In the midst of the most significant move in American history to destroy our rights, freedoms, and parental authority over our children, it is undeniably clear that this nation is moving ever closer to complete chaos. More and more states are imposing unjust laws stripping parents’ rights to raise their children and making decisions about schooling, medical procedures, and other things that have always been the parents’ responsibility.

Sadly, much of the American church has been complicit in this authoritarianism and has either been silent or actively supportive. Very few have actually been bold enough to speak out.

However, a few of the pastors and leaders who have not been afraid to speak out have released a statement denouncing the authoritarian dictates of the state over the rights of the parents to raise our children. This statement, recently released, is titled the Frankfurt Declaration and includes original signers such as Voddie Baucham, Jeff Durbin, Tom Buck, Josh Buice, and even other Evangelical pastors from around the world including Jonathan Bayes, England, James Coates, Canada, and Tim Cantrell, from South Africa.

The statement declares that “In the course of human events, it sometimes becomes necessary for people of good faith to speak out against the abuse of power. This should be done only after serious and prayerful deliberation, and even then, in an attitude of humility and with respect for the authorities that have been established by God. Such protest should be expressed in the hope that civil authorities who are found to be eroding rights and liberties may yet fulfill their responsibility as their rightful guardians.”

The statement goes on to affirm that “all earthly authorities derive their authority (‘the right to be obeyed’) from God, who is over all and to whom all must give account, “and that God “has established their different spheres of responsibility (i.e., mandates) and in so doing has set limits to their authority.”

“In addition,” the statement reads, “He has delegated authority to the family as the basic unit of society for the purpose of fostering societal cohesion and sexual fidelity, and to protect, provide for, raise, and educate children in the way of the Lord.”

The statement goes on to “deny totalitarian ideologies of governments which do not recognize the boundaries of their authority and usurp the authority delegated by God to the Church or the family.”

“We also oppose the view that children are the property of the State and therefore subjects to be indoctrinated, and also any encouragement or manipulation of children to undergo medical procedures without parental consent.”

The statement concludes with an expression of “gratitude to those civil authorities who respect the essential nature of these Christian beliefs and practices and who have a high regard for individual and religious freedoms,” however, it issues a call to repentance to those who do not.