History:
For more than 170 years, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has promoted freedom of belief for all people "Therefore if the Son (Jesus) makes you free, you shall be free indeed" -John 8:36. For Adventists, the principle of religious freedom has strong biblical, historical, and theological foundations. The first article on this topic by an Adventist Church leader was written in 1851 by John N. Andrews.
In this article, Andrews explored the pivotal role of religious freedom in end-time events. In 1864, as the fledging Adventist community worked to secure noncombatant status for its members during the Civil War, Andrews expanded on his initial writings, linking religious freedom to what today we would call “human rights.” Which is found in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
So the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross gave us freedom.
What Is Religious Liberty?
The complete series of presentations for the NAD Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Conference are now available here: 2023 NAD Reconstructing Religious Liberty Conference
