jones insisted that the state had no right to interfere between the soul and its Maker. From this beginning, the church organized the American Religious Liberty Association, later to become the North American Religious Liberty Association.

More than a century after the Blair Sunday law bill was defeated, Christian moralists still threaten to legislate their brand of religion as an answer to moral decline, thus threatening religious liberty. The need to speak truth to power remains as urgent as ever.

The July Recorder published an article about the North American Religious Liberty Association ’s annual banquet, where Senator Hillary Clinton was the keynote speaker. A picture of Michael Peabody and Senator Clinton was featured on the cover. Sen. Clinton was invited by the General Conference to address the banquet because of her support for the Workplace Religious Freedom Act.

Adventists have a long history of building bridges with politicians in order to communicate our views on religious liberty. More often than you might expect, we also have opportunity to share the distinctives of our faith. The picture and article generated considerable response, mostly positive, but some negative. Clearly, some do not understand that building bridges with powerful people does not mean endorsing them or approving their policies or personal choices.

Bridge-building is not our work alone. In every city, large and small, Adventist members can build bridges with elected officials — local, state and national. We cannot do this work alone. Pastors can build bridges with clergy of other faiths. These relationships are critical to the work of preserving liberty of conscience.

Upholding the banner of truth and religious liberty is a privilege and responsibility that rests upon all of us. Be informed. Get involved! What can you do? Attend our annual religious liberty training event this November at Leoni Meadows and visit www.churchstate.org to see what we’re doing in the Pacific Union. Join the North American Religious Liberty Association, send e-mail in support of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act via www.religiousliberty.info , and plan to meet the politicians and diplomats who will attend next year’s banquet in Washington, D.C. We’ll save you a seat.