[Steve Myers] When it comes to your beliefs can government tell you what to do? There seems to be that issue in the news especially this last week with the President's healthcare system here in the United States. The Catholic Church has been reacting against what the President has been proposing. The Cardinal-designate Dolan in the Archdiocese of New York has really come out and said some interesting things about the President's healthcare proposals. Their proposing that they provide…

[Darris McNeely] Mandatory birth control and abortion care as part of the healthcare package that was passed last year by the United States Congress, and this has stirred a sleeping giant within the Catholic Church. I think the President has a tiger by the tail with this particular issue.

[Steve Myers] He sure does. In fact the Cardinal-designate said the government needs to back out from intruding into the internal life of a church.  So it brings up that issue for all of us. You know, what do we do when government tries to tell us what we should believe or how we should act? What are we suppose to and…

[Darris McNeely] What we can or cannot do with our own beliefs especially with issues like this — raises a much larger question.

[Steve Myers] Right, its not just a Catholic issue. When we talk about what we believe and are we going to stand for the truth in our life that's the real issue that it comes down to.

[Darris McNeely] Jesus Christ made a comment in Luke chapter 21 he said — it deals with persecution for one's faith and one's belief — he said to his disciples, "before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You shall be brought before kings and ruler's for My name's sake" (Luke 21:12). And so Jesus very plainly warned His disciples that there would be time – a time of persecution. And so it comes down to you and I — believing what we believe but having the conviction of that belief. And, whether or not there will ever be a circumstance brought on by an individual, by family or by even a governmental force to cause us to alter our belief and change our behavior and violate our conscience. Are you ready for such an event? What will you do? That's really at the bigger question out of the headlines of this particular issue

[Steve Myers] And whether it's a government issue or not there's no doubt that your faith will be challenged. And so we have to have that confidence that we will stand for the truth and that God will strengthen us no matter what that situation is when we have the faith to do what's right.

[Darris McNeely] Really Jesus gave us some very encouraging comment when He went on this. He says, "it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist" (Luke 21:13-15). A relationship with God in the good times will help us to be able to give an answer for our belief and our convictions and to stand firm on that—when any time a persecution whether its small or great comes upon us. And that's the key to understand that help will come from God.

[Steve Myers] That's BT Daily we'll see you next time.