The Real St. Patrick
If you ask people who Saint Patrick was, you're likely to hear that he was an Irishman who chased the snakes out of Ireland. But that is far from the real story.
Patrick was born in the 4th century to Christian parents who were Roman citizens in Briton. As a boy he was kidnapped and become a slave for six years in Ireland. He prayed daily that God would rescue him, and eventually he escaped and returned home. But he felt God calling him to return to Ireland with the Gospel.
By the end of his life he had baptized over 120,000 Irishmen and established 300 churches. Within his lifetime, the Irish slave trade ended – the result of a transformed people. St. Patrick’s Day is the honoring of a Christian for his missionary work. Unfortunately, the true story of Patrick is seldom heard in schools today. But, you can change that by simply telling students what really happened.
Faith is not just an opinion
Too often in today’s cultural debates people confuse someone’s faith with their opinion. So, when it comes to a moral position based on religious faith the attitude is, “Well, just change your opinion.” But it doesn’t work that way.
An opinion is a viewpoint based on beliefs. I can’t change my opinion if it is based on my belief about what God says is right and wrong. It’s not my opinion, it’s God’s. My beliefs and actions have eternal consequences. They are not whims. Worshiping God is not a hobby. Going to church is not a social club.
Today, we are told by the current culture that we need to get on the so-called “right side of history.” Well, we should be more concerned about being on the right side of eternity.
FAITH OF OUR FATHERS: THOMAS JEFFERSON
Many of America’s founders believed that freedom and faith are deeply connected. Thomas Jefferson warned that when a nation forgets God, the liberties of its people are put at risk. He reminded us that our freedom does not come from government, but from God Himself.
Jefferson wasn’t alone. Many founding fathers and presidents wrote extensively about God, faith, and religious liberty, so much so that their writings can be connected directly to Scripture.
That’s why Gateways created a free family devotional called Faith of Our Fathers. You can download your copy today by visiting GoGateways.org/download.
What is Religious Freedom
Religious freedom is one of the most misunderstood liberties in America today.
It doesn’t mean people can do whatever they want in the name of faith. Instead, as attorney Luke Goodrich explains in his book Free to Believe, religious freedom means the government—within reasonable limits—leaves religion alone as much as possible, making room for people to live out their faith freely.
That freedom isn’t limited to private worship at home or church. It includes living out faith in everyday life—without unnecessary interference. Religious liberties exist because faith comes from a power higher than government, and our laws are meant to protect that liberty, not restrict it.
What is Religious Freedom Day
Since 1993, the president has declared January 16th to be Religious Freedom Day and has called upon Americans to observe this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of worship. It's not the day you get to have religious freedom. It's the day to celebrate the freedoms we already have. It's the anniversary of the passage of the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom in 1786. Thomas Jefferson drafted the legislation and considered it one of his greatest achievements.
It protected people's right to express their religious beliefs without discrimination. And it had a huge impact on the drafting of the First Amendment just three years later. It's a great opportunity for students to learn a civics lesson about their religious freedoms right at school. Ask your school to recognize the day and have teachers give students a list of their freedoms to express their faith in class.
For information about Religious Freedom Day and the list of freedoms that students have, visit religiousfreedomday.com.