‘Are we so readily willing to give up that for which so many have fought and died without so much as even a whimper?’
June 20, 2022
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A recent report revealed that “secular intolerance has a chilling effect on Christians, which directly affects their capacity to express their faith freely in society and is leading to various forms of self-censorship.” Modern Christians, according to the article, fear persecution in daily life such as the workplace and instead are choosing to not voice their opinions on topics such as religious beliefs, family values, and other important issues.
Judge Phil Ginn, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES, www.ses.edu), commented on the idea of “self-censorship,” warning the fact that Christians are willing to silence their own voices shows how tightly the enemy has a grip on the modern Church.
Ginn stated, “If you ever had any doubts, let me make something crystal clear: we at Southern Evangelical Seminary and Bible College believe in religious freedom — in fact, it is one of the hills on which we are willing to die. We believe that our government owes to its citizens the security and protection necessary to fully practice our faith, and we encourage our followers to vote accordingly.
“A recent article in the Christian Post shows that secular intolerance has a chilling and deleterious effect on Christians. When challenged, somehow people of faith feel the need to succumb to some form of self-censorship. This is concerning on at least two levels.”
Ginn continued, “First, in an age of supposed tolerance, how can such blatant intolerance of faith be given such standing and credibility? How absurd to say that we are only tolerant of anything with which we agree. But that is, in essence, what our culture is apparently now saying to Christianity.
“Perhaps even more concerning, however, is the notion that so-called Christians are so willing to meld into the culture and disappear like vaporized ghosts. Never forget that it was with the torched bodies of early Christians that the Roman roads were lighted. Are we so readily willing to give up that for which so many have fought and died without so much as even a whimper?”
Ginn stated, “In truth, the American church is asleep in the arms of the wicked one. Is it any wonder that average Christians have become such wandering souls?
“So, when it comes to the defense of the traditional Christian faith and God’s Holy Word, let the word go out from here today that the battle line forms behind Southern Evangelical Seminary. As the Scripture so eloquently states in the 20th Psalm verse 7, ‘Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm!’
“May the freedom of religion encased in the First Amendment to our Constitution ever be embraced in this great land that we love so dearly.”
Judge Phil Ginn was appointed president of SES in April 2021 after a distinguished career as both a lawyer and a judge. He holds a B.A. from Appalachian State University, a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Doctor of Ministry from Southern Evangelical Seminary. Prior to his appointment as SES president, Judge Ginn served as SES Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The mission of SES is to train men and women, based on the inerrant and infallible written Word of God, for the evangelization of the world and the defense of the historic Christian faith. SES offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees (along with several for-credit certificates) that uniquely integrate theology, philosophy, and apologetics to build a complete and systematic Christian worldview.
For more information on SES, visit its website at www.ses.edu or its Facebook page, follow the SES Twitter feed, @sesapologetics, or call (704) 847-5600.
###