When Macy's clerk, Natalie Johnson, discovered a man using the ladies dressing rooms in her clothing department, she politely stopped him. She was rudely told that he considered himself a woman and pointed out Macy's "non-discrimination" policy.

When she insisted, he requested a manager who verified that Macy's did have such a policy that permitted "transgenders" to use any fitting rooms they wished.

Johnson stood her ground, claiming that permitting him in the fitting rooms would violate her religious beliefs. She cited another Macy's policy protecting against religious discrimination. In the altercation, the "transgender" gathered several of his friends and verbally assaulted Johnson with expletives. Ultimately, Johnson was fired for her efforts.

American's freedom of religion is eroding from a number of directions. Schools are discounting grades for students who include biblical words and concepts in their school work or recitals.

The so called "candy cane case" has been submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court after 8 years of tussle in the lower courts. In 2003, third grader Jonathon Morgan attempted to hand out candy cane-shaped pens —with a "religious" message attached— to his classmates. He was stopped by the principal and the parents sued. And the case is still unsettled.

Churches are being denied use of public facilities for worship services. Pastors are forbidden to hold Bible studies in their own homes. Building and use permits are being denied to congregations who, in some cases, have already purchased property.

Two main forces are behind most of these attacks: Freedom from religion activists and homosexual militants. The anti-religion drive is not so much against all religions, but specifically against biblical Christianity. Most others: Islam, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc., are tolerated or welcomed into our "multicultural" society. Tolerance applies to everyone but Jesus.

So, how did we get here? Mostly because Bible believers sat back on their "blessed assurance" and let it happen.

Can we fix it? Yes! If we get enough gospel back into the culture.

That's a tall order, given how pervasive sin has become. But we need to fight back every way we can. The current theory is: take the time to make friends with every sinner, then try to coax him to follow Christ.

That's good, but it would be easier if he already knows the way of salvation, and he just hasn't made a decision yet or needs a little tug. A generation ago, that was mostly the case because so many people grew up in Sunday school or were exposed to a higher saturation of the culture with Christian principles.

For a lot of people today, we need to start from the ground up because they have no biblical frame of reference or even have a negative view of Christ and the Bible.

Since few are interested in coming to us in our churches, we need to go to them. Christians, however, are too busy to do much of that.

That's where strong, no-nonsense gospel tracts come in. Place a tract with an engaging story in the hand of a sinner, confused, but searching, and the Holy Spirit has something to work with in his life. The appeal of that tract will sit in his soul for the rest of his life. He may not be ready, yet, but when trouble comes, as it surely will, God can give him a nudge through the memory of that tract.

For the soul winner, distractions flood our lives, diverting us from the most important work we have to do. But the precious freedom that we have may soon disappear. We need to work before the night comes.